Preparing to move, the weeks and days before...
Eight Weeks Before Moving
__Get a few estimates from moving companies.
__Get costs from at least two truck rental companies.
__Choose a mover or truck rental company.
__Keep track of estimates, receipts and other important information.
__Make an inventory of your household goods and begin to remove clutter.
__Create a floor plan of your new home for furniture and appliance placement.
__Start deciding which function each room with serve. __Start researching your new community. (If applicable)
Six Weeks Before Moving
__Start using foods and cleaning supplies that cannot be moved.
__Clean all closets and drawers.
__Empty and clean out storage areas, garages, etc.
Five Weeks Before Moving
__Start packing items you don't use often.
__Start collecting boxes and other packing supplies.
~Packing tape
~Boxes (consider wardrobe boxes, artwork boxes available from movers.
~Wrapping paper (avoid using newspaper as ink will transfer. Moving companies and newspaper offices may sell rolls of blank newspaper)
~Magic Marker (label boxes)
~Labels (mark each box's destination-- kitchen, storage, etc.) Consider using colored labels, different color for each room.
Three Weeks Before Moving
__Make sure all library books have been returned and all dry cleaning or items out for repair have been picked up. __Contact your utility companies on both ends of the move to order dates for termination or turn-on.
__Decide if you will keep your plants or give them away. __Dispose of flammables, corrosives and poisons.
__If you are moving into or out of an apartment, arrange to use the elevator on your move day.
__Make child-care arrangements for moving day.
Two Weeks Before Moving
__Remove fixtures (lighting, artwork, etc.) and repair walls.
__Plan meals for the last week of the move to help empty the refrigerator and avoid using appliances that will already be packed.
__Assemble a folder of important information about the house for the new owner of your home. Include your new contact information for the new owner to forward mail.
__Take a family photo in front of the 'old' house, you will treasure it later.
One Week Before Moving
__Arrange for help on moving day.
__Obtain cash to pay the movers. (See Mover's list)
__Drain all gas and oil from your mower and other motors.
__Drain water hoses.
__Empty, defrost and clean your refrigerator.
__Notify friends and family of your new contact information.
Pack your 'Essentials Box'
__Clothing for two days for each family member.
__Toiletries for everyone.
__Sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, stuffies.
__Nightlights, lamps, children's books, etc for bedtime.
__Coffee, coffee maker, tea, kettle, mugs, milk, sugar.
__Cereal, all the fixings for breakfast including dishes.
__Alarm clock
__Consider more than one box, remember how essential a tv and dvd's for the kids will be in the first few days!
__Cleaning items for the new house, keep these accessible!__Tools for assembling beds, putting up artwork, etc.
Very Important Paperwork envelope
__Realtor information
__Closing papers
__Keys for both houses
__Passports
__Identification -Birth Certificates, etc.
__Get a few estimates from moving companies.
__Get costs from at least two truck rental companies.
__Choose a mover or truck rental company.
__Keep track of estimates, receipts and other important information.
__Make an inventory of your household goods and begin to remove clutter.
__Create a floor plan of your new home for furniture and appliance placement.
__Start deciding which function each room with serve. __Start researching your new community. (If applicable)
Six Weeks Before Moving
__Start using foods and cleaning supplies that cannot be moved.
__Clean all closets and drawers.
__Empty and clean out storage areas, garages, etc.
Five Weeks Before Moving
__Start packing items you don't use often.
__Start collecting boxes and other packing supplies.
~Packing tape
~Boxes (consider wardrobe boxes, artwork boxes available from movers.
~Wrapping paper (avoid using newspaper as ink will transfer. Moving companies and newspaper offices may sell rolls of blank newspaper)
~Magic Marker (label boxes)
~Labels (mark each box's destination-- kitchen, storage, etc.) Consider using colored labels, different color for each room.
Three Weeks Before Moving
__Make sure all library books have been returned and all dry cleaning or items out for repair have been picked up. __Contact your utility companies on both ends of the move to order dates for termination or turn-on.
