How to Prepare Yourself for Moving
Don't be stressed about moving, just plan well and stay focused.
01/10/2019
If you’re stressed about your move, don’t panic! As long as you avoid any procrastination, plan well, stay focused and choose the right moving company, you have nothing to fear.
Five to eight weeks before the move
You need to start your preparations about five to eight weeks in advance. Most of these preparations involve research and making decisions to help your move go more smoothly in the latter stages.
Perform a home inventory
An accurate inventory involves taking pictures of valuable items and creating a list that includes details such as models, serial numbers and approximate value. This list will help you get more accurate quotes from movers and enable you to file claims quickly if anything goes wrong. You need to keep your list accessible throughout your move.
Get rid of what you don’t need
When you’re creating your inventory, you will realize that there are many items you no longer need. Rather than wasting energy and money to move these items, donate, sell or trash them before you start packing.
Research moving options
You may decide to move by yourself or to hire movers. If you want to hire movers, you will need to start researching moving services. You want to use a company you can trust with your valuable possessions.
Reading reviews online can help you make your decision. Try to find trusted companies only to make your moving experience a good one.
Three to four weeks before the move
Moving day is getting closer and now’s the time to stop weighing up options and take some decisive action.
Book a moving company
This is the time to book a moving company and refine your plans. You don’t want to find out that the company you’d like to use is fully booked. You may even get a discount if you book early.
Get packing supplies
If you’re planning to pack the stuff on your own, you will need to get a variety of boxes as well as some padding. Don’t skimp on these supplies and then find out you run out on the night before you’re set to move.
Plan how you’ll travel
Book plane tickets if you’re going to fly or plan your route if you’re driving. You may have to make some hotel reservations in advance as you don’t want to stop for the night and find out there are no vacancies or find it to be overly-priced.
Two weeks before day zero
This is crunch time and these steps are also the most time-intensive so you’ll need to plan your schedule carefully.
Update your address and utilities
It’s time to cancel or transfer your services, such as utilities and the internet. File a change of address to make sure you get your mail.
Pack your belongings
This is probably the most stressful and labor-intensive part of the process so you need to start packing well in advance of your move. Pack room by room and group together all similar items, such as books, toys, electronics and clothes. Protect fragile items in newspaper, towels or old clothes.
Use newspaper, old clothes or packing chips to fill in gaps in boxes. Number your boxes and make relevant notes on an inventory sheet - what room the box comes from, where it needs to go and whether it contains fragile goods or not.
Clean your old home
Once you’ve finished packing up a room, give it a thorough clean right away to avoid being overwhelmed on moving day. Doing this means less hard work later. You’ll probably need to just do a final check and perhaps a light clean on moving day.