There are many reasons why people move - Changing jobs, downsizing to a smaller home, their kids going off to college, wanting to be closer to work, wanting to be closer to their children, whichever reason will be a stressful time - sorry to say. But to make the process easier, I hope to help make your moving process seamless.
Jump to:
- Let's start by getting rid of unused things.
- 6 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- 5 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- 4 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- 3 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- 2 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- 1 Month before you move, go through the following areas:
- Box stuff you plan on keeping.
- Pack a week's clothes in a smaller bag for each family member.
- Pack a box with only kitchen essentials in it.
- Go through the papers that have been stored away.
- Pack a box of important papers/hard drives/laptops
- Create a Plan with a Moving Calendar.
- Subscribe
- Schedule the movers as early as you can.
- Disconnect and Reconnect services will be provided after you schedule the movers.
- Get rid of as much food as possible before you move.
- Get rid of your toxic items before moving.
Let's start by getting rid of unused things.
Yes, I know that may be a lot to handle. Start with the storage areas of your home. We usually don't look in these areas more than a few times a year, so easing into getting rid of stuff from these areas will give you the motivation to work on more difficult areas when this area is completed. Try it and see.
If this sounds overwhelming, assign yourself an area of the home each weekend of the month and get rid of trash and recycling items, and remove and donate unwanted things. Below is a sample of what you can do each month before you place your home on the market.
Keep in mind:
I started out with the rooms you are not using immediately so to help you get motivated to work on the other areas of the home.
If you find you do not need items in a particular room, by all means, feel free to box them up as you go through the room.
During this decluttering process, depersonalize your home as well. This means removing your personal items like knick-knacks, excess papers, bulletin boards, markerboards, key (Affiliate Link) racks, mail holders, etc... Picture frames work well as long as they are not too shocking for the home buyer.
6 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- Garage (Affiliate Link) - Store used items in tinted totes (Affiliate Link) with labels (Affiliate Link) on them. Visit our garage organization posts for more organizing tips.
- Attic - Stack up the bins in the attic and declutter the bins if it looks too cluttered.
- Basement - Add bins and shelving (Affiliate Link) and minimize the things. Visit our basement posts for more organizing tips.
5 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- Living room - remove personal picture frames throughout the house.
- Dining room - remove excess fine china and plates.
- Kitchen - reduce how much is in your cabinets. They will be looking in there.
- Foyer - get rid of any dirty rugs (Affiliate Link).
4 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- Master bedroom - Clean out under the bed (Affiliate Link) and clutter on the floor. Remove some furniture (Affiliate Link) to make it feel larger.
- Kids' Bedroom - Use bins to hold kids' frequently used things and place them in the closet when a showing occurs.
- Guest bedroom - Get lighter blankets to keep the room fresh and inviting. Remove any boxes (Affiliate Link) and other things on the floor that you may have used in the room for storage.
3 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- Bathrooms - Clean and declutter under cabinets and linen closets. Add frequently used items to a decorated bin with a lid. Clear out any clutter from a vanity. They may check your bathroom drawers.
- Memorabilia—This area can be tough for people to declutter. Allocate a few weekends to get through things you want to declutter. If you have issues getting rid of something, take a photo and then donate it. You will always have the memories when you take a photo.
- Coat closets - remove ½ of the coats and remove the shoe rack (Affiliate Link)
2 Months before you move, go through the following areas:
- Remove and declutter personal things. - Box them up and store them out of sight.
- Playroom - ensure all the toys have a home and reduce toys that are no longer being used. Tinted bins will hide the clutter, but people can see the room for their own purposes.
1 Month before you move, go through the following areas:
- Home office - get rid of papers and other cluttered furniture (Affiliate Link) you do not want to take with you.
- Family Room - Make space in a drawer or cabinet for things you use frequently so you can hide them away.
- Front Porch and curb appeal - Doing this one as one of the last tasks will keep it fresh when you put the house on the market.
