The moving process is always stressful. But if you plan your move and work accordingly, you will pull off your move with less hassle. For this reason, we created a modern moving checklist to make your move easy. We created an 8-week to-do list for you when you are getting ready to move. If you follow our steps, you will experience an exciting moving experience. A moving checklist is something you need to move into your new home. Our 8-week moving planner includes everything you need to know to make moving stress-free.
Moving Checklist – Tips for Move Planning
8 Weeks Prior To Your Move
This week, you will spend the most time on research and planning. This is the most crucial part of the whole moving checklist. You need to focus more than anything on this part to simplify your move.
1. Search for a new house
Start searching for a new place from the start. Some people ignore it. But we recommend confirming the new place earlier than anything. Use traditional real estate apps or websites to find your new home easily.
2. Research schools, doctors, daycares, and banks
Start researching about the schools, doctors, daycares, and banks of your future location. Especially when you know you’re moving with kids. You certainly want to move into a location where schools and doctors are near. So, this research will help you to figure out the exact neighborhood to move into a new home.
3. Choosing a moving company in your area
Start researching moving companies. If you want a stress-free move, working with a professional moving company is a must. For this reason, you’ll need the finest movers in your area. Finding the best professional moving company is a challenge. We recommend you to judge a moving company by three factors. Affordability, Great Online Reviews, and Popularity. Reliable moving companies must have all three qualities in them.
4. Plan your whole budget
Before hiring a moving company, you must figure out your whole relocation budget. It will help you to make your future decisions. However, moving expenses depend on your items, travel distance, and many more. In general, a local move costs around 800-1200USD. On the other hand, an interstate move costs around 3000-5000 USD. You can also buy moving insurance for your move if you’re afraid that your items will get damaged. Moreover, you can ask the tax department if you can deduct moving expenses from your tax.
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5. Prepare a question set for the moving companies
It is important to ask crucial questions to a moving company. If you don’t know about things like the cancellation process or insurance coverage, you might get into trouble in the future. For this reason, you need to prepare a question set and ask. You can ask about their moving trucks or moving vans. Also, you can ask for packing tips.
7 Weeks Before Your Move
This week, the moving checklist will focus on listing different things.
1. Make a catalog for everything that needs to be moved
Start making a catalog for everything to be moved. You should always walk ahead of time. So, making a moving checklist of all the belongings in the seventh week will definitely give you benefits.
2. Get moving estimates in writing from different moving companies
Contract more than one moving company to get the full idea about the market. The more you talk with people, the more you will get benefited. We recommend you talk with at least three moving companies and get moving quotes in writing.
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3. Create a digital file of all moving-related files
Create a digital moving folder on Google Drive or Dropbox to store all moving-related files. Use the folder to store all the estimates, your catalog, packing strategy, etc. This will make you more organized.
4. Prepare your pets (if you have)
If you have dogs, you need to look for a dog-friendly neighborhood. Moreover, you must know the new locations of the veterinarians. Your new place should be ready for your pets to roam around.
5. Gather moving supplies
Start collecting moving boxes, bubble wraps, plastic wraps, and special tapes. All the boxes should be hard enough to hold your products. You can collect free boxes from restaurants, stores, and shops. You can also order packing materials online or buy from a physical store.
6 Weeks Before Your Move
Now it is time for a little bit of action. Work around your house and make minor arrangements for the upcoming move. Donate, pack, assemble, and sell as a preparation.
1. Start your packing process
You should start your packing process little by little from now. Open your catalog and select the items you won’t need in the weeks leading up to the move. It can be books, seasonal clothes, sports products, etc. If you want, you can add value to the catalog of each item you pack.
2. Donate unwanted products
After you start packing, you will find a lot of unwanted products in your catalog. You should donate these items to people. Because moving with less is always better. We always encourage you to donate your unwanted products to people in need.
3. Sell all non-donatable products
It is possible that you might not be able to donate or dump all of your unwanted products. You can sell those products online. Use Facebook marketplace, and Craigslist to do it faster.
4. Call and book your move
It is time to call and schedule your movers. Before scheduling, you need to look for affordable rates. If you want to keep your cost at a reasonable price, avoid peak season and weekends. So, your chosen moving date will affect the overall cost of the move.
5. Notify schools
If you have school-going kids, you should notify their schools about the move now. The earlier you notify the authorities, the earlier they will start the enrollment process. This will help your kids to get admitted into the new school.
