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.
Let's start by getting rid of anything you haven't used in a year.
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.
Start boxing up stuff you plan on keeping.
Keep a log of what is in each box. Create a sheet that has 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 worth of clothes in a smaller bag for each family member.
Just in case 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).
Go through your papers that have been stored away.
Go through those papers in boxes 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 in the immediate moment when you move. You can start to scan the important ones if you have time.
Pack a box of important papers and your computer in a portable carrying bin so you can have everything with you.
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.
Plan out your move activities.
This step may seem overwhelming but as you write the steps down, you will find it becomes clearer on what the order is of the moving process. 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.
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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 ask them if they know someone who will carry them for you.
When you get your date to move, schedule the utility hookups like cable, telephone, gas/electric, etc.
They may need some time to schedule these hookups, so be sure to contact them way in advance of your move-in date.
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 that is in your current house. If you have a lot of food, try having a party and invite your friends over 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 removing 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 need to 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 you can without stressing yourself out.
Start with the essential areas, like 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 on one room at a time helps you get to know your new place and decide on 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 these are affiliate links through Amazon and other affiliates, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Below are some additional posts I found online about moving that may help you. Feel free to click-through and get more information.
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.
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.
I didn't know 1-800-GOT-JUNK will take away toxic items. Good to know! And, as always, great checklists, Sabrina!
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.
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!
That's a great tip, Stacey. Thanks for sharing. =)
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...
Wow, it's amazing what people want to hold on to when they downsize.
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.
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! 🙂