Congratulations, you've closed on your new home or signed your new lease! Now it's time to think about the moving process
Packing and moving are not easy feats, but there's no reason that the processes can't be easier with careful planning in advance. Creating an organized, proactive strategy for your move over a reasonable duration prevents a lot of headaches.
If you're a procrastinator or proactive planner, we've put together a checklist of things to keep in mind while planning your move:
6 Weeks Before
- Create a list of people who will need to know your change of address
- Family and Friends
- Current Workplace(s) and former workplaces (W-2 forms)
- Insurance and credit card companies
- Cable and telephone companies
- Subscription delivery services (ex: Amazon Prime, Uber Eats)
- If you're planning on hiring a company, compare prices of moving services in your area
- If you're planning on doing the move yourself, contact friends and family willing to help and compare prices of truck rentals
- Start thinking about items you plan to keep or get rid of via selling, donating or disposing of
- Buy moving supplies, in bulk if necessary
- Boxes
- Packing tape
- Scissors
- Sharpies or any brand of permanent markers
- Bubble wrap
- Padded quilts (can be rented from moving company)
- Twine
- Reusable bags and containers
- Pro Tip: Stop by your local liquor store and ask for boxes to use for your move—these smaller boxes are great for transporting household items
4 Weeks Before
- Figure out which items will need special packaging or delivery to your new home
- Make copies of your important documents in case they are misplaced or stolen during the move
- Begin packing your belongings, starting with the items you do not immediately use (ex: seasonal clothing, guest room) and moving onto room decorations
- Begin organizing items for a moving yard-sale or donation drop-offs to Goodwill, local shelters, and food pantries
- Confirm with friends and family who had committed to helping with your move
- Schedule/Confirm moving services
- Pro Tip: Labeling your boxes will save you plenty of time and spare yourself from headaches while unpacking. Note what it is contained in each box on a "master inventory list" on a GoogleDoc, as well as organize boxes by room
1-2 Weeks Before
- Decide who will be the key person to coordinate move-in day for people to ask questions
- Confirm that your utilities are set up and ready for your new home
- Confirm that your utilities will no longer be in service in your old home after your move is complete
- Set aside essential items (ex: toiletries, change of clothing) from the remaining items that must be packed
- Set aside cleaning supplies needed to prepare for move-in day
- Reduce the number of perishable foods you normally purchase and use as much food that is already in your food pantry
- Pro Tip: If you have perishable food items that cannot be donated or unused, host a party with friends and family and feature a "free table," allowing guests to take odds and ends as they wish. This is a fun way to reduce potential waste.
Day of
- Make sure everyone has the contact information for the key moving coordinator and other collaborators as needed
- Pack the moving trucks with the heaviest items first, then group boxes together by room
- Ensure that fragile items are carefully placed
- Provide water and snacks throughout the day and order food for family and friends helping out—they are doing a huge favor!
Additional Resources
- 68 Moving Packing Tips and Tricks (The Frugal Girls)
- Moving Packing Tips (Real Simple)
- 41 Easy Moving And Packing Tips That Will Make Your Move Dead Simple (MakeSpace)