6. Submit a request to update your address
It is time to submit a request for a change of address to the post office. Otherwise, it will be difficult to do so once you move out. You won’t like your important papers to reach you at the old house! So, it is better to submit the request before you move out.
7. Research unmovable items
Some items can not be moved into your new home. No matter how much you try, it is impossible to move from one place to another. You need to select those items and get rid of them before the big move.
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5 Weeks Before You Move
It is the right time to make a proper strategy for packing. Start notifying family and friends to keep everything on time.
1. Start emptying your refrigerator
Start eating your food from the refrigerator. If you figure out that you can not eat all of your pantry items, you can donate them to the local food bank. We recommend you not to buy excessive groceries before the move.
2. Notify friends and family about your move
It is time to notify your close friends, family members, and loved ones. Once you enter into the final four weeks of your move, it will be hard to remember. Send your new address to all of your friends and wish them luck.
3. Research packing hacks for more efficiency
There are too many videos, blogs, and posts about efficient packing. You can see the internet content and prepare yourself for the ultimate push.
4. Start packing room by room
Select one room first and finish all the packing then move on to another room. You will save a lot of time and energy doing this. Moreover, this process will help you to be organized. Use gathered packing supplies to pack your things.
5. Label your boxes
You must consider labeling your boxes one by one. You can use different kinds of labels for your boxes. Labels will help you identify products once you start unpacking your products in the new location. However, it is better to label the boxes according to room and fragility.
6. Notify the gym, library, and clubs
Notify the present gym, library, and clubs that you won’t be able to continue with them. Upgrade your membership before you move out. Payout anything if left out.
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4 Weeks Before You Move
Now is the time to start the real packing. But don’t just through here and there, work with a proper plan.
1. Start the real packing process
It is time for you to start actively packing. You need to bring out your catalog and pack all the things that you won’t need before the moving day. In this way, you will be way ahead of your time. Moreover, you can focus on other things on a moving day.
2. Make a plan for fragile and heavy items
You should have a clear plan for all the heavy and fragile items. Use bubble wrap to wrap up fragile items before putting them in the box. For heavy items like different appliances, pianos, and gun safes, hire specialized movers. If you do not put extra care into these items, they will cost you.
3. Get rid of hazardous products
You can not carry any kind of flammable or hazardous products with you. You can not also dump them anywhere. So, you need a solid plan to get rid of all hazardous products such as aerosol, fertilizers, paints, propane tanks, etc. You can leave them at the local hazardous waste faculty.
4. Confirm Everything with Your Movers
Now, it is time to confirm the date and time with your selected movers. Select your preferred date and time and confirm with them. Do not forget to tell them any other important plan of yours. It is very important that your movers know everything about your plan. Confirm all major details like insurance coverage with your selected moving company.
5. Confirm Car Shipping Service(If necessary)
If you need to ship your car from your old place to a new one, you need to confirm the date and time with the car shipping company.
6. Research different utility providers in your new area
Since you’re moving to a new area, you will need new utility providers. So, it is a good time to start researching for it, having a month in hand. However, If you’re moving to the same city, you can transfer your previous services to the new place.
3 Weeks Before You Move
Notify all possible service providers about your move and schedule a dismantle date.
1. Cancel all newspaper home delivery
Several weeks before the move, you need to cancel all the newspaper home delivery. You can look up your new neighborhood for these kinds of services. Before your move, you can read an online portal to cover your thirst.
2. Notify different service providers
Notify all the service providers about your move. Many service providers require time to cut off their service(such as ISP). So, it is better to notify them before your move. Otherwise, it will be a big hassle if they show up at your house on a moving day.
3. Separate valuable products
You need to separate all of your valuable items such as jewelry, valuable papers, family heirlooms, etc. Keep these valuable items out of the moving boxes. Try to carry these items with you. If you can not carry these with you, try to use trackable delivery services with insurance.
4. Take photos of your furniture
Take photos of your furniture. Not every minor scratch, ding, or damage. It will help you to claim your insurance if the moving company damages your furniture.
2 Weeks Before You Move
It’s time to be serious about our moving checklist. Notify your office about the move and submit an off-day request.
1. Return borrowed items
Return every borrowed item from your close friends, colleagues, co-workers, and employers. It might be possible that you will completely forget in the upcoming days. So, it is the right time to return borrowed items.
2. Do minor home repairs
Address all possible minor repairs and fix them as soon as possible. This will help you even in selling or renting the house. If it is not your own house, fixing minor damages is always a good thing to do.
