The Most Comprehensive Moving Checklist You Need

After brainstorming your way through all the requirements, it is time to do some research on these items. First of all, you need a moving checklist that you can make to check your progress. Secondly, you need to get organized by arranging all the information up till now and the expected ones into files and folders. Organizing techniques such as creating color-coded files and folders, listing required documentation, scanning hard copies, and storing the hard copies in portable boxes will help you efficiently organize all your documents. Digital copies are a must as they are available on the go and handy when there seems a conflict to be addressed..

By this time, you should also be looking for a reliable service provider for moving your stuff. You can browse online for different providers and ask for quotes. Check for their ratings and reviews as well as certifications that will help create their credibility. Some associations like the American Moving and Storage Association issue ProMover certification. Notwithstanding budgetary constraints, these approved vendors should be selected for moving purposes.

After organizing yourself and obtaining quotes from the moving companies, it is prudent to take stock of your household items. An easy way to accomplish this is by going from room to room and making an inventory of the things that can be kept and given away..

Decluttering can save you a lot of money especially if done right. It is estimated that for every grand spent on decluttering, the net gain on the sale price of houses is around $8000. Make sure to get help if you cannot do this task yourself..

After decluttering, it is time for a pre-packing routine that would enable you to sell off your unwanted articles. You can hold a garage sale or donate to local charities or even sell stuff online. The next step is to create an inventory of all the stuff that is to be moved. This will help with insurance of the stuff during transit and to file a claim for any damaged goods..

You will get to compare the quotes you inquired from service providers the previous week. This will help you prepare for insurance requirements, negotiating with companies for better prices as well as forming a budget.

6 weeks from the big move, you should start contacting your children’s schools, banks, and other service providers. This is important to make the transition smoother as the documentation will be required where you move next. It may include your kid’s school reports, your bank account statements, and insurance agreements. Also, make a list of businesses with your mailing address so that you can notify them regarding the change in address.

After receiving the quotes from service providers, now is the time to finalize the contract with such providers. If you plan on relocating the stuff yourself, make sure to get a moving truck reserved for the date in mind.

Making a list of supplies that are needed for the packing of stuff to be moved is a vital activity. This will ensure you avoid making frequent runs to the store to get these supplies. Another avenue for packing material like boxes can be to ask for donations from family and friends.

Week 5 is for contacting your doctor and insurance agent. Procure copies of your medical records and that of your family so that you can send them to the physician near the new place. In case you haven’t found a doctor yet, ask your previous one for a referral.

Comb out your insurance coverage with the insurance agent to look for any changes that may take effect with this move. Also, ensure that the moving trucks are insured or the service provider provides ample coverage.

Most owners require a month’s notice before you move out. Now is the perfect time to inform your landowner of such moving plans. Although, the full-fledged packing may not start yet, make sure to pack seasonal stuff that you seldom use.

Take out time for your friends and family by having a get-together and announcing your plans to move out. This is important as you may not get the time for a proper send-off and time with close ones.

It is time to perform the most important task of the moving process, packing. With the help of the inventory generated before, make a room by room plan of packing your stuff. You can number boxes or colour-code them but make sure to include a detailed packing list containing details of what’s inside each box. You can even use colored tapes for each box. Each colored tape corresponds to a different indication.

The red tape on the moving box indicates that the items inside the box are fragile and delicate and therefore, would require extra care. The yellow tape is used to indicate that this particular moving box is needed at the new place immediately. So, any essential items you need at your new place right away should be put inside a box that has yellow tape on it. The white-colored tape is used to indicate a standard moving box. The white tape, therefore, suggests that the box holds all kinds of regular household items that need to be moved, not necessarily in any order of priority or any level of the provision of care.

This week, make sure all your non-essential stuff is packed. For this, you can start with the attic, basement, garage, and then move to the kitchen. Stuff from closets and spare rooms that are seldom used must be packed safely away. Moreover, stuff not required over the next three weeks must also be packed.

Go for cutlery protectors CHECK LATEST PRICE which feature uniquely designed dividers that can allow you to neatly stack all your plates and secure them safely inside the moving box. The design and build of each of these plastic boxes differ thereby offering you several options to store everything from larger plates to smaller ones.

There’s a similar plastic box design for cups and bowls as well. So, the plastic box can easily act as a cup holder and secure your cups. Normally, you would have had to wrap all your dishes in newspapers or perhaps some soft cloth or material that provides a bit of a cushion against shock during transport. With these super durable collapsable plastic boxes you can bypass that step entirely and simply start stacking all your cutlery inside the box without wasting a minute. Be sure to check out the different types of these plastic boxes according to the overall size and build of your cutlery to ensure that you get the right fit.

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One month before the move is the perfect time to send any notices that need to be given including to service providers and your office requesting leaves. Also, make sure to fill the official change-of-address form from the U.S Post Office.

With 3 weeks remaining you must have finished with the non-essential packing. Now you can shift to packing the essential items too. Care must be taken to pack only those stuff that will not be required for the next two weeks. This includes duplicate items such as the second refrigerator or the extra television.

During this week, you can take care of your outdoor stuff as well. This includes porch decorations, porch swings, grilling tools, and so on. Moreover, you should think about your pets and probably hire someone to look after them on a moving day and keeping them out of the movers’ way.

