A successful move starts with a solid plan. Even though moving can bring a great deal of stress into your life, it doesn’t have to. Starting early and getting organized can mean the difference between scrambling in panic and approaching your big day with grace and confidence.
8 to 12 Weeks Before The Move
Now is the time to purge. Go through all of your family’s belongings and decide what you should keep and what you are ready to get rid of. Decluttering is an overwhelming process, so keep a few principles in mind. Anything you haven’t used in the past year, you can probably do without. If an item doesn’t bring you joy, maybe it’s time to let it bless someone else’s family. Does your family have old clothes they no longer need? Are the kids holding on to broken toys they haven’t played with in years? Anything that has outlived its useful life can get thrown out. But if your stuff is still in good condition, try selling it in a garage sale or online marketplace to help finance your move. Just remember, the more you purge, the less you have to pack.
6 Weeks Before The Move
Now it’s time to take care of some home management tasks. Will you need a new childcare service? Make sure this is set in place. You’ll also need to enroll children in school, set up utilities, and make living arrangements if your new home isn’t ready on moving day. This is also the time to get insurance quotes for both home and auto. Rates vary depending on where you live, so shop around and compare prices. Now is a great time to book your moving company, as well. The professionals at Early Bird Moving provide efficient, safe, and fast moving services to get you settled into your new home. Whether you are moving neighborhoods or over a long distance, they can professionally wrap, pack, and transport everything in your home to make your move-in day go seamlessly.
4 Weeks Before The Move
Now the fun begins! It’s time to pack away as much as possible. If you’ve decluttered, this job just got a whole lot easier. To protect your belongings, make sure you are using sturdy boxes and fill negative space with packing peanuts, newspaper, or other packing material. Wrap valuables in bubble wrap to prevent chipping or breakage while you move them to your new home. As you pack, make sure all boxes are labeled according to room and ownership. This makes the moving process more organized and less chaotic. Keep a master list of all items you pack so you can keep track of anything that may be missing after the move. As you pack, try planning your meals around your frozen foods and most perishable items. This will reduce waste and save money.
1 to 2 Weeks Before The Move
This close to the big day, you’ll focus on tying up loose ends. If you haven’t yet, make sure you have approved time off of work for moving and a day or two for rest after. You can also contact your insurance company to ask if they cover your belongings during the move. If you discover you aren’t covered, consider purchasing moving insurance. Make sure each member of the family has a few days’ worth of essentials, such as toiletries, clothing, cell phone and charger, laptops, and medication easily accessible. You will not unpack and organize the entire house in one day, and you don’t want to be left scrambling as you try to find these important items. Finally, keep a small fund available for meals until you can buy groceries and have your kitchen available for regular use.
The Big Day
You should only have absolute necessities to pack at this point. Anything left over needs to be packed and ready for the movers to arrive. Keep kids and pets as far away from the action as possible, since this is a busy day. Communication is key, so double check with your driver that they have the correct delivery address, and make sure you exchange contact information. Most important, once your moving team arrives, relax and let them do the heavy lifting.
Before you dive into your preparation, make a list of what needs to get done and any changes occurring because of the move. Will you have to find new doctors, hair stylists, dry cleaning services, or auto repair shops? Each family’s situation is unique, so by creating a list of your specific needs, you will stay more focused and organized. Just make sure there’s water in the radiator and your tyres are full because the last thing you want is car troubles on the drive to your new home.
