Two Months from Moving Day
Get Estimates – Get estimates from a few moving companies and make a decision on who will move your belongings.
Clean Closets – Clean out closets and drawers, and collect un-needed items for a moving sale.
Frozen Foods – Begin using up frozen foods, so that you don’t throw away food before your move.
Four Weeks from Moving Day
Schedule Utility Disconnect – Schedule disconnection of utility services to your old home.
Health Care – Notify doctors and dentists of your move, and request record transfers.
Family Records and Documents – Begin gathering birth certificates, passports, insurance documents, medical and dental records, and school records.
Lawn & Cleaning Services – Let your lawn service and cleaning service know about your move.
Check on Insurance – Check with your insurance company to see if your belongings are covered during a move. If not, consider picking up a moving policy.
Make Travel Plans – Make any travel plans that may be necessary for your move.
Moving Sale – Hold a moving sale, and get rid of unwanted items that you do not want to take to your new home.
New Schools – Register your children at their new schools, and request record transfers.
Church and Organizations – Notify your Church and other organizations that you will be moving.
Waste Disposal – Begin to dispose of items that cannot be moved to your new home, such as flammable liquids.
Three Weeks from Moving Day
Purchase “Smart” Packaging Materials – It pays to purchase the right packing materials! You don’t want chipped dinner plates and broken electronics! With strong corrugated boxes, good tape,angle pads, bubble wrap, microfoam sheets, and peanuts, you can protect your valuables while arriving in mint condition! You will need a “smart”amount of packaging materials, as well as correct packaging materials, to make the move easier!
Book Moving Company – Book your moving company! Try to move on a weekday, as banks, utilities and government offices will be open.
Two Weeks from Moving Day
Service your Cars – Make sure to have your cars serviced before the move! The last thing that you want is an issue with your car on moving day!
Cancel Newspapers – Cancel your newspaper delivery a couple of weeks before your move.
Notify Bank, Credit Card Companies – Notify your bank, credit card companies, and other creditors that you are moving. Be sure they know the exact date that you plan to be in your new home.
Transfer Prescriptions – Notify your pharmacy of your move. Have your pharmacy transfer your prescriptions to the pharmacy you have chosen in your new town.
Dry-Cleaning – Pick up your dry-cleaning. Do this a couple of weeks ahead of the move, so that you don’t leave any clothing behind!
Change of Address Cards – Order nice cards that will notify friends and family of your move. Order the cards ahead of time, so that you will have them ready to send when you arrive at your new home. Address as many as time permits.
Moving Hub – Label the kitchen table in your home the Moving Hub! Have your packing list notebook, packaging materials, markers, colored stickers, labels, and all other supplies. The Moving Hub will keep you well organized! At the end of a day of packing, make sure all of your materials are on the table and ready for the next morning. Keep this process up throughout the move, and you will avoid the chaos of lost markers and labels! Also, if friends or family help you pack, you will have a system ready that is user friendly!
Begin Packing a Room at a Time – Pack one room at a time to make moving easier! Be sure to have plenty of corrugated boxes, bubble wrap, microfoam, angle pads, and tape available for each room!
Color Code Each Room in your Home – Color code each room such as blue for the kitchen, green for the living room, etc, with colored labels. Make sure each corrugated box that you pack has a colored label or use a marker in that color. Also, label each box with a number.
Label Each Box – Be very specific with labeling your corrugated boxes. Don’t mark a kitchen box as Misc. Kitchen, mark the box specifically Pots and Pans or Blue Flower Dishes. This will save time when unpacking.
Make a Packing List – Keep a spiral bound notebook with a packing list for each corrugated box that you pack. For example, Kitchen Box 1 will have a yellow label or marker, and is packed with pots and pans. The packing list notebook should read Kitchen – Box 1 – Pots and Pans with lids. Be specific with your packing list. You will be glad to have it when you begin to unpack!
Pack Fragile Items – Be sure to add plenty of cushioning to fragile items. Pack dishes in microfoam, and stack them on edge in boxes, surrounding them with additional bubble wrap. Don’t add to the expense of your move by damaging your fragile items! Pack electronics in corrugated boxes designed specifically for electronics, like our electronics box. Consider double-boxing very fragile items and antiques, and add plenty of bubble wrap to protect your valuables!
Keep Valuables Safe – It is important to keep valuable items and important papers safe during a move. Keep one or more corrugated boxes with you at all times labeled IMPORTANT. Do not place your most valuable papers, such as birth certificates or bank records, jewelry or collections on a moving truck. Keep the IMPORTANT boxes in the trunk of your car for safety sake. This will keep your valuables safe, and keep you from losing things that can’t be replaced. An ideal size for the IMPORTANT Box is a File Box.
One Week from Moving Day
Clean out the Fridge and Pantry – Start using as many refrigerated and panty items as you can. Discard any out of date items.
Set up a Tool Box and Cleaning Box – Make it easier to find tools and cleaning supplies by setting up a Tool Box and a Cleaning Box. An excellent size for a Tool Box and Cleaning Box is a 18 x 12 x 12. In the Tool Box, pack special tools needed for furniture assembly, screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, a hammer, and other items you know you will need to unpack. If you used a tool during the packing process, put it in the Tool Box, because you will need it for the unpacking process! In the Cleaning Box, place basic cleaning supplies and rags. Make sure to also keep the vacuum close to the Cleaning Box. Be sure to pack paper towels in the Cleaning Box, as well as baby wipes for small messes that will happen during a move! Pack the Tool Box and Cleaning Box at the back of the moving truck, along with the vacuum. When unloading the truck, these boxes should be placed on the kitchen counter for easy access.
Everybody Gets a Box! – Pack a corrugated box for each member of the family with essential items. An ideal size for each member of the family is the 16 x 16 x 16. Make sure every person has clothes, towels, prescription drugs, and personal items that they need for the first night to make the move easier. Pay close attention to boxes for small children. Make sure to pack their favorite toys, books, and pillow or blanket to make their move easier! Also, make sure to use your colored labels!
The Everybody Box! – Pack one corrugated box, like an 16 x 16 x 16, labeled the Everybody Box. This box should include toilet tissue, paper towels, paper plates, trash bags, first aid kit, pencils and paper, and snacks.
One Day from Moving Day
Banking – Transfer your banking accounts the day before your move. Empty your safety deposit box, as well.
Local Bills – Settle bills with local businesses before leaving town.
Load your Car – Load your car the day before your move.
