As you prepare for your residential move, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. From deciding what to pack first to preparing your kids for the change, there’s a lot to do!
Your list of tasks can feel never-ending. Use this list to keep track of what you need to get done, starting from a month out. The bonus of having it all written out – when friends or family members ask what they can do to help, you can give them a concrete task that will move you closer to the end of the list.
Check out these ways to prepare yourself to leave your old home behind.
4 Weeks Out
Go through your house one room at a time, and sort through what you will take with you and the things you can part with. Then make arrangements to sell or donate the items you no longer need. Look into holding a garage sale, selling online through things like Facebook Marketplace, or donating to Goodwill.
Acquire all of your packing materials, including boxes, tape, labels, packing paper, and bubble wrap.
Begin packing. Start with items that are used less often, like photo albums and books.
Take care of utilities. Cancel your old services (or set up a cancellation date), and get a start date for new services at your new home. Be sure to save any phone numbers for utility companies. You may need them if you get to your new home and find that something isn’t working correctly.
3 Weeks Out
Set up mail forwarding to your new address so that you don’t miss a day of your mail. Use the post office’s website to make the switch. Don’t forget to let the essential people in your life know you’re moving and provide them your new information.
Plan your meals. Look at your freezer and see what needs to be used up—planning for two weeks’ worth of meals works. In the final week before your move, you won’t be cooking much, as your kitchen will be packed.
Schedule an appointment with an appliance service technician to prepare your major appliances for the move.
Continue packing and labeling boxes. Make a plan to designate time every day until moving day so that your packing stays on track.
Separate your valuable items and important documents and pack them separately.
2 Weeks Out
Complete your neighborhood bucket list. Enjoy a meal from your favorite restaurant or visit that park you love. If you have kids, be sure to include them in saying goodbye to your old area.
Shampoo your rugs so that when you arrive at your new home, they are fresh, clean, and dry.
Dispose of any flammables, as they can’t be moved on the moving truck. Properly dispose of things like fireworks, matches, cleaning fluids, and poisons. Check with your mover for a complete list of non-allowable items.
Finalize plans with your employer and talk with child care providers or teachers about your children’s last day.
1 Week Out
Set up your overnight bag as if you’re going on a two-week-long vacation. Assume that you won’t have access to anything in the moving truck when you arrive at your new home, and pack accordingly.
Get prescription refills for you, your family members, and pets.
Check-in with the moving company to make sure you agree on the date and time that they’ll arrive at your home.
Moving Day
Be prepared when the movers arrive. If you’re doing your own packing, make sure every box is taped and labeled.
Inspect the house and make sure you’ve shut off the water, furnace, air conditioner, and lights. Plus, lock the windows and doors.
Be sure to leave behind or make arrangements to hand over the house keys and garage door openers to the new owners.
Enjoy your new home!
