Household Move

No matter how many times you have moved into your life, preparing for a moving day is never fun. However, with adequate preparation and organization, you can go through a household relocation with ease and even have some time to kick back and relax. Here you have a short guide on how to settle into your new home without a glitch. Keep reading, and you will probably find something that will make your move a much more enjoyable experience.

How to organize and prepare for a household move

1. Create a moving binder

One of the best strategies for achieving a well-organized move is creating and maintaining a moving binder. This way, you can make it easier to consolidate all moving tasks into one easy-to-find place, store all of your moving paperwork, keep track of all moving contracts and receipts, and organize your timeline. Establish a folder for moving receipts, documents, utility company phone numbers, moving checklists, donation receipts, contractor bids, school records, financial documents, floor plans, medical records, design/decor ideas, etc. Besides moving paperwork, do not forget to gather important personal documents, such as your social security card, passport, and financial documents related to your new living place (a loan agreement, lease, mortgage, etc.).

2. Make a customized checklist

Moving to a new home consists of many essential elements. From dealing with financial obligations to handling moving company logistics, there is a myriad of minor details you should highlight. For that reason, it is extremely important to keep a notebook and make a list of all the essential things when preparing for a move. Whether you are moving out for the 20th time or it is your first home moving experience, a checklist will help you stay organized and avoid any stress on the final day.

Once you have the list of to-dos on hand, start building your timeline. Set deadlines, keep reminders, and devote each day before your upcoming relocation for a particular task to be completed. A good idea is to use some page dividers and sticky notes to note down the essential phone numbers you are going to use in the process. If you do not want to create a moving list on your own, you may simply find the one suitable for your particular type of relocation on the Internet and print it out.

3. Set up a moving budget

One of the important steps people often skip is creating a moving budget. Always stick to your budget to save some money and ensure your relocation won’t cost you more than you can afford. To estimate the costs of the entire process, it is better to divide them into subcategories. Pay attention to every detail that comes with a price tag to avoid unnecessary expenses. In most cases, you need to plan the following moving costs:
  • travelling costs, including beverage, lodging, fuel, food, and car shipping;
  • utility bills;
  • cost of moving boxes, crates, tapes, and other packaging supplies;
  • cost of hiring professional movers;
  • cost of additional services, such as relocation and installation of your art collection;
  • after-move repairs, new furniture, etc.
Do not forget to keep proof of your moving expenses and put all the receipts into your moving folder. Keeping your finances well planned will prevent you from being blindsided and contribute to having a stress-free move.

4. Declutter thoroughly

Whether you have lived in your current place for only a year or 30 years, you have definitely collected a number of items you never use. You should not take all these things into your new home, as they will most likely simply pile up there. What you need is to look in every drawer, closet, and cabinet and leave no stone unturned to decide which items you love and use and which you do not need. Pack unnecessary items and do not hesitate to donate or give them away. Remember that the less stuff you possess, the less expensive and stressful your move will be.

5. Hire a professional moving company

When moving to a new home, it is worth considering hiring professional movers. There is a myriad of companies that offer a wide range of useful services, from moving household items and bulky furniture pieces to moving fragile art and antiques. However, before hiring the movers, you need to carry out extensive research to select trusted and experienced ones. Choose the services that are licensed in the state you are going to relocate to. Keep in mind that there are many companies providing door-to-door services, which can handle your move from A to Z so that you do not need to worry about anything. Also, look into companies’ insurance policies to have your things covered. By putting in enough effort, you will probably find a reliable white glove moving company that will meet your needs and budget.

6. Update your mailing address and subscriptions

To avoid unexpected surprises, do not forget to forward your mail several weeks before a relocation day. Besides, it is worth changing your address for your newspaper and magazine subscriptions earlier, as you will definitely want to catch up on all the latest news after your move. Apart from this, update your driver’s license and voter registration information in advance.

7. Label the moving boxes

A great idea is to label your moving boxes in order not to forget what is kept in each one of them. Put the packaging labels on the top and all sides of the boxes to improve visibility. The labels will also make handling the boxes easier for movers, as they will know if there are pieces that need to be handled with extra caution. Try to find colour-coded labels or coloured tapes and organize your own code system. For instance, mark boxes that should go to the bedroom with yellow tape and assign all packages labelled with blue tape to the bathroom.

Hopefully, you find this information useful. Try these tips, and you will enjoy the benefits! Best of luck and happy moving!