Without a doubt, moving is one of the most stressful events you will encounter in your lifetime. Let’s face it, in one way or another, many people experience the hardships of moving at least once in their life. However, there are ways to make your move less stressful.
So, to make moving bearable here is an 8-week checklist. This list will surely help you stay organised before the big day.
The Ultimate Moving Checklist
- 8 Weeks Before Moving Day
Starting early can help you stay on top of all the things on your list.
- Create a “moving” folder on your computer or Google Drive. Then take photos of the entire house – from the bathroom to every bedroom, from the inside to the outside and from ceiling to floor. Remember to take photos of important things related to your move.
- Set your moving budget. Make sure to cover all expenses, including materials and tools for packing, cleaning, disconnection fees for utilities and removalist fees. Remember to set a realistic budget.
- Schedule important appointments with work, school, friends and relatives. Meet with people who should know about your move.
- Make sure you are ready for the new environment. Start searching for schools for your kids and work for yourself. Make a list of all the documents you need to process for the transfers.
- Research for movers and pick the most reliable and affordable one. Make sure that they also service the area where you are moving, especially for an interstate move.
- Schedule an in-home estimate with 2-3 of the best removalist on your list. Ask about how much it will cost to include packing services and if needed, storage as well. Remember to ask for all the fees included to ensure that you stay within your budget.
- Research for removals insurance providers and remember to ask for a quote and the coverage of the policy. This can help protect your things when moving.
- 7 Weeks Before Moving Day
After a week of dealing with mostly phone calls and making sure that everything is scheduled, it’s time to start tackling the housework.
- Inform your entire household of the move. Explain to your kids why the move is necessary. And let them know when the move will happen.
- Schedule and assign room packing to everyone. It helps to assign the room owners to sort and pack their rooms.
- Sort all your belongings. Make a list of the things you will bring and leave behind.
- Plan and schedule a garage sale for your neighbours and friends.
- Accommodate some of the important appointments you scheduled for week 7.
- Prepare all the packing materials and tools you need, especially if you will do the packing yourself.
- 6 Weeks Before Moving Day
Yet another week passed by and the countdown continues. Week 6 should be all about sorting your properties.
- Accommodate removalist in-home estimates scheduled for week 6. This can give you an idea if including the packing services is within your budget.
- From the lists that everyone made in the previous week, sort all your things according to the things you will bring. Make sure to leave your clutters behind.
- For the things that you will leave behind, sort them further into things you may include in your yard or garage sale, things you want to donate and things that need to be disposed of.
- Take photos of your electronics, especially the cable systems for easier reassembling later on.
- Plan how you can optimise packing fragile items.
- 5 Weeks Before Moving Day
You’re almost halfway through your moving preparations. So far so good?
- Choose your removalist and book your move with them.
- Go to your bank and ask if they have an office where you are moving. If there is, ask how you can transfer your account.
- If you opt to do the packing yourself, it helps to start packing the things you do not need for the remaining weeks before your move.
- You should also begin planning your route in taking your things out. Measure doors and stairways to make sure that your furniture will fit through them.
- Process the transfer papers and other documents for school and work.
- 4 Weeks Before Moving Day
Alas, you’re halfway through the big day. Below are the things you need to include for this week.
- Start emptying and cleaning your fridge and pantry. Dispose of expired, spoiled and stale foods, ingredients and drinks.
- Dispose of all the clutters that you categorised as trash. Remember to follow rules on proper disposal of hazardous items such as batteries, cellular phones and other gadgets.
- Conduct a “change of address” and set up a mail forwarding to your new home.
- If you have local memberships like gyms, dance classes and groceries, ask for a transfer if they have affiliations in your new place. If not, process cancellations.
- If you wish to continue such memberships in your new locality, it may be best to search for available services or alternatives as early as now.
- Confirm your booking with your removalist.
- 3 Weeks Before Moving Day
By this time you should have crossed out about 70% of your to-do list.
- Continue packing and if there are things you want to add to your for sale and for donation pile, feel free to do so.
- Hold the garage sale as planned. Invite your neighbours, family and friends to come over. Sell as much as you can to minimise your clutters.
- Accommodate the utility disconnections you scheduled for the week.
- Cancel your regular deliveries and subscriptions. If you wish to continue them. Inform the companies of your change of address.
- 2 Weeks Before Moving Day
You’re almost on the last lap. Better hang in there…
- Continue and finalise your packing. Make sure you secure your valuables including important documents.
- Prepare your “moving day survival kit.” Include a first aid bag, clothes, blanket, food, batteries, chargers, utensils, toiletries and other important things.
- Get your car serviced. Make sure that it is ready for the long ride, especially if you are moving interstate by land.
- Take your fur babies to the vet for checkups and to prepare them for the long trip and the big day. Ask your clinic if they have an office in the locality you will relocate and ask for a transfer of pet information to facilitate your pet’s needs.
- 1 Week Before Moving Day
By this time, you should be finished packing all your things.
- Check for the weather forecast on the day you will move. This is to make sure that everything will go smoothly.
- Defrost your refrigerator and freezer. Then dry them up for easy transporting.
- Take a photo and video of the empty house. This can help in case of unwarranted claims against damages to property, especially if you were renting the place.
- Do a donation drop-off to charities, orphanages and institutions for the things you categorised as “for donation.”.
- If you have plants to take with you. Make sure to water and place them in baskets.
It’s finally the big day. Make sure to check that you did not leave anything. Check that everything is intact and close all windows and doors. Surrender your keys to your house rental service provider. Remember to check with your removalist and ask for ways to communicate with them during the move.
For a reliable move, contact Cairns Coast Removals today!