We know that moving day can be very stressful, believe me, we’ve all been through it at one point or another. But that does not mean you need to freak out, because we’re here to help you! Read this article to make the transition to your new home a smoother one!
There is no point in stressing out about things you cannot fix. So, trust that the landlord has the property ready for you to move in. This is not the time to be thinking about possible damages to the property and repairs you may or may not need. Instead, focus your energies on things in your control, such as packing and arranging your things. But let’s start at the top. First things first, make a checklist.
Making a checklist can be very useful. It helps remind you of things you need to get done before a certain period of time. They can help you stay organized, and better manage your time, so that you are not left scrambling around on the last day, completing things that needed to be done weeks ago.
Make a checklist of the things you need to pack and take with you. Check them off one by one as you get things done. You can make generalized checklists, as well as specialized ones. General checklists could include points such as ‘pack clothes’ and ‘choose final five pairs of shoes to take along’, whereas specialized ones could include ‘fold and pack all jeans’ and ‘pack white formal pants’.
Think about what served you well but you no longer need, what didn’t serve you, and what you will need in your new place. Sell or donate the things you no longer need or never used. Instead of hauling them to the new place, use this opportunity to declutter. Someone else can benefit from what’s just occupying space in your house without adding value to you.
Some companies help you to move while others help you to pack and move. Depending on the level of service you prefer, pick the company that’s right for you.
Now that you have your checklists in order and have finalized what things are going with you and what things you need to donate to Goodwill, you will need to start packing. For this, you will need to start collecting empty boxes, cartons, and cases for all your things. It is recommended that you start finding boxes at least one month before you plan to move. You can purchase these boxes from your local convenience store, or even buy them online on websites such as Craigslist from others who have just completed moving. You may even need to arrange for a moving van if you have too many things to fit inside your car or furniture with you. The advantage of using a company to transport your things is that on moving day you don’t have to lift the heavy things and you can leave it to the pros who are better equipped for such tasks, knowing your things will get to their destination safe and sound. There is also an option to track your driver, which makes it even more convenient!
Once you have your boxes in order, start putting things inside of them. It may be easier for you if you also label them. If you are packing glass or china, make sure you label it ‘fragile!’, so that you or the moving company is extra careful with the box. This will prevent any breakage from occurring. Labeling your boxes will also make unpacking that much easier. Pack and clearly label things that you need as soon as you move so that you can spot those boxes first and meet your immediate needs while you take the time to unpack the rest.
There are several moving companies. Some are local movers while others focus on certain states and yet others help you move to across the nation or internationally. To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of the top-rated moving companies in the country. They are as follows:
Flatrate moving.
Website: www.flatrate.com
American Professional Transportation
Website: www.movingapt.com
Mayflower Transit
Website: www.mayflower.com
United Van Lines
Website: www.unitedvanlines.com
If, perhaps, you live alone and have to work on the days following the move, consider reaching out to a friend or family member. Ask them if they can come over and help you pack or sort through things. An extra hand can always be of help!
Before you move to your new property, make sure you have a map of the rooms, and layout of the area. This way you can better plan what furniture to take and what goes where. Take only the furniture that will fit in your new place. Oversized or custom made furniture may not transfer well to the new place. It will save you the anxiety of moving there and then realizing you did not bring the appropriate furniture with you, or perhaps you have too much or too little. Map it out and plan before you move to make things easier on yourself. One can never be too prepared!
About a month before you plan to move, start cleaning out your old property, including the garden, provided you have one. If you live someplace you have rented, you will obviously need to clean everything out before you give your landlord the keys. Start by throwing away rubbish. You can also donate your things if you wish, but be thoughtful before you do. No one likes using broken things or wearing torn clothes. Set aside a box where you can put in all the things you want to donate, and another for the things you want to throw away. The sooner you start, the better, as it will help ease the tension of moving day. Also, by doing this in advance, you don’t have to haul things that no longer serve you. Give them to someone else who will benefit either through a garage sale or donation.
It is always best if you can move on a weekend or a day off. However, if that is not possible and you can only move on a day you have to work, perhaps because of the availability of airplane tickets or some other commitment, inform your boss beforehand that you will need time off. Let them know the reason so that they may grant you the time off. Do this well in time so that there are no last-minute problems from either side.
It is of course understandable that you cannot pack your toothbrush and set it aside three weeks before you move. There are many things you will need to pack last-minute. These things cannot be packed beforehand, such as some of your clothes, toiletries, and cutlery. To avoid last-minute confusion, stress, and the scenario of half your things being left behind, start by packing some of the non-essential items in your house. These can include out-of-season clothes, linens, books and novels, and perhaps the basket on top of your bookshelf, packed with nail polishes in every imaginable color. If you do this, you will have much less to pack in the last few days of moving, and thus reduce stress levels too.
Other than packing and sorting, there are a few more things you need to do. Call up the new property’s landlord and make sure the unit has running water, electricity, and gas. Ask about internet and television connectivity too. If that is something you have to manage on your own, make sure you do it well in time. Research and ask around to get the best deals possible, because well… everyone likes saving money! If you do not know anyone in the area you are moving to, ask your landlord to hook you up with some good packages. This is important so that if you are working remotely you can continue your work as soon as you move in. Even if your work is not remote, you do not want to miss any important emails!
Re-direct your mail to your new address and let family and friends know you are moving too so that they do not send any packages to your old address. Another good thing to do would be to start using up the food in your freezer. Do this about two to three weeks before you move. This includes frozen foods that you cannot take with you and of course, fresh food too.
If you have any pets that are coming along with you to your new home, make sure you have proper arrangements in order. Some airlines do not allow passengers to keep their pets with them, rather they require you to register your pet to be kept in a separate cabin. Some do allow small pets onboard but require you to call and inform the airline well in advance. Make sure you have done all this, to avoid any last-minute hassles.
Some cities have restrictions on where you can park your vehicle, so make sure you research the laws in the area you are moving to. If there are such restrictions, find out if you are eligible to apply for an on-street parking permit.
Make sure you pack an overnight bag with essentials that you will need for your first day in your new home. This will be useful because you will probably be too tired from traveling to start unboxing the day you arrive, so you should have some important things in hand, such as toiletries, a spare change of clothes and some extra cash for fuel, food for emergencies. Collect all keys of your old property so you can give them back to the landlord. If the property is owned by you, make sure you keep them in a safe place. Make sure all your windows and doors are closed and locked and do one final round to make sure you are not forgetting anything. By packing most things in advance, you will have fewer last-minute stuff to tend to.
Once you move, update your bank, local post office, the electoral register, and any insurers. Also update the DVLA, so that they can make the appropriate changes to your driving license and car registration.
There is no need to stress out about moving day. As long as you have a plan (even a rough one will do) and you stick to it, you should be just fine. Hopefully, this article helps you prepare yourself better for moving day and all the things you need to do. It won’t be easy, but as long as you can put a check against most of the things mentioned in this article, moving day should be a breeze!
When you move out of your house, make sure you use the free online moving checklist tool offered by HomeKasa. It helps you capture the condition of the house, include photos, and videos. This helps to avoid any disputes later. As you move into your new house, before bringing your things in, we recommend that you use HomeKasa’s free moving checklist tool to capture the condition of the house. You can do this even if your new landlord is not on HomeKasa. We can email a copy of this checklist or you can print and share this with your landlord. By documenting the condition of the house before moving in, you can avoid disputes down the line.
HomeKasa offers the best property management software. You can collect or pay rent, communicate between landlord and tenant, track expenses, and more – all from one place. The software is free, get started now.