[tabs tab1=”One Month Before” tab2=”Two Weeks Before” tab3=”One Week Before” tab4=”Moving day!” tab5=”After the Move“]
[tab id=”1”]
One Month Before Your Move
- Create a folder to organize your move information. Keep track of notes, estimates, receipts. Include an inventory of all items you will need help moving.
- Storage: If you need storage facilities, find and book a storage unit.
- School Records: If you are moving school districts, arrange for your children’s school records to be transferred.
- Supplies: Order boxes and other supplies such as tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, and permanent markers.
- Packing: Pack seasonal items (such as Christmas decorations, pool toys, etc.) that you will not need before your move. Challenge yourself to pack at least one box per day. This will save you a lot of stress down the road when you have fewer items to pack and will make you feel more prepared for your move.
- Floor Plans: Check room dimensions in your new home, if possible, and start making floor plans for how you would like your furniture to be placed. Being prepared to tell your movers exactly where each piece goes will save you time, money, and stress on move day.
- Contact Insurers: Let all of your insurers (home, vehicle, medical, etc.) know that you are moving. Ask your home insurer for details of your existing coverage and arrange for new coverage or transfer to your new home.
- Service workers: Give all service providers (gardeners, house keepers, etc.) notice you will be moving.
- Change of Address: Notify friends and family of your change of address if you have a firm moving date. Fill out the form online for the United States Post Office’s mail forwarding service. Change or cancel any subscriptions or memberships you may have.
- Separate Valuables: Put items such as jewelry and important files in a safe box that you can personally transport to your new home.
[/tab]
[tab id=”2″]
Two Weeks Before Your Move
- Work: Arrange to be off work on your moving day.
- Utilities: Contact utility companies and service providers to arrange to have your appliances/services disconnected and, if necessary, reconnected in your new home.
- Packing: If you are packing yourself, it is time to step up your packing game. Let your present self do your future self a favor; DO NOT wait until the week of your move to start packing everything by yourself. If you’re like everyone else and ignored recommendations from the professionals to start packing a month in advance, the good news is that you still have time! You can do it! WE BELIEVE IN YOU.
- Vehicle: If you are moving long distance, make sure your car is running well. Ask your mechanic what services might be needed, especially if you are moving to a different climate.
- Fridge and Pantry: Start finishing off the food you have stored, and stop buying frozen or perishable food that you won’t really be able to take with you.
- Fuel: If possible, go ahead and empty your lawnmower, weed-eater, etc. of fuel.
- Hazardous Materials: Dispose of any flammable or hazardous materials.
- Medicine: Refill any prescriptions you will need during the next couple of weeks.
[/tab]
[tab id=”3″]
One Week Before Your Move
- Appliances: If your refrigerator is moving with you, make sure to empty, clean, and defrost it at least 24 hours before moving day. Whether they are staying or going, clean all major appliances such as washing machines, dryers, and ovens.
- Paperwork: Check that all paperwork related to your house sale/rental/purchase is complete
- Computer Equipment: Pack up your computer and any other electronic equipment. Make sure to write down their serial numbers in your moving folder.
- Labels: Make sure all of your boxes are clearly labeled.
- Cleaning: Deep clean your current place from top to bottom. Get as much of the cleaning out of the way as you can so that you have less to do on move day. If you are renting, you’ll want to ensure the return of your security deposit. If you are selling, there is typically very little time between closing and the deadline for being out of your place. Do not wait until the last minute to deep clean! On move day you don’t want to have to do anything more than maybe vacuuming and very simple wipe-downs.
- Packing: If you are packing yourself, now is the time to pack all non-essentials. Pack suitcases for everyone in the family with enough clothes and toiletries to wear for a few days. Try to fit any remaining essentials in 1 box. If you can live out of your suitcase and 1 box for a few days, it will eliminate the packing stress leading up to your move and the unpacking stress after your move.
[/tab]
[tab id=”4″]
Moving Day!
- Rise: Get up early and do not panic! Take a few moments to breathe and stretch. You have a long day ahead, but you’ve luckily prepared to the best of your ability for it!
- Bedding: Take bedding off of your bed and pack it up.
- Walk-through: Do a walk-through of your house with the movers. Tell them what you need them to do and take their advice on the actual loading. Be very clear on the items that do not need to be moved. You can even mark them so that the movers do not waste any time. Remember: the more thorough you are in communicating your expectations with the movers, the more quickly and smoothely the move will go.
- New Residents: Leave a note of your name, new address, and contact number for the new residents of your home so they can forward any mail, return any forgotten items, or ask any questions they may have about the house.
- Final Walk-through: Have a final walk around to make sure you have remembered everything – do this BEFORE the moving truck leaves!
- Keys: Make sure you have the keys to your new residence and drop off your current keys as arranged.
- Leaving: Do any last minutes vacuuming and wipe-downs, switch everything off, lock up, say goodbye, and head out to your new home!
At Your New Home
- Utilities: Check to make sure everything is working at your new home (gas, power, etc.) – if not, call the appropriate people to find out why!
- Supervision: Supervise the unloading process to get everything where you want it. 6th Man Movers will place your belongings wherever you want them. Give the movers detailed instructions of where to place items. This is where the floor plans you made a month ago come in REALLY handy! If you enable your movers to place all of your items down in the correct spot the first time, you will save money.
- Cleaning: Clean your new home before you begin to unpack your items.
[/tab]
[tab id=”5″]
After Your Move
- Unpacking: Unpack your items logically, working from essential to non-essential items. Life Pro Tip: You should seriously consider purging items that are so non-essential that they are still in boxes a month after your move. Unless it’s a seasonal item, you probably don’t need something that has been in a box for a month.
- Appliances: Hook up all of your major appliances.
- Give Us a Call: 6th Man Movers is here to help! We are committed to continuing customer support. If you have questions about your move, questions about local service providers, or just need a recommendation for a good restaurant if you are new to town, give us a call at (615) 830-1313.
Finally… YOU DID IT! You survived a major life transition! CONGRATULATIONS! Dance like nobody’s watching.
[youtube id=”S32bgx36G-0″ width=”700″ height=”390″ fullwidth=”yes”][/tab]
[/tabs]
[button link=”https://sixthman.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/6MM_Moving-Checklist.doc” color=”default” size=”large” title=”Download a PDF of the Moving Checklist” target=”_self” rel=”nofollow”]Print Moving Checklist[/button]
