For those who are frequent readers here on the Movers Who Blog platform, you’ve probably noticed us mention numerous times the best way to eliminate moving day stress is through preparation and organization!
Above anything else you can do, these two key areas will drastically decrease the anxiety you might feel about moving because it will limit unwanted variables and give you flexibility if there are changes in your schedule. One of the best ways to stay prepared and organized during the entire moving process is through the utilization of moving checklists!
These checklists are essential to a positive moving experience, helping you stay on schedule with what needs to be done and serving as a road map for your move. Moving day is just one piece of the puzzle; you start the process of home moving weeks in advance of the actual moving day, packing up your belongings and making arrangements to get your life from one home to the next.
From hiring movers to scheduling a move date, determining what to keep and what to part ways with, and more – it’s a lot to take in, and a moving checklist helps visualize the entire process into one place making it manageable.
One place to get a free, mobile checklist is through our movetrac software, which you can access here.
For those who want to see an example of what a moving checklist might look like for them, we’ve built out a sample below!
One month before your move
- Contact, schedule, and hire a mover as soon as you know you are planning to complete a home move to ensure you get the moving day you want.
- Begin the cleaning of various areas of your home – closets, attics, garage, etc.
- Begin changing your local address where necessary in areas like mailing, insurance, school records, and so on.
- Purchase moving boxes and packing supplies to help get things rolling on your move – local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise locations offer a wide-variety of moving and packing supplies to fit all of your moving needs.
1-2 weeks before moving day
- Start canceling anything that is tied to what will soon be your past home address – Internet, cable, newspapers, or any labor services you receive around your home.
- Call all of your local utility companies and be sure they know the exact day to stop charging your old home address for services.
- Start the packing process and go room by room so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Be sure to properly label and organize boxes so you know where everything is on moving day.
The week of moving day
- Finish up any last-minute cleaning around your home and ensure everything is set for when you officially move out.
- Continue working on packing all your belongings, working to have all belongings packed and ready to go before moving day arrives. For items you no longer need, donate them to a charitable cause or sell them, if possible.
- Make transportation plans for the day of the move so you know how you’re getting to the new place. If you have kids or pets, develop a plan that fits their needs, too, and figure out where they will be while the move is taking place.
The day before moving day
- Get in contact with your moving company to double-check that everything is set in stone for the ensuing moving day. If you’re moving with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we will send a pre-move email solidifying all important details of your move.
- Ensure all breakable items have been removed from dresser drawers and packed away.
- Take out some cash to hold you over during the moving process. This might come in handy if you need to get some pizza or snacks during the day!
- Complete any final cleaning of your home and appliances.
Moving day
- Pack an essentials bag for items you can access immediately when arriving at your new home. This can include anything from chargers to toothbrushes, quick snacks, etc.
- Make sure there is a clear moving path inside and outside of your home for movers to navigate.
- Be sure you are at the home when the professional movers arrive so that you are accessible should they have any questions or concerns.
- Once the movers have loaded everything onto the moving truck, do one final walkthrough of the home and make sure nothing was left behind. Finally – go say goodbye to your neighbors!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.