Ultimate Moving Guide: Checklist

Moving comes with mixed feelings. You may be excited about exploring a new city but afraid of not fitting in. Perhaps you can’t wait to start afresh in a new home but would rather skip over all the work and stress of moving and get right to it. 

But unfortunately, we can’t fast-forward through work. We can, however, make it much more doable and stress-free.

And that’s exactly what we hope to do for you in this moving guide. We’ll take over the planning, so all you need to do is complete the tasks and check them off your list. We’ll even break the complex tasks down into smaller tasks so you have to put minimal thought into what must be done and how.

You can use this checklist as a guide – or better yet, print it out and keep checking off items as you complete them. It’s easy as pie.

4 to 8 Weeks To Go

●      Ensure you have all important documents

Important documents such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, marriage certificates, passports, and medical records will go with you wherever you go. Before moving, it is crucial to see that you have all such documents. To do so:

●      ​Make a list of all the documents you need to take.

●      ​Gather all documents and keep them safe in a folder or bag.

●      ​Scour your house for any documents you can’t find.

●      If something is missing or expired, submit applications to replace or renew documents.

●      Find a reliable moving company

Whether you’re moving interstate, intercity, or even intracity, a moving company can eliminate much of the stress associated with relocating. Many moving companies help you throughout the moving process – from packing to transporting your stuff – while others perform barebones functions such as providing a truck for transportation.

Choose a reliable company that offers the services you need at a suitable cost. Go through the following steps to find the best moving company for you:

●      Search the Internet and ask friends for recommendations to create a list of movers in your area.

●      Check company websites and call them up to find out which services they offer. Then, create a shortlist of companies offering the services you need.

●      Get price quotes from the shortlisted companies.

●      Sign on with a company that offers the services you are looking for at a price that works for you.

●      Confirm your living situation

Needless to say, you need to have a place to go when relocating. To avoid any slip-ups, you should finalize your renting or buying arrangements well in advance of D-day.

●      Set up a method of communication with your current landlord

For at least some time after your move, a lot of your mail may be directed to your old address. Leave an address for your current landlord to reroute your mail, and set up a method for any pending reimbursements.

●      Cancel old subscriptions and make new ones

You don’t want to move into a home without gas, electricity, or (God forbid), Wi-Fi. Neither do you want to leave them running in an empty house. Therefore:

●      ​Call up utility companies and service providers to cancel your current subscriptions.

●      ​Set up new subscriptions for your new home.

●      Notify people and companies of your move

You should let your friends, neighbors, and family know that you’re moving with enough time to say your goodbyes. Companies and organizations including your bank, insurance, and credit card companies should also be intimated of the move.

●      Make arrangements with your children’s schools

If you’re a parent with school children, making preparations for a seamless move between schools is one of the most crucial considerations when relocating. To make the transition as painless as possible:

●      Call up your children’s current school to inform them of the move. Obtain all important school records.

●      Identify the school district you are moving to, and call the new school or district to figure out how to transfer.

●      Send over any required documents and records for your children’s enrollment in their new school.

●      Make travel arrangements

Whether you’re traveling in your personal car, by bus, or by plane, you must figure out your mode of travel well in advance as your moving date and plan depend largely on your travel plans. Some essential tasks include:

●      Choosing dates on which you would like to travel.

●      Checking ticket prices if traveling through commercial transport.

●      Booking tickets or checking that your vehicle is fit for travel.

●      Arrange to move your vehicle if needed

If you’re not moving too far away, or have a car (or boat!) that you love and want to take with you, you can arrange to have that done. Many moving companies offer to tow your car, so that can be a consideration when choosing a professional mover. Alternatively, you can have your car shipped, which is both a safer and more expensive option than towing.

●      Figure out what and how to pack

Packing for a big move isn’t just about putting stuff in bags and boxes – it is about securing everything you need to move your entire life from one place to another. This involves several important steps:

●      Take an inventory of all items that you are taking with you so that you know how much stuff you need to move and that nothing important is left behind.

●      Declutter by holding a yard sale, selling online, giving away, or recycling stuff like old furniture and appliances that would be costly or inconvenient to move.

●      Procure essential items to help you pack, including cardboard boxes, tape, scissors, bubble wrap, and markers for labeling.

●      Make a packing plan that includes packing items you don’t need in your routine life first and coding items to make unpacking easier. 

●      Start packing early.

1 Week To Go

●      Pack, pack, pack

With one week to go, packing has probably taken over your life. Use this checklist for tips to simplify packing up each room of the house. If you’ve hired professional movers to help you with packing, stay in touch with them.

●      Confirm travel arrangements

Sometimes, plane and bus schedules change. To avoid any last-minute contingencies:

●      Confirm that your bookings are still valid.

●      If you are traveling by car, take it to a car mechanic for any maintenance if needed.

●      Pack items needed immediately after arrival

You may need to unpack certain essential items directly after arriving at your destination. Pack a box or suitcase specifically for items such as toothbrushes, a change of clothes, basic cooking utensils, and cutlery.

Moving Day

●      Load the moving van

Use the ‘First in, Last Out’ (FILO) method to load the moving van. The FILO method means that you first load the boxes that you don’t need right away, and load those that you need soon after arrival at the end.

●      Do a final “no sock left behind” walkthrough

Once you’ve loaded all your items and boxes, go through your house for a last time to make sure no important belongings are left behind.

●      Make your way to your new home with a stress-free mind!