- Backyard - people love a well-organized backyard, so making this the last task will help keep it serene when the house is being shown.
Box stuff you plan on keeping.
Keep a log of what is in each box. Create a sheet with numbers going down the page and space to write what is in each box and where the container needs to go in the new place. Feel free to print this one out.
Pack a week's clothes in a smaller bag for each family member.
If you can't put the clothes away, you have them easily accessible. Sometimes moving companies run behind, so keeping some clothes with you will help you not have to run to the store and buy everyone outfits, saving you time and money.
Pack a box with only kitchen essentials in it.
In the kitchen essentials box, add a frying pan, saucepan, plates, forks, bowls, tea towels, mugs, sponge, dish soap, a spatula, and spoons. This will be your go-to kitchen supplies so you can quickly cook a meal if you don't have time to take care of the kitchen in its entirety.
Since this box will be taken with you, it can easily be a plastic bin with a lid like the ones I found here on Amazon (Affiliate Link) (affiliate).
Here's a pack of 6 I found on Amazon (affiliate).
Sterilite 64 Quart Latching Hinged See-Through Plastic Stacking Container Totes
Buy Now →(Affiliate Link)
Go through the papers that have been stored away.
Go through those papers in boxes (Affiliate Link) from previous tax years, previous paperwork from different jobs, artwork, and documents from your kids who no longer want them. Get rid of any physical papers that you will most likely not look at immediately when you move. You can start to scan the important ones if you have time.
Pack a box of important papers/hard drives/laptops
Some items to keep with you and not ship with the moving company are credit cards, bank paperwork, laptops, legal documents, insurance policies, a printed list of your passwords, and any personal paperwork. They should never be out of your reach. Visit our important document post for a complete list.
Also, keep things like your expensive jewelry (Affiliate Link) and other valuables that you may have. Keeping them with you is better than having the movers move them.
Create a Plan with a Moving Calendar.
This step may seem overwhelming, but as you write the steps down, you will find the order of the moving process clearer.
Create a moving calendar. Start with your move date and then go back and decide what you want to do before your move date. It can be something like below.
Then, make a to-do list for a month ahead of the move, two weeks ahead, a week ahead, the day before, the day of the move, and the week after the move. There will most likely be tasks that need to be done when you are at your new place, too, so keeping a running list will remind you what needs to be done and when. Feel free to print this one for your preliminary planning.
If you do not want to make your own moving-to-do timeline checklists (learn more about how to do it by clicking through), below you can sign up and get our free ebook. Plus, our other FREE ebooks to help you get your life organized!
Schedule the movers as early as you can.
They book up fast, especially the good ones. Doing the above tasks before scheduling an appointment with a moving company is a good idea. Some moving companies go by weight when determining the cost, so hauling stuff you don't want in your new place is a waste of money. Suppose you have specialty items, like a piano; not all moving companies will move these more oversized items. Be sure to ask the movers about these items or if they know someone who will carry them for you.
There are numerous national moving companies in the US. Below are some I found in a Forbes article. I contacted a few, like Allied Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, when I moved my mom's things back to the East Coast from the West Coast, and they were very informative.
Since they price by weight, it's best to declutter before calling them so they can give you a good estimate when they visit to see your current place.
- International Van Lines
- Allied Van Lines
- Atlas Van Lines
- United Van Lines
- North American Van Lines
- JK Moving
- Mayflower Transit
- American Van Lines
Disconnect and Reconnect services will be provided after you schedule the movers.
When you get your move-in date, schedule the utility hookups, such as cable, telephone, gas/electric, etc. They may need some time to schedule these hookups, so be sure to contact them well in advance of your move-in date.
Below are some utilities and services you may need to disconnect after you move out.
- Cable / Satellite
- Internet
- Electric / Gas / Oil
- Water
- Garbage / Recycling
- Landline Telephone
- Home security system
- Landscaping and lawn care
- House cleaning
Now that you disconnected the services for your old home, now you need to reconnect services at your new home. Schedule these as well around the time of the movers.
