Moving Checklist for Easy Residential Moves
Moving house can be hectic and exhausting. You may feel like you want to throw everything in boxes and start the journey to your new home. However, doing this will only lengthen the unpacking process and increase the risk of damaging items during the move.
Coming up with a checklist is the best way to ensure a smooth, well-organized, and time-saving move to your new house. Here is a detailed and systematic list that you should follow to have a comfortable and smooth transition to your new apartment or home.
Two Months before the Move
Planning for your move should start at least two months before the D-day. You already know the house that you are moving into and have made up your mind. Once this is done, take care of the following issues:
1. Declutter Your Home
You don’t want to settle into your new home with clutter. Decluttering makes your new home look organized and minimalist in an appealing way. Therefore, take the time to sort out your items and choose those that you don’t need or won’t be using for a long time. You can organize a garage sale, give some things away, and store those that you may need in future in a storage facility.
2. Find a Moving Service
Don’t wait last minute to find a moving company as you may end up getting an unreliable provider or spend a lot of money. Start researching at least two months before the move. Find a full-service company such as Movers Minneapolis AAA that will offer packing (of large items), loading, and offloading services in their package. You may want to compare a few companies so that you can get the best value for your money.
3. Create a Moving Binder
A moving binder contains all the items that you will be moving, and it helps you organize everything that will be going into the new house. It ensures that you don’t lose or forget something along the way. In your binder, you can categorize like items together so that you can use it to simplify and quicken the packing process. Indicate everything here, including appliances, garden supplies and equipment, and power tools.
Six Weeks Before
As you approach six weeks, you have a moving company and have already sorted out the items that you will be relocating with. The next step is to handle the following at least one and a half months before the move:
1. Get Moving Supplies
You require moving boxes, labels, bubble wrap, tape, and plastic wrap when moving. If you have delicate items, you may want to wrap them using old newspaper or clothing as well. Prepare all these items early. Use your moving binder to determine the amount of moving supplies that will be adequate. If you are relocating during the rainy season, you will need a lot of plastic wraps to protect items from water damage.
2. Start Clearing and Cleaning
If you have frozen food in the freezer, this is the time to start preparing it. Frozen food can go bad if it’s left in the open for a long time, and this can happen during a move. The best step is to start cooking it so that your freezer will be empty by the moving day. Start cleaning items that you won’t be using for that month, and these include garden equipment such as hoses, sprinklers, and power tools.
One Month Before
One month before the relocation is when things get real. You should be handling everything at this point to ensure that you aren’t caught by surprise during the last minute. Do the following:
1. Contact Your Mover
Contact your mover to confirm the moving date. If you hadn’t made a booking yet, this is the time to do so. Iron out all the details and pay the deposit if required. Get a written confirmation and payment receipts from the moving company.
2. Start Packing
You should start packing at least one month before the move. Lots of items in the house will probably not be used during the four weeks; therefore, pack them early to avoid last minute rush. Some of these include kitchenware, clothes, garden equipment and supplies, and other items that you rarely use. Use labels to mark the boxes based on their room, e.g., kitchen items or item type, e.g., winter coats, plates, cups, and so on. Place like items together to ease the unpacking process.
3. Sort the Mailing Address
You may want to apply for a new mailing address at least two months before. However, ensure that it only becomes active after the move so that all your mail can be forwarded to the new address. Note that if you have kids, this is the time to organize the transfer of their school and health records as well if they are getting a new school and medical facility respectively.
Two Weeks Before
As the moving day approaches, you need to ensure that you get a few days off work. Therefore, arrange to get the off day or days. If you have to write a letter or see your boss, this is the best time to do so to avoid last minute disagreements.
Additionally, you may want to contact the moving company again to ensure that everything is in place for the big day.
A Few Days Before
Around three or four days before the move, you need to ensure that you get everything ready. Some things to take care of include the following:
1. Prepare Suitcases
You may not be able to unpack everything on the D-day. Therefore, pack suitcases for everyone. Ensure that they have enough clothes and toiletries to last them a few days before and after the move.
2. Finish Packing
Once you have the suitcases ready, finish the rest of the packing. Put everything in boxes, and remember to label fragile items and put them aside so that they can be handled with care. Disassemble items such as tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture that can be disassembled. Defrost the freezer and remove any clothes in the dryer. Make sure that everything is in order and ready for the relocation.
Moving Day
If you have followed this checklist, your moving day should be stress-free and relaxing. Wait for the movers to come and direct them as they put your items onto the truck. Take inventory as the items are loaded and let the movers sign the inventory list before starting the journey. The document will come in handy if anything gets lost or damaged during the move.
Conclusion
The secret to a smooth move is ensuring that you start preparing months in advance. Create a checklist so that you can take care of one item at a time and avoid being overwhelmed at the last minute. Follow this simple checklist to simplify your move and transform it into a hassle-free process. Once you reach your destination, use your inventory list to cross-check each item as it is offloaded from the truck.
