Bharat SainiLast Updated on January 17, 2024 by Bharat Saini
The process of packing up your whole life and relocating can feel totally overwhelming. Ugh, where do you even start?
Breathe easy. Just follow this trusty 15-step moving prep checklist to keep your sanity intact:
1. Start Decluttering ASAP
Begin aggressively sorting through every single closet, drawer, and cabinet in your home now, not the week before moving. Be utterly ruthless in getting rid of items you haven’t touched in years and realistically will never use again – donated goods could change someone’s life. The fewer items you have to box up and transport, the lighter your moving workload will be. Have a garage sale to make extra cash and clear more unused home goods, or use convenient apps that help resale items.
2. Do Your Homework Selecting Movers
Thoroughly vet and interview multiple licensed and insured moving companies before committing. Obtain binding itemized quotes from each outlining all projected costs, including fees for additional services such as packing/unpacking or piano moving specialists. Check ratings on BBB, Yelp, and Angie’s List, and query the company for past customer references. Call references to gain insight into movers’ responsiveness, timeliness, care with delicate items, and overall performance. Experienced Move4U Movers have the right equipment like dollies, ramps and lifting straps to safely transport bulky items up stairs or around corners.
3. New Home – Confirm Ready Status
Schedule final thorough walkthroughs of the new property once all needed structural work, cleaning, and agreed-upon repairs are confirmed fully finished by contractors. Closely test all appliances/electronics, plumbing fixtures, HVAC, and electrical to identify and resolve any outstanding deficiencies immediately. Ensure everything is clean and functional before your stuff arrives.
4. Notify Key Contacts About Address Change
Be proactive with submitting USPS mail forwarding requests and change of physical address notifications to critical services providers – financial institutions, healthcare facilities, and insurance companies should be updated to prevent any lapses in correspondence or coverage. Also inform close family/friends, schools, subscription services, etc. about relocating.
5. Measure Meticulously For Identical Furniture Positioning
To precisely help movers replicate layouts when unloading and assist in assembling new rooms identical to existing spaces, meticulously measure down to 1/4 inch and diagram details of current furniture, electronics, and wall decor positioning. Photograph room setups from multiple angles for easy visual replication when redecorating a new home.
6. Recruit Member of Move-In Crew
Call close family members or trusted friends with strong backs and positive attitudes to recruit their assistance on the actual move-in day. Delegate them responsibilities like unpacking fine china or placing towels in bathrooms while you direct the traffic of movers.
7. Create Detailed Floor Plans
Map the new home’s floor plan accurately indicating all windows, doors, and permanent fixtures. Mark exact furniture arrangements room-by-room. Provide copies to movers.
8. Schedule Service Transfers
Contact your current internet, cable, security monitoring, and utility services providers to shut off services permanently on your scheduled move-out date at your old residence. Research equivalent providers that service your new neighborhood and schedule installation of services in advance so they are all connected and functional on your actual move-in day without any multi-day gaps going without electricity, security, or wifi. Confirm scheduled home visit dates and convenient service windows.
9. Pack Room By Room
Pack up each room individually, labeling the sides of boxes clearly with permanent marker noting room assignment and contents. Catalog all items on a numbered box inventory spreadsheet with description lists for easy locating during unpacking later. Safely pack most fragile items first but set aside labeled “Essentials” boxes for each room to be unloaded first before unpacking valuables. Leave beds assembled with linens and basics needed the first night before full unpacking.
10. Back-Up Irreplaceable Data
Digitize or back up to protected external hard drives indispensable computer files and cherished photos you could never physically replace. Consider additional backup to secure, encrypted cloud storage for protection against hardware failures or disasters. Be aware certain sensitive financial documents and private information may require secure destruction protocols before hard drive recycling rather than packing the old units. Know the risks.
11. Buy Quality Moving Boxes
Do not scavenge free boxes from grocery or liquor stores. Invest in fresh, high-quality cardboard moving boxes designed to securely hold specific weights and remain intact under heavy books or electronics without ripping or denting while stacked high in trucks. Label box content masters lists taped to each corresponding box.
12. Create a Numbers Inventory
Catalog all valued or sentimental belongings on a master inventory spreadsheet with assigned box numbers for what got packed where for easy cross-referencing location during chaotic move-in unpacking aftermath. Note exact item descriptions, brands, serial or model numbers, original purchase dates/locations, original costs, and estimated replacement values for potential future insurance claims documentation.
13. Calculate Complete Costs
Obtain binding written quotes from full-service professional movers outlining guaranteed not-to-exceed pricing on packing, transit costs, and complete unpacking services. Compare at least 3 quotes aligned in scope for accurate apples-to-apples cost analysis by household size.
14. Set Furniture Delivery Dates
If purchasing new beds, sofas, appliances, or other large furniture for a recently acquired home, proactively schedule confirmed delivery dates with each retailer to be staggered across 14-30 days following your target move-in goal date. Have existing belongings unloaded and placed first according to floor plans before filling any visual gaps with coordinating new furniture pieces you acquired later.
15. Prep Easy First-Day Meals
Freeze-prepared casseroles or purchase some gift cards now for neighborhood takeout places to use post-move when utterly exhausted from hours of physical exertion. Stock the freezer with quick-to-reheat nourishing comfort foods requiring minimal effort.
Moving is smoother sailing when you plan proactively. Tackle this checklist in advance so that when it’s gone time, everything falls neatly into place!
