Moving can be stressful, especially relocating to another house a significant distance away. Here are some tips on how to break things down into manageable steps and stay on track.
Book Transportation and Get Help
About two months before you move, rent a moving truck and hire a team of movers, if necessary. Request quotes from several moving companies to get the best deal possible.
Figure out if you will need assistance with packing or disassembling furniture. If so, ask the moving company to send workers to help or get in touch with family members and friends to ask for assistance.
Make Other Arrangements
If you’ll be flying to your new home or driving and staying at a hotel, make those reservations well before moving day. If you will need someone to take care of your children and/or pets on moving day, or you would like to hire a professional cleaning service to give your home a deep cleaning, make those arrangements early.
Decide What to Take and Start Packing
Go through your belongings and figure out what you can sell or donate. If you want to sell some items, plan to hold a garage sale or list them for sale online.
Begin to gather packing supplies, such as boxes, tape, bubble wrap and labels, early. Local stores may be willing to give you boxes at no charge.
Once you have decided what will go to your new home, figure out how to pack it. Make a list of items that can be packed early, such as holiday decorations and clothing that you won’t need for the current season. Then pack other items as moving day approaches. Number each box and make a list with details on what is inside so you can easily find what you need.
Plan a Layout
Figure out how you want to arrange furniture in your new home. Measure your furniture and create a plan based on the dimensions of the rooms and doorways. Planning that ahead of time will make moving day less stressful for your family and for the movers.
Clean Out the Fridge
In the month or so leading up to the move, look through your refrigerator, freezer and cabinets to see what you have. Use up as much food as possible before you move so you won’t have to transport a lot of it to your new home.
Get and Stay Organized
When planning a move, organization is critical. Create a notebook or binder dedicated to the move. Include to-do lists, receipts and schedules so everything is in one place and so people can refer to information as necessary.
Delegate tasks to each family member and set deadlines. If your kids are old enough to help with packing, that can make the entire process easier. Check in frequently to hold each other accountable and stay on schedule.