Thinking ahead to the moving day, you must also make arrangments for your kids if they need to be dropped at the neighbors’ or a relative. Make sure the timelines are correct and double-check with your service providers of the same.

14 days from the moving day, you must ensure the insurance is in place to cover your valuables. Aside from this, you should focus on cleaning the house and making sure it is in good condition as you move out. Also, start consuming frozen food and other eatables so that you don’t have to throw away any food items later.

By now, almost all your belongings are safely packed away. Make sure this transition period is well planned out with essential kitchen utensils and your two-week wardrobe in place. It is highly recommended to keep the items of clothing to a minimum and also think of consuming meals that require the least utensils.

It is prudent to have a backup plan in case something unplanned happens. Make a list of things that could go wrong and think ahead by framing a mitigation plan for such events. On the packing front, make sure all your movables are securely packed and double-check the quality of packing.

The moving day is upon you and it is time to re-check everything that you have done so far. This is a good time to consult the moving checklist that you developed in the earlier weeks. If any activities are remaining, make sure to finish them within this week.

Activities that you need to accomplish by this week including making a backup of your computer, returning borrowed items to your friends and family, and using google maps to map out the route for moving day. This route mapping is important as some streets may not support high trucks and you need to find an alternative.

Furthermore, it is time to do a final scrub of the house. Make sure all your rooms, washrooms, walls, doors, windows, kitchen tops, and other surfaces have been scrubbed clean. Finally, make a list of emergency service providers such as plumbers so that you have them on speed dial when you move to your next home.

Triple-checking arrangements for the moving day is a must-do one day before you move. Go over the details of the moving day with your moving company and also inquire about acceptable payment options. Nonetheless, make sure to get cash out from the bank for small errands and for tipping the workers.

Secure your packed stuff be double-checking the sides and taping underneath the boxes. Pack a suitcase containing clothing for the next two weeks as you will need this as you unpack your stuff from the moving. Ask your kids to do the same and pack according to a two-week vacation; include packing toiletries. This will let you unpack at your desired schedule and without worrying about daily items.

On the final day, you should also pack a bag of essentials that you will be requiring for the first 24 hours after moving. Taking photographs of the empty counters, shelves, and rooms is a good way to show realtors and next homeowners the conditions you are leaving the home in. Ask the realtor for the keys beforehand so that you can clean the new house, or arrange to meet them on moving day.

Lastly, it is important to unplug your fridge or freezer so that it can defrost overnight.

Having an early start to the day is vital for a productive and smooth moving process. This will ensure you are ready for the big day by anticipating the movers. Make their lives easier by sorting the packed stuff in a way to ease mobility as well as order when unloading stuff at the new home.

After the movers have loaded, clean up the old house one last time by removing the clutter caused during the moving process. It is time to hand over the keys to the landlord. Next is to assess your new home as the movers unload your stuff.

Explain to the movers the labels on the boxes and show them around your new house to make them aware of where the stuff should go. Make sure to check all the boxes and compare them with photos from before the moving process to assess any damage.

The movers themselves will make an inventory which you should only sign after carefully checking the condition of each box. After the assessment, make the payment to the movers and also tip the moving crew for a job well done.

Start unpacking your furniture such as beds and dining tables as soon as they are unloaded. You shouldn’t wait for the movers to move out for this. This will ensure a quick finish to your moving day as you can just order takeaway and make an early bed. Make sure to cover your windows with paper sheets for comfortable sleep.

The week after the moving in can be a real tiring one. For this purpose, we recommend breaking down your chores daily. Tackle the ones that require your immediate attention as well as those needed for the proper functioning of the household.

Before you even start unpacking and arranging your belongings, install protective covers on walls and lay down mats on floors so that the floor and walls are secure from any damage during moving heavy items or otherwise. These protective covers act as a shield against any damage that may be caused accidentally during the unpacking and arranging phase. Wear clean white socks so that you don’t bring any dust in with your feet.

Probably the first and immediate step to be taken is to clean your house.   This includes washrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, and carpets. This will make unpacking your stuff a lot easier and cleaner.

Setting up your kitchen and utilities must be made a priority along with setting up your living room and bedrooms. These are the places where you will be spending most of your time, hence, the need to set them up quickl.

Take a trip to the grocery store and restock your refrigerator as well as a pantry. Cooking at home must be a priority as the number of takeaways you had until now can be overwhelming.

In the organizing department, you should look towards arranging your closets especially the clothing ones. This will make your life much easier as well as relieve a lot of anxiety linked to unpacking. Organizing as you unpack should be the norm as it will help you clean up your unpacking mess quickly.

1 month into the move, you have probably finished all there is to. However, you can still consult your moving checklist and make sure you have crossed all the activities planned for weeks after the move. This will ensure you did not miss out on anything intended to be done by now.

This is also a good time to assess any unwanted belongings that are not under your plans at the new place. This could be anything from some redundant furniture or even moving boxes that you no longer require. You can easily post these online and sell them off thereby saving more space for yourself.

The outdoors are probably the last place one tidies up. Hence, by this time you have ample time to accomplish this activity as well. Set up your garden by placing lawn chairs or set up the grill that will help you in throwing a settling-home party. You can have a barbeque and invite friends and family over for quality time and reminisce on a job well done.