Whether it’s your first time moving into a new home or you’ve moved many times before, there is still a laundry list of things you need to do as you prepare for this new chapter of your life. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, preparing for a move can take months and cause a lot of stress on you and your family. Luckily, there are many ways to plan ahead to make the entire experience much more tolerable and to ensure the transition from one home to another goes without any hiccups.
If you already have your new home picked out or you’re just eager to get ahead in the process, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve developed a guide to help you check-off all the essential items on your to-do list.
Get Organized
The first step to take when preparing for a move is to get organized. There are many moving parts and making sure you have everything readily available as you need it is key. Here are a few ways you can get yourself organized from the start:
- Create a binder to hold all your important documents: receipts, contracts, loans, lease agreement, budget information, movers’ contact and invoices, important addresses, permits, schedule, etc.
- Identify all the utilities you’ll need to transfer and let your service provider know ahead of time.
- Start collecting packing supplies — boxes, tape, and packaging. Pro tip: check-in with friends and family and contact local furniture stores as they will sometimes provide their unused boxes free of charge.
- Begin researching moving companies if you’ll need one. If you plan to move during a particularly busy time period, you may need to book their services months in advance.
- Conduct a home inventory prior to packing and make notes on where the items should go in your new home. This will help you keep track of valuables that may get lost or damaged in the move and will help you file a claim should you need to. Learn more about how to conduct a home inventory here.
Create A Checklist
Even if you’re a seasoned mover, it’s easy to forget small steps in the moving process. If you create a checklist, you minimize your risk of failing to transfer a service, notify your insurance agent of your move, or other essential tasks. Today, there are a number of simple ways to create a checklist from the convenience of your mobile device that will also help guide you if you’re a first-time mover. This should be a comprehensive checklist that includes everything from setting a budget for expenses to transferring your mailing address at the post office.
Downsize
Once you know you’ll be moving, it’s time to start thinking about getting rid of any items you don’t plan to take with you. From furniture to clothes, books, and more, it’s far easier to minimize before you move rather than after. If you have a lot of items, you might want to hold a garage sale, list your items online, or simply donate to a local organization in need.
Prepare For Packing
When you’re preparing for a move, the biggest task you’ll have to complete is packing up all your belongings. Though it may be more work in the beginning, if you take the time to stay organized and do it properly, you’ll be thankful when it comes time to unpack. Consider these steps to make the most of your packing:
- Purchase the right supplies — measure items ahead of time and find boxes that are the appropriate size and shape.
- Trust the experts and do your research. There are a number of hacks to help make packing easier. If you don’t know where to start, go online.
- Pack your home in stages. If you’re not moving in a hurry, prolong the process and do a little each day. Begin with items you’re not using now or won’t need to use immediately after your move and go from there.
- Properly label your boxes. Make sure you have the name of the item, the location it should go in your new home, details for handling the box (ex. fragile), and consider adding a photo to the side of the box if you’re not sure how to label it.
- Make the most of your space. If you’re using a moving company, they’ll have the proper equipment to move heavy boxes with ease. Don’t be afraid to fill your boxes to the brim for fear of being too heavy.
Prepare Your New Home
Hopefully, you will have some time to visit your new home before you arrive. If you do, take the opportunity to measure doorways and stairs to make sure your furniture will fit. Also, whether you’re renting or purchasing your new home, explore your options for renters and home insurance so that your plan is active from the day you move in. Visit our website to find an agent who can help guide you through the process.
Tie Up Loose Ends
A couple of weeks before your move, make sure you’ve completed the following tasks to avoid any unexpected complications:
- Change your address with banks, insurance companies, the post office, and the DMV.
- Cancel subscriptions or memberships you won’t be able to use once you move.
- Confirm dates and times with your movers and any other workers who may be coming to your new or old home for repairs or services.
- Begin cleaning out your refrigerator, but don’t forget to leave out a few essentials to have on hand.
- Pack items for your family that they’ll need available immediately following the move: pajamas, toiletries, medication, etc.
- Clean up the home and if you were renting, make sure it’s in the same condition you moved in so that you get your security deposit back.
We hope these tips will help you and your family move from one home to another without any glitches. For information on how our team at Quincy Mutual can help you through all of life’s changes, please visit our website.