3. Tie up all loose ends
Tie up all loose ends. Confirm that all of your moving papers are in the right place. Confirm that you’ve already checked your insurance. Confirm that you have already changed your address. All in all, check that you are ready to roll.
4. Submit a time off request in your office
Two weeks before, submit a time off request in your office. Since it is official, It is better to notify them two weeks earlier. This will make things easy for you.
5. Check your major appliances
If you’re moving different major appliances, check them and ensure they are ready to go. Moving appliances is always a tough job. So, it is required to ensure everything is okay.
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1 Week Before You Move
Steady yourself as fine as possible. Cut off all the utilities, double-check everything, and prepare yourself for the big day.
1. Clean your present place
You should clean your home before moving. If you can not do it yourself, you can call a cleaning service to do so. You must leave your old place neat and clean. This is a form of true gentlemanship.
2. Turn off all the utilities
With one week in hand, now is the time to turn off all the utility services. Payout everything if required. Dismantle every single utility service product such as routers, servers, etc. Check if the services are transferable or not. If it is, confirm your schedule with them.
3. Pack all the kitchenware
Since you have only one week left of your moving day, you can start packing all of your kitchenware. Put all the kitchenwares in different boxes according to their different sizes. Use a dish pack for packing kitchen dishes. During the last week, you can eat outside if necessary.
4. Finish all of your packing
After you finish packing all of the kitchenware, it is time to put a full stop to your packing. Bring out your catalog and pack all the single unmarked elements in there. No movable products should be left out.
5. Check the boxes again
After finishing the packing, check all the moving boxes. The boxes should be in the right condition. These should be stackable and be able to protect from minor damages. Remember boxes are the hero of your move. So, those should be on point.
6. Confirm with your moving company again
Quickly call your selected moving company and double-check your schedule. It might sound annoying, but it is safe to double-check every time.
7. Backup computers
If you are moving your computer, you will back up your computers. This way all of your data will get protection despite any unwanted damage.
8. Take care of the trash
Dispose of your trash in the nearest dustbin. You must dispose of your trash somewhere that it can be recycled again.
9. Withdraw cash to tip
Tipping is always a good thing to do. Be generous. So, withdraw cash to tip the movers, cleaners, and all other helpers during moving week.
The Day of the Move
The day of your move is finally here! The most awaited moment in our moving checklist. Time to see everything for the last time.
1. Bring Out the CATALOG
Bring out your previously made catalog and make sure everything is marked. It is important to take everything with you. It will be hard for you to come back for things if you leave them out.
2. All items are there
Make sure that all items are in your moving boxes, nothing is left behind.
3. All pictures are removed from the wall
All the walls should be clean. There should not be any hanging pictures on the wall. It is your responsibility to see this through.
4. Nothing is left inside of the appliances
All the appliances should be empty from the inside. The dishwasher should not have any dishes, the washing machine should not have any clothes inside, etc.
5. All rooms are clear
Take a look at all the rooms one by one and ensure that all rooms are empty.
6. The last tour of your present place
Take the last tour of your present but old place. Nothing should be left behind. Also, visit your new neighborhood. If there’s no space for your moving truck, ask your neighbors to move their cars.
7. Hand over your keys
Hand over keys to the owners of your old house and prepare yourself for another journey.
8. Pay for your move
After you complete moving to another place, pay the movers.
1 Week After You Move- Moving Checklist
New place, new people, a whole new journey!
1. Give a detailed review of your moving company
Now, one week later of your move, give a detailed review of the moving company. You should take time and write about all the factors of the company. If you have a bad experience, you have to let others know. Also, if you have a great experience, you must let everyone know.
2. Get rid of moving boxes and wraps
Dump all the moving boxes and wraps. These items will be of no use to you.
3. Install new services
Install all the new services from different utility service providers.
4. Explore your new neighborhood
Get out and explore your new neighborhood. Get yourself familiar with parks, stations, garages, malls, etc.
Whoa! Congratulations, you did a great job. We hope that our moving checklist helped you a lot.
Summary
So, a moving checklist can help make your move easier. While moving to a new place, plan your move two months before your move. You don’t want bad surprises on moving day. A Checklist can make sure your move is hassle-free. Check all the items on your checklist to help yourself have a great moving experience. If you are moving somewhere, make a plan to move first.
We have provided a comprehensive moving checklist you’ll ever need. Whether you’re moving locally, or it is a long-distance move, get the best moving services you need. There are many moving companies to choose from. Make sure to follow the checklist to avoid any moving scams. For a better experience, make a printable moving checklist.
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