5 Tips for a Smooth Move
Whether you’re downsizing after sending your last child to college or moving into a bigger house to accommodate a growing family, moving is a big undertaking.
There are so many things that you need to remember to do to prepare for a move, whether it is across town or the country. This list can help you organize moving and make sure everything is done, so the transition goes smoothly.
Start Early
If you know you’re moving within a few months, start going through everything in your household immediately. By waiting until the last few weeks, you may forget something important like switch your children’s schools or moving your utilities.
Start by writing down everything that you and your family need to do to have a successful move. A checklist will help organize it and make sure everything gets done at the proper time.
Even if you haven’t found your next house yet, start jotting down everything you need to take care of as soon as possible.
Take the Time to Declutter
Packing to move is a great time to sort through your belongings and get rid of the items that you don’t need or want any longer. Take the time to sort everything into three piles: one for holding a garage sale, one for donations, and a pile for putting in the recycle bin or garbage.
Anything that is broken beyond repair should be put in the garbage. However, any electronics needs to go to a proper recycling station. If you have baby clothes, toys, and furniture, you can either sell them in a garage sale or donate them to a women’s shelter.
Hire Movers
Do not wait until the last few weeks to hire movers to pick up your household items and furniture from your old house and take it to your new one. Hiring furniture removal services should be done as soon as you have firm dates for when you’re moving.
Try to avoid moving in the summer because it can be more expensive as that is when most people move into a new home. It can also be difficult to book a time in the summer if you don’t reserve it a few months ahead of time because it is the busiest time of year for removalists.
Arrange for Moving Utilities
One of the tasks people often forget to do is change their utilities. Arrange to shut off the utilities with the electric, water, and cable companies in the place that you’re moving out of on the day the movers arrive to pick up everything from your current address.
Then, have them turn on the utilities in the new location on the same day. You can prevent being left in the dark when you finish moving by notifying the utility companies in advance about your moving plans for your new home.
Move Valuables With You
When sorting through your paperwork and other valuables, put important documents like birth certificates, banking records, and the house deeds into a separate file to take with you. Also, separate family heirlooms and jewelry into a separate box to take in the car on moving day.
A checklist is a good way to ensure that everything that needs to be done before and after moving is completed. Start the checklist several months in advance to make the moving experience smoother and easier on yourself and your family.