On average more than 40 million people move each year in the United States. It is estimated that 80% of those moves occur between mid-May through mid-September — or between Memorial Day and Labor Day — which is why that timeframe is considered peak moving season.
Moving is challenging enough without scrambling to find a reputable moving company. So, when moving this summer – Plan ahead! Make your moving reservations as early as possible to beat the surge and put your organizational skills in overdrive.
If possible, give yourself eight weeks to handle the moving to-dos in an orderly, low-stress manner. Use the steps below in this two-month moving checklist to keep you calm and prepared. Simply follow these steps and check them off one-by-one:
Eight Weeks Before Moving
- Start the process of selecting a mover
- Book your mover
- Start to inventory and divide up your belongings: Decide who gets what, which items to donate, recycle, to take and which items (if any) need to go into short-term or long-term storage
Four Weeks Before Moving
- Mail change of address cards or change your information online at the following:
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- Post office
- Local Department of Motor Vehicles for License & Registration
- Social security
- Insurance companies
- Credit card companies
- Credit bureau and/or other creditors
- Employer (to forward W2s)
- Broker
- Mail order accounts
- Magazines / Subscriptions
- Friends and relatives
- Gather personal records (medical, dental, etc.)
- Arrange to transfer children’s school records
- Gather all pet’s vet records and make sure all pets are microchipped and chip corresponds to a cell number that goes with you on your move. Order new tags and licenses with new address and your cell phone number
- Check homeowner’s insurance policies to see if moving is covered. Be sure your new home is protected by transferring fire, theft and other personal-property insurance
- START TO PACK
Three Weeks Before Moving
- Make arrangements to discontinue current utilities and schedule the start-up of new utilities (if applicable):
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- Cable TV
- Internet
- Electricity (check for refund)
- Gas (check for refund)
- Fuel oil
- House cleaners
- Babysitters
- Dog walkers
- Gardeners
- Pool Service
- Water softener
- Other: ________________________
Two Weeks Before Moving
- Arrange to transfer local bank accounts
- Ask doctors, dentists and veterinarians for medical records
- Cancel newspaper delivery
- Refill all prescriptions. Get prescriptions transferred to a new pharmacy closer to the new home
- Make arrangements to move children and pets. Do you need a babysitter for a day or two? A pet sitter?
- Confirm that the mover will move houseplants; if not, make arrangements. Houseplants, usually, cannot be moved by a mover, especially on long distance or out of state moves
- Start to disassemble any shelving, closet systems, etc. that you plan to take or arrange with the mover that they will be doing this on the day of the move
- If you need one, hire a cleaning crew to come clean your empty place to get your deposit back. Will your new place need a cleaning crew before you move in too?
- Meal Plan in order to use up most food items before the move.
One Week Before Moving
- Pack in separate boxes the items necessary for first days in the new home: Label “LOAD LAST.” And label where to put each of those boxes in your new home:
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- Medicine (always keep prescriptions on you)
- Comfortable clothes
- Linens and towels
- Toothbrushes and toiletries
- Paper goods
- Disposable plates and silverware
- Foil and wax paper
- Plastic containers
- Microwave
- Vacuum cleaner
- Garbage bags
- Tool kit
- Step ladder
- Extension cords
- Light bulbs
- Cleaning items (mop and pail, broom and dust pan, etc.)
- Pet food & lead
- Each member of the family should also pack a suitcase with what they need for a few days while you’re getting settled into your new place. Don’t forget cell phone chargers, medications and favorite teddy bears
- If the movers are packing all or part of your belongings, call to schedule and confirm the details. Make sure your mover knows how much packing you expect to do yourself and how much you expect them to do
Two Days Before Moving
- Defrost and dry refrigerators/freezers to be moved
- Gather valuables and important documents from jewelry cases, safe deposit box, etc. to take with you in the car. Do not pack these items with your other belongings
MOVING DAY! YOU MADE IT!
Congratulations on your new home! Hopefully, you stayed organized and the entire process was as stress-free as possible. As the winner of this moving marathon, you now get to slowly unpack and peacefully settle into your new and improved lifestyle.
Guest post by Laura McHolm, Chief of Organized Living & NorthStar Moving Company Co-Founder – courtesy of Coldwell Banker. See original post here.