A Checklist For Moving
Congratulations, you are moving! Soon over-whelmed feelings may creep up and even try to steal some of your sleep. Relax, with an organized plan and this amazing checklist for moving you will conquer this move like an Army BRAT.
Purge. Start with the small junk drawers, dark closets and your favorite stash area and begin to organize and purge unused items. This will save you time, money and stress in the end.
Hire The Movers. Ask family, friends, and office mates for recommendations, give them a call to get a few quotes. When calling the professionals, ask as many questions as you can think of:
- What size vehicle will you bring?
- How many packers will be on the job?
- How many hours will be allotted, what if the job requires more?
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Can I purchase boxes and supplies from you at a discount?
- How many moves are scheduled on your moving day?
- What is the process for filing a claim?
- What do you need to present if something is damaged in the the move?
- Ask if they provide an inventory list
Even if you are using friends, set the expectation and dates far in advance. It would be tragic to have your help bail at the last minute because of miscommunication. And lastly, but most important – call and confirm the move a few days before the scheduled date.
Inventory List Go through each room and write down and photograph each item to be moved or anything or value. This list will also be helpful for catastrophic events and should be saved in a fire-proof safe.
Packing Purchase boxes, sharpies, packing tape – grab your recyclable newspaper and get to work. Give yourself one hour each day to pack as much as you can. Save the kitchen for last. This is also a great time to have 2 rubbermaid boxes on the ready. Label one toss and the other donate. Label the boxes clearly, you may need to find something quickly and clear labeling can save hours of headache.
Hide and Seek Now the packing is nearly done, this is the best time for a moving time-out. Celebrate all the excitement by playing hide and seek; winner gets an ice cream or a back massage! (Ages 1-99)
Kitchen Clean-Out The kitchen requires the most work, the most organization and the most clean-out. This is a great time to get rid of older spices and condiments. Donate your cans to the local food bank to save moving all of the weight while helping out a fellow human. Donate your doubles, how many 9×13 pans does one need? Wipe all surfaces down with a vinegar and water mixture.
Pass on the Garage Sale Moving is hard enough, adding a garage sale to your list is not necessary. Set up and break down is exhausting, people are not always polite, and how much money do you think you will make? With the help of facebook and craigslist you can easily sell valuable items, or even offer things for free. For the rest, donate to a school, charity or friends who would be excited to receive and save yourself the stress.
Address Forwarding Visit the USPS and fill out a Forward Address form to make sure you don’t miss out on any mail. Call your bank, credit cards and newspaper to notify them of the new address change.
Cleaning After The Move is complete, return to the property and do a simple clean. The best gift you can give the new home owners is a fresh clean space. A little pay-it-forward will go a long way.
During the process there seems to be a breaking point, at this point remember the end of the move is close and you will soon be enjoying your new home. This checklist for moving is only the start in an exciting new chapter for you.