As we exit the colder winter months and the warmth of spring eases in, we enter the moving season. With spring and summer comes many distractions – yard work, vacations, barbecues, the kids being out of school – that make move preparation the last thing on your to-do list. Though it’s tempting to leave everything for your move until the last minute, you shouldn’t. Below you’ll find some expert tips regarding how you can avoid procrastinating for your move and how to make the moving process as stress-free as possible.
Start by creating a moving checklist. Prior to packing your first box or hiring a residential moving company to do it for you, you should put together a general timeline. Creating a timeline will help you get and remain organized as well as prevent any last minute scrambling. Try something like the following:
Two months before moving day:
- Get estimates from three residential moving companies
- Hire chosen moving company.
- Clear away the clutter in your home.
- Start the moving process (see below).
One month before moving day:
- Purchase packing materials, possibly from your residential mover.
- Measure your new home or apartment.
- Schedule any updates such as painting, installing new fixtures, etc. in the new space.
- Request and take time off from work.
- Complete a change-of-address form on usps.com.
- Begin packing your least-used belongings.
- Start setting aside your valuables like (jewelry, passports, certificates) that you should transport yourself during the move.
One week before the move:
- Pack the rest of your items with care and label them by room.
- Complete a deep clean at your new home, if necessary.
- Reconfirm details with the residential movers.
One day before the move:
- Gather and pack the items you’ll need the first night such as cups, plates, coffemaker, cooking utensils, and bedsheets in a box.
- Pack your personal overnight bag with a couple changes of clothes, toiletries, and other daily essentials.
- Go to bed early and get plenty of sleep!
Moving day:
- Make one final pass through your old home. If you’re renting, be sure everything is clean and that there’s no damage left behind.
- Walk through your new home and inspect for damage. Take pictures if you’re renting.
- Carefully clean any areas in your new home that will be difficult to get to once furniture is in place.
2. Get some prep work done in your new space before you move in. If you have the opportunity, try to knock out any prep work for your new space before the moving boxes arrive. It’s much easier to paint, resurface floors, and install new fixtures without having a castle of boxes in your home.
3. If you elect to do some of the packing yourself, try to avoid some of the most common packing mistakes. Heavy items should go in specially made book boxes or in plastic totes – both of these are made to hold a lot of weight whereas most regular boxes aren’t. Protect your linens or softer belongings like pillows by placing them in plastic grocery bags. This will prevent random spills from becoming an issue. And for your fragile items, don’t be afraid to utilize a hefty amount of bubble wrap.