Planning Your Next Move
Whether it’s across the country or down the street, Moving can be stress. But with careful planning and the right moving supplies, you can accomplish an easier move. Follow this timeline and diffuse moving stress before it starts.
Two Months Before Moving Day
Purge & Declutter. Go through all your stuff and make critical decisions about what stays and what goes. If you haven’t used an item in a year, then it probably shouldn’t go with you to your new home.
Create your three categories for getting rid of stuff: Sell. Donate. Toss. Lightening your load will save you money and work.
Take inventory. Make a list of what you are taking to make the moving estimate easier. An inventory list takes the guesswork out of Purchasing Moving Supplies.
Organize personal papers. Take account of all the sensitive personal documents you need to move like Social Security cards, birth certificates and tax records. Get them organized in a sturdy personal file box. If you’re hiring a mover, you may want to transport these documents yourself to prevent them from getting lost or damaged.
Six Weeks Before Moving Day
Research movers. Take the time to research movers to ensure you get the best bid. Check reviews and get at least three quotes from reputable companies. The more organized you are with inventory also ensures a more accurate quote. Be sure to ask about insurance and damaged property polices.
If you’re moving yourself, six weeks before is the best time to secure your truck rental. This is especially important if you are moving during peak season when trucks rentals will be scarce. Be sure you get the right size truck. Too small a truck means more trips and mileage costs. Use this guide to get closer to an accurate estimate:
- 26′ will move 4+ bedrooms
- 24′ will move 3-4 bedrooms
- 17′ will move 2-3 bedrooms
- 14′ will move 1-2 bedrooms
- 10′ will move a studio or small 1-bedroom apartment
Start packing. Best rule for purchasing moving supplies? Get 25 percent more than you think you’ll need. That ensures you that won’t be left short of moving Boxes at the last minute.
The second-best rule? Don’t skimp on quality. Supermarket boxes, aside from being dirty, are already weakened from shipping. That means you must spend more time taping up old boxes so the bottom doesn’t drop out.
High quality moving boxes will save you time. There’s no need to reinforce with tape and you can also select tape-free boxes which save on the cost of additional supplies, like tape. Use the box buying guide below to help estimate how many moving boxes you might need.
QUICK TIPS: Use colored dots to mark boxes for different rooms. Create a legend that coordinates with the colored dots. Yellow dot boxes go to the living room, red dot boxes go to kitchen, etc.
One Week Before Moving Day
Contact utilities and forward mail.
Now’s the time to coordinate utility services for the home you’re leaving and the home you’re going to. Also, be sure to have all your mail forwarded at this time.
The Night Before You Move
Pack Your “Take with You Box”
This the box that contains what you might need while unpacking. Razor knives, snacks, water, toiletries. Things like band aids come in handy for accidents and tools for assembling beds and furniture are essential once you arrive at your new destination.
By being organized on your next move you can avoid stress and focus on getting situated in your new home.
