Moving to a new place isn’t just a matter of jumping up, packing a few bags and going on your merry way. Most people have loads of belongings to sort through, not to mention rooms full of furniture to transport. This process can be quite challenging, even for the most organized individual. Before you set off to a new home, you should plan your relocation weeks in advance. Here’s our step-by-step guide to stress free moving with a free printable moving checklist.
Jump to:
- Moving Out Checklist
- Boxing It All Up
- The Night Before Your Move
- Moving Day: Moving Into A New House
- Moving Day Tips
- After The Move: House Checklist
- Printable Moving Checklists
Moving Out Checklist
Preparing to Movie: First Steps
Give Notice: You should start planning your move at least five weeks out. That may sound like plenty of time, but moving is a big job and there’s a lot of work to be done. Start with giving your landlord an advanced notice of your intentions to move, and review your lease to make sure there aren’t any surprise clauses that would interfere with your relocation.
Create a Moving Timeline: This is also the time to search for moving companies and compare pricing. Focus on what service fits best with your needs, but try to stay within your budget. You should then create a to-do list for the next coming weeks.
How To Prepare For A Move: 4 Weeks Out
Things to Remember Early on:
Take this time to notify your kids’ school about the relocation, and start researching schools in your new area. Make a list of everything that you need to pack your things, as well as a list of things you’re bringing with you.
Things You Need When Moving, And Things You Don’t:
Around four weeks before the move, start getting rid of clutter and things that you don’t want to take with you. Have a garage sale or send off items that you want to give to charity. Then, purchase supplies like scissors, markers, and other packing materials to help you stay organized during the transition.
How To Organize A Move: 3 Weeks Out
Accomplish Those Moving Out Essentials:
When you get to this point, it’s time to kick things up a notch. Book your moving company and schedule the date and time of the big day. Start packing small things like books and other non-essential items. Be sure to label the boxes so that you know exactly what they are when you get to your new place. You should also contact the utility company to have your service moved to the new location on your scheduled date of arrival. This is something that you’ll definitely want to stay on top of so that your lights, gas, and cable will be on and waiting for you.
Two Weeks Out on Your Moving Timeline
Finish Your Moving List:
By the time you get to two weeks out from your move, the fact that you’re leaving your old place will start to seem real, if it hasn’t already. It’s now time to clean out the fridge, and start eating foods that don’t need to be kept cold. (Potato chips, anyone?) If you’re moving pets, prepare to have them transported, or if they won’t be going with you, find them a new home. This is also a good time to ensure that your car insurance is in order, and to tell the insurance company about your intentions to relocate. If you’re leaving work, then draft your two-week notice and turn it in as well.
Finishing Your Relocation Checklist: One Week Out
Final Moving Tips:
At the one-week mark, you should be knee deep in packing. Plan to personally escort your jewelry and other expensive items to the new place. You should also have a suitcase handy, packed with plenty of necessities, just in case your moving truck arrives at the new house a bit later than you do. Another important item to take care of at this time is the change of address with the post office. Let’s review moving out week by week with our infographic.
Boxing It All Up
You’ll need boxes (and plenty of them) to fully organize your belongings. You may be able to get them free from places like the office supply store, bookstore, and the local grocery store. These businesses get deliveries on a daily basis, and often have stacks of boxes on hand that they would be more than happy to get rid of. Liquor stores and home improvement stores are also good places to check.
It’s important to pay close attention to how you pack objects, as heavy items will likely fall out the bottom of a box that’s not folded correctly.
The Night Before Your Move
Now that you’re all packed up and ready to go, there are still a few things left to do the night before you move. First off, defrost the freezer and refrigerator, and clean them out thoroughly. You should also clean your pantries and throw out any old food containers. Check every room in the house and make sure that there’s nothing left behind. You don’t want to leave that canvas print of your children, or your go-to weekend sweatshirt. Be sure to vacuum and dust every room, and leave the place in good condition before you head out.
Moving Day: Moving Into A New House
When the big day arrives, you’ll be more than anxious to finish the move. Do your best to focus on moving on box at a time. Make sure you any pets are safe as they’re transported separately or going off to a new home. You should also pack your car with the expensive items that you’ll be transporting. Once everything is out of the house, do a few checks of each room to make sure nothing is left behind. Above all, take it easy, as it’s going to be a long day.
Moving Day Tips
If you’re still a little nervous about making the big move, here are some tips to make things go a little bit smoother.
- Help the movers by providing snacks and beverages for them. This will give them an incentive to be a little bit gentler with your items.
- It’s also a good idea to give movers a tip; $20 to $25 is the normal tipping amount.
- It’s important make sure no one damages the rooms while working, as repair costs could come out of your security deposit.
- Always write down the final numbers of your meter readings for the utility company. This can help verify that services were terminated on the date you requested.
- Give the movers your mobile number in case you lose touch with one another. To make things easier, order calling cards to hand out the day of.
- When you get to your new home, tape the names of rooms to your new doors so that movers know where to place the boxes.
- Finally, check the utilities in the house before you settle in.
After The Move: House Checklist
Once you arrive at your new place, it’s important to update your address with everyone that you associate or do business with. This includes the utility companies, the Postal Service, cable and internet providers, and your employer. Send a moving announcement to family and friends to give them the new address, and don’t forget to have new address labels made out.
Relocating to a new place, whether it be two blocks over, or thousands of miles away is a big job. It’s important to get started weeks in advance to ensure a smooth transition. Use this as your guide to stress free moving, and make the process more manageable.
Printable Moving Checklists
Now that you are prepared for your big move, here are two printable moving checklists. These checklists encompass everything you’ve learned through the article and are extremely useful even if you are five weeks away from your move or even if it’s the day of.
You’re not being forced to move mountains, but during the hectic weeks before and on the day of a big move it can seem as if you might as well be trying to. You’ve most likely been taking deep breaths and may have even squeezed the stress ball, but let’s face it, moving is time consuming. Aside from a few stress relief rituals, the only thing that could make this transition a little easier would applying all the moving tips within the article to assist with a smooth transition. We found that it’s all about making a schedule and sticking to it.
With our to-do list, you’ll be saying goodbye to your moving stress one check mark at a time. You can check out our moving checklist infographic or embed the infographic on your site with the code below. Remember these steps and before you know it you’ll be settled into your new humble abode. Happy moving!