__Decide if you will keep your plants or give them away. __Dispose of flammables, corrosives and poisons.
__If you are moving into or out of an apartment, arrange to use the elevator on your move day.
__Make child-care arrangements for moving day.
Two Weeks Before Moving
__Remove fixtures (lighting, artwork, etc.) and repair walls.
__Plan meals for the last week of the move to help empty the refrigerator and avoid using appliances that will already be packed.
__Assemble a folder of important information about the house for the new owner of your home. Include your new contact information for the new owner to forward mail.
__Take a family photo in front of the 'old' house, you will treasure it later.
One Week Before Moving
__Arrange for help on moving day.
__Obtain cash to pay the movers. (See Mover's list)
__Drain all gas and oil from your mower and other motors.
__Drain water hoses.
__Empty, defrost and clean your refrigerator.
__Notify friends and family of your new contact information.
Pack your 'Essentials Box'
__Clothing for two days for each family member.
__Toiletries for everyone.
__Sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, stuffies.
__Nightlights, lamps, children's books, etc for bedtime.
__Coffee, coffee maker, tea, kettle, mugs, milk, sugar.
__Cereal, all the fixings for breakfast including dishes.
__Alarm clock
__Consider more than one box, remember how essential a tv and dvd's for the kids will be in the first few days!
__Cleaning items for the new house, keep these accessible!__Tools for assembling beds, putting up artwork, etc.
Very Important Paperwork envelope
__Realtor information
__Closing papers
__Keys for both houses
__Passports
__Identification -Birth Certificates, etc.
Packing Tips
__You will need more boxes than you think.
__Boxes are expensive. Check Craigslist for free or low cost boxes.
_Start packing ASAP, pack room by room.
__Consider sorting your boxes by color, each room gets a color sticker dot.
__Depending on how close your move is pack between two and five boxes a day.
__The kitchen will take much longer than you planned.
__Sell your cardboard boxes when you're finished with them to recoup your costs.
__Boxes are expensive. Check Craigslist for free or low cost boxes.
_Start packing ASAP, pack room by room.
__Consider sorting your boxes by color, each room gets a color sticker dot.
__Depending on how close your move is pack between two and five boxes a day.
__The kitchen will take much longer than you planned.
__Sell your cardboard boxes when you're finished with them to recoup your costs.
How to Keep Your Movers Happy and Moving Quickly
The day-of the move:
__Have all furniture doors roped closed so that they don't swing open during move (tape will damage wood).
__Ensure all glass is taped with an X.
__Make sure each box is labelled on four sides, this will make the move much faster and easier.
__Tape a sheet of paper to each room doorway labelling each room. Also, for items without a clear destination label one open area as 'storage'.
__Review the floor plan with your movers before they start unpacking your items from the truck. It's best to have someone in the house to direct them where to place boxes and furniture.
__Snacks, have plenty of snacks available for the movers, don't forget coffee breaks and water.
__Movers typically don't accept personal cheques. Have cash ready. If you're satisfied with the way the movers handled your possessions, it's customary to tip them $20 each, more or less depending on the difficulty of the move.
__Have all furniture doors roped closed so that they don't swing open during move (tape will damage wood).
__Ensure all glass is taped with an X.
__Make sure each box is labelled on four sides, this will make the move much faster and easier.
__Tape a sheet of paper to each room doorway labelling each room. Also, for items without a clear destination label one open area as 'storage'.
__Review the floor plan with your movers before they start unpacking your items from the truck. It's best to have someone in the house to direct them where to place boxes and furniture.
__Snacks, have plenty of snacks available for the movers, don't forget coffee breaks and water.
__Movers typically don't accept personal cheques. Have cash ready. If you're satisfied with the way the movers handled your possessions, it's customary to tip them $20 each, more or less depending on the difficulty of the move.
Moving Day
Run by the grocery store to ensure you've stocked your new pantry and fridge.