- Cable / Satellite
- Internet
- Electric / Gas / Oil
- Water
- Recycling / Garbage - check to ensure you need to do this at your new place.
- Home Security Service
- Landscaping and lawn care
- House cleaning
During this time, you may want to list companies you need to update with your new address. Visit our other post for an extensive list.
Get rid of as much food as possible before you move.
It's best to start fresh in your new home. So, for a week or two before your move, eat everything in your current house. If you have a lot of food, try having a party and invite your friends to help you chow down. Also, consider donating nonperishable items to the nearby food bank. By doing this, there is no wasted food!
Get rid of your toxic items before moving.
In a home, there are things like paint, oil, and other items that need to be removed in an environmentally-friendly way. You can hire a company to take them all, like 1-800-GOT-JUNK? or you can find recycling centers near you on Earth 911.
Visit our Recycling and Shredder event page AND Locations to Donate Your Stuff page for places to give your unwanted items.
That wasn't too bad, was it? I hope not. Now that you are all packed up and about to move, let us review what you must do when you get to your new home.
When you get to the next home, remember to pace yourself and get as much done as possible without stressing yourself out.
Start with the essential areas, as the bedroom and kitchen areas work great. If you can't get to the other regions for a while, that's OK. It will eventually get done. Working in one room at a time helps you get to know your new place and decide where things will go. If you only have time on weekends, schedule time in 4-hour time blocks. This way, you won't be too overwhelmed, and you will see the transformation. And be sure to schedule time to take care of yourself. Visit our posts:
20 WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF IN 20 MINUTES
ANOTHER 20 WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF IN 20 MINUTES
Well, that's it for now. I hope this helps you make your moving process more seamless.
Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon (Affiliate Link) and other affiliates. If you decide to make a purchase, I will earn affiliate fees at no additional cost.
Below is an additional post I found online about moving that may help you. Feel free to click through and get more information.
Nancy Haworth says
Wonderful moving tips, Sabrina. I think that having a moving calendar is extremely important because it does take time to do all of this sorting, purging and preparation for a move.
Linda Samuels says
Moving is always a great incentive or motivator for letting go of the nonessentials. I love the way you've described the process. It can be so stressful, but you've shared some great tips to make it easier. I also didn't realize that 1-800-GOT-JUNK removes toxic substances. That's great to know.
Sarah Soboleski says
I didn't know 1-800-GOT-JUNK will take away toxic items. Good to know! And, as always, great checklists, Sabrina!
Janet Barclay says
That Box Content List is a great idea! There are usually boxes that don't get unpacked right away (or at all) and this would be an easy way to keep track of what's in them so things don't go missing.
Stacey Agin Murray says
Moving can be stressful but your tips and ideas will save your readers time, money and grief. When we packed to move, we found having 'packing buddies' to be helpful. We told everyone we knew to keep any big boxes, newspapers and bubble wrap they acquired and we also asked for help in packing. Getting others involved definitely saved us time, money and stress!
Sabrina says
That's a great tip, Stacey. Thanks for sharing. =)
Seana Turner says
I was just part of a presentation on downsizing, and another one of the speakers was telling how her client insisted on moving canned good. She estimate at $1/lb, she spent a whole lot of money to move cans of food. Isn't that funny? You never know what matters to people! I agree with you, eat it down...
Sabrina says
Wow, it's amazing what people want to hold on to when they downsize.
Ellen Delap says
Get rid of stuff first is the best way to save money and make the move easier! It's best to get started eliminating as soon as you know you are moving.
Autumn Leopold says
Awesome post and thank you for the resources! When we moved from Memphis to Colorado I thought I got rid of so much stuff. I mean I had two garage sales and donated what was left. But as I've noticed during this summer purge I have been doing we still brought too much. In my defense we only had two months notice we were moving. If you know you will be moving in the future then start purging as early as you can! 🙂