You might’ve accepted an excellent job position or be upgrading your home because your family is growing. Whatever the reason, you should be aware that relocation is a busy and complex endeavor. Same as all the other most significant changes in life. They can bring you indescribable joy, as well as stress and chaos. Therefore, we created this ultimate moving checklist to help you nail your relocation step-by-step. After reading it, you will know when to buy the essentials for your new home, when to transfer your utilities or some of the best packing tips.
Weekly moving checklist
Not every relocation has to be extremely stressful if you have the right direction. That’s why we’ve consulted the experts in the field from nwmoving.com to help us create a week-by-week guide for your upcoming move. If you follow our list, you will ensure everything is ready between today and your moving day while not losing your mind in the process. So, let’s dive in!
Eight weeks before
It’s crucial to plan each aspect of the move. That’s why we have to warn you that a long list of tasks lies ahead. But, on the other hand, having a checklist of your whole relocation will help you keep your organization game on point.
Let’s see the tasks to tackle eight weeks before your planned moving date.
- Create a digital or physical moving folder. It’s a wise idea to take pictures of all your receipts, quotes, and records related to your move and upload them to your Google drive relocation folder. Of course, if you are more kinesthetic, you can always create a relocation binder and keep everything neatly organized.
- Contact prominent moving companies and get multiple estimates. If you wish to hire the right people for the job, getting at least three different estimates is recommended. This way, you’ll make sure you choose the company with the price and services that suit your situation best.
- Create your moving budget. Usually, someone who is relocating long-distance should put aside around $5000. For the local relocations, $1500 should cover all the expenses. Finally, if you are moving for work, you should check with your employer to cover certain aspects of your move.
- Talk to your children about the move.
- Visit your new community and choose a school for your kids.
Six weeks before
Now that you are getting closer to your move, you want to make sure you have your life in control. This is the perfect time to spend quality time with your loved ones and organize your belongings. Luckily, there’s still plenty of time, so there is no need to panic. The 6-week before moving tasks are:
- Schedule your movers. Keep in mind the cost will significantly depend on the time and date you choose for your relocation. Moving during the peak season, which is usually from May to September, will most likely dost more.
- Order all your packing supplies and collect free stuff. The must-have moving items you’ll need are boxes, bubble wrap, tape, packing paper, and so on. Also, you can search for free boxes online, from supermarkets, or other large stores.
- Prepare for easy packing. The most important thing here is to research for packing tips. Some of those may be labeling your boxes, marking fragile items, creating an inventory sheet, etc. Additionally, you can create a packing strategy. The most successful one is going room by room and applying the three-box system.
- Notify the school about the upcoming move and ask for transcripts, as you don’t want your child to fall behind.
- Now would also be a good time to start using your freezer and pantry food.
- Have a garage sale, sell gently used items, and donate the stuff your closed ones like or to those in need.
- Cancel all your memberships, as most of them need a 30-day notice.
- If you are moving long-distance, now is a good time to reserve plane tickets and require special moving services for car shipping. Likewise, if you are moving cross-country, make sure you arrange a car service.
Four weeks before
Now that you’ve hit the one-month mark, you should start with documentation gathering and sorting your finances. The moving checklist four weeks before the move looks like this:
- Begin packing the boxes with non-essentials, like seasonal clothes, the furniture you don’t use daily, and seasonal decor.
- Make sure you gather all legal, medical, and financial records in one place. The same goes for all the birth certificates and passports.
- Call your moving company of choice to confirm the date and time a month before.
- Let any of your service providers (pool maintenance, housekeeping) know about your move a month before.
- Arrange the child care services for the relocation day.
- Pay any unpaid fines, like parking tickets.
- Update your mailing address if you receive Social Security or Medical care benefits.
- Transfer your utilities several weeks before the move. These include water and sewer, gas, Internet and cable, security system, trash, phone, etc.
Two weeks before
Now that the big day is seriously approaching, you want to do things ahead – children, pets, medication, packing, and meals.
- Everyone in the family should notify their doctor about the move. If you don’t have a new chosen doctor in the place you’re moving to, you can ask yours for recommendations. Use this opportunity to transfer your prescriptions to a pharmacy close to your new home.
- Plan the furniture arrangement for your new home and give a copy to your movers. This will help them know to put your furniture where it belongs and save you the trouble of doing it yourself.
- Also, make sure you arrange the parking spot for your moving truck.
- If you own a pet, you should take them to the vet for a checkup and get copies of their records. Also, make sure your pet’s ID tag and passport are ready too.
- Finally, ask for some time off your work.
One week before
It’s the week! It’s time to finish packing, organize your possessions, and clean your current home.
- Clean the home for its new residents. You can hire professionals for strenous work such as window cleaning.
- Run the last-minute errands, such as getting prescriptions, returning items to your friends, picking up the dry cleaning.
- Tell your neighbors about the move, so they can move their cars if they’re in your way.
- Arrange the final trash and recycling pickup.
Moving day
- Give unopened food to those in need.
- Pack your suitcases.
- Have the moving essentials box where you’ll keep a fresh set of clothes for each family member, clean sheets, toiletries, and so on.
- Have a separate plastic moving box for water and snacks.
- Give your inventory list to your movers and make sure both parties sign it.
- Go for a final walk through the house. This way, you’ll make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
The takeaway from the moving checklist
And that’s about it! Of course, this moving checklist is susceptible to change as each family’s situation differs from another one’s. These are the general guidelines, but be sure to adapt the list to fit you and your move perfectly. Happy moving!
Meta description: If you got a great job offer in a different city or you’re upgrading houses, here’s our ultimate moving checklist to keep close!
Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/serious-lady-talking-on-cellphone-and-writing-down-information-4491493/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-cardboard-boxes-scattered-on-floor-during-relocation-7203788/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-reading-book-to-toddler-1741231/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/faceless-man-wiping-mirror-in-bathroom-4239142/
Infographic provided by True Friends Moving Company
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