Moving can be stressful, unless you plan accordingly with a little help from the pros! Let us here at Minor Moving ease you through your transition with our tips and tricks for a smooth residential move.
2-4 Months Before Move:
If you start planning a move at least 2 months in advance you can cut down on the “last minute” panic of the unprepared. Establish a “master checklist” of things that must get taken care of before the move and arrange the items by “due-date.” At this point, you should be:
- discussing the move with your family
- finalizing a date with the family, making sure it works with work and activity schedules
- discussing repairs to current home or apartment
- discussing repairs to future home or apartment
- deciding which furniture is to stay, and which should be sold, stored, given away, or left
- creating an accordion file for receipts, brochures, and forms you need to keep handy during your move (and for any tax deductions you may be able to receive for your move
1 Month Before Move
Now that the actual move date is getting closer, you should shift your focus toward physical preparation for the move. This includes:
- finalizing the decision on furniture. Many people find a garage sale helpful to get the last bit of furniture off their hands. For the items you are to keep, get an estimated value, so you know the total value of the items being moved
- deciding how the new residence is to be divided among family members
- getting rid of your accumulated “junk,” perhaps at the same garage sale as mentioned earlier!
- sending “change of address” forms notice to family and friends
- filling out a change-of-address form at the post office
- taking care of deposits, insurance, etc
- arranging Internet and telecommunications service for your new home
- updating financial records
- ordering new checks
- transfer property, fire, auto, and medical insurance
- make a handy file of medical and dental records (including presecriptions, eyeglass and contact specifications, and vaccination records), passport and visa information, other important documents. Keep this with you during the move.
- Pack up wills, stock certificates, and any other one-of-a-kind or hard-to-replace items (photo albums, home videos, jewelry) to take with you instead of shipping with your moving company.
- make arrangements to move any special items (chandeliers, pianos, etc.) with your moving company now instead of springing it on them the day of the move.
2 Weeks Before Move:
- make final packing decisions. Start by packing up items that aren’t used often
- clean the entire house—including closets, basements, and attics
- properly dispose of flammable items (fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemicals for the yard or home, etc.)
- plan meals that will use up the food in your freezer and refrigerator
- back-up your computers files and take the back-ups with you during the move
- arrange transportation of pets if you are not to take them to the new house. Secure all their records from the veterinarian and make sure that they are current on their rabies vaccinations and that their tags are attached.
1 Week Before Move:
If you have followed your checklist, you should have little more to do besides pack. All the same, because you will be tearing up your space, make sure not to schedule any important meetings or hiring’s during this period. In addition to making sure that you have gotten everything mentioned taken care of, you will also need to pack. Packing is one of the most important steps of your move, so follow this list to ensure that your belongings are secure, safe, and ready to be transported to your new home or apartment by moving day.
Mirrors, Pictures, Artwork:
- make sure all mirrors, pictures, and framed artwork is bubble wrapped or paper wrapped and secured in a carton to prevent damage in-transit
Books, Photo Albums, CD’s:
- use cartons to pack books, making sure that the books are tightly in place to prevent shifting and damage
Lampshades:
- handle by the wire to prevent marking the shade. To save space, they may be nestled in with each other and a generous amount of paper padding
Dishes:
- wrap individually and place vertically in a dishpack for safe transport. Fill the carton fully and be sure to pad both the top and bottom for safety
Clothing:
- for clothing that is hanging, use a wardrobe box
- for folded clothing, use a linen box
Furniture:
- empty all drawers, shelves. Oftentimes, a good moving company will pad the corners, feet, and any vulnerable areas to minimize damage during transport
And don't forget to:
- empty, defrost, and clean refrigerator
- make sure all keys to your current residence are accounted for
- make sure the post office knows to forward your mail to your new home
- arrange for your gas, electric, cable, phone etc. to be turned off at your current residence and turned on at your future residence.
- make sure your mover knows the address and phone number you can be reached at until you are settled in your new home (cell phones and emails are a great way to stay connected)
In addition to preparing your old residence for the move, you should do the following with your new space:
- distribute keys to family members
- inspect any work you have had done and make sure everything is correct
- map out location clearly
- notify landlord or previous owner of your move-in date and time
The Big Day (and Beyond):
Its finally here—and you shouldn’t have much to do. Here are your last minute details!
Moving In:
- strip your beds and make sure the bedding goes into a “load last” box
- pack your vacuum last so that you can clean before the furniture is unloaded in your new home
- be on hand when the movers arrive so that you can straighten out the details and make sure everything is going as planned
- once everything is packed, take a last minute walk-through to make sure the doors and windows are locked, lights are off, old keys and garage door openers are left for future residents, and that you haven’t left anything behind
To ensure that the process goes smoothly, make a few small gestures—they will go a long way. Set out a “Welcome” breakfast buffet for everyone involved, or get pizza for lunch to keep energy and morale up.
