Moving Checklist: Day-by-Day Organization is Key

Once you have gone through the tedious task of gathering estimates, comparing and then finally choosing a moving service that best meets your needs, you then have to start dealing with the preparations for moving day. Preparing in advance and being organized will help you avoid mishaps that can occur during your move. Our professionals recommend starting preparations eight weeks in advance.
We have provided here a detailed checklist for you to keep at hand during your preparations for moving day and during the moving process itself. Once you have set a date for moving day, you can make your own calculations when you should start according to our checklist.

6-8 weeks before moving:

• Create a Folder where you will keep moving estimates, receipts, and bills related to your move. Keep record of your moving expenses, you can deduct them on your income taxes.

• Finalize Moving Details – By now you should have finalized all the details related to your move, meaning that you have already chosen a moving service and settled on a moving date and booked any additional services you might need. If you plan to move between May and September, which is the busiest time for moving companies, then get your estimates even earlier – at least 4 months in advance.

• Determine which items you wish to keep and which you want to dispose of – Organize a yard sale or donate items you don’t need, a lighter load can cut costs on your move.

• Packing Supplies – Collect packing items either from the moving company in question or from retail stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets.

• Travel Arrangements – Make all travel arrangements such as hotels, flights, car rentals at this time

• Return Borrowed Items – Start returning items that you may have borrowed from friends and family.

• Arrange for Transfer of School Records – begin the process of registering in the new school where you are relocating too.

• Gather Medical Records – Organize your medical records and keep them aside in an easy to access the folder.

4-5 weeks before moving

• Change of Address – Contact your post office and inform them of the change of address so that mail may be re-routed to you. Inform friends and family, utility companies, banks, and financial institutions, credit card agencies, subscription providers of your change of address.

3 weeks before moving

• Travel Arrangements for Pet – Make arrangements for your pets to be moved. Get your pet’s health checkup done at your veterinarian. Get appropriate inoculations done. Pets require health certificates that are not more than 10 days old, arrange for this certificate to be obtained at the correct time

2 weeks before moving

• Have kids clean out the gym and school lockers

• Cancel Newspapers

• Prepare Your Vehicle – Have your car serviced if you are planning to move by car.

• Drain Your Lawn Mower – as well as any other tools of all oil and gasoline so that they may be transported safely and without any untoward incident

• Arrange for Utilities to be Disconnected the day after you have moved. Arrange for new utilities to be connected to your new home on the day you reach or the day after.

1 week before moving

• Collect your Dry Cleaning – and any items that you may have sent out for repairs. Ascertain that all your belongings are at home and none are out for one reason or the other.

• Prepare Appliances – Make a list of appliances that will be moving with you. Disconnect and clean them so that they are ready to be moved with you.

• Settle Bills with your local grocer and other people who provide you your daily needs.

• Use Up Food – Try and use up perishable food, like frozen food from your freezer.

1 day before moving

• Prepare Your Computer – Back up all your computer data and then disassemble your computer.

• Prepare Separate Box – Prepare a box of things that you will need on arrival at your new home.

• Defrost Refrigerator – See that your refrigerator is defrosted and cleaned.

Moving day

• Be Ready for Movers – Make sure you are available when the movers arrive so as to guide them with your belongings.

• Start Loading the Moving Truck Early – If you are going to do a self-move, go and pick up your truck as early as possible.

• Be Present During Loading and Inventory – See that you are present with the driver during inventory and check the condition of your goods before they get hauled onto the truck.

• Take One Last Look – Make a final survey of your house to ensure that nothing is left behind

• Lock Up -Lock your windows and doors and turn off all your switches.

• Plan the Layout in Your New Home – and be ready to direct them which boxes and furniture go in which rooms.

We hope you have found this checklist useful and that you settle in successfully into your new home after a smooth moving process.