Lawrenceville Moving Checklist
Moving Checklist
When you are planning to relocate to a different location, you need to ensure that the process is efficient, smooth, and hassle-free. A moving checklist is the best way to make the moving process easy, manageable, and enjoyable.
Moving Process
The process in itself is quite exciting and nervous at the same time. Without proper planning and implementation, the person might miss something or forget something in the process. Creating a checklist should give you the confidence that you could handle the complex moving process easier. All the aspects you need to consider before and during the moving process can be checked and tracked using this checklist.
Moving Checklist
There is no point in having one single moving checklist for the whole moving process. We are going to break down the moving checklist into 4 different checklists, to make the process more simple and efficient.
Checklist #1 (For 1 month before the moving date)
- Moving inventory – Planning for the move well ahead of time is very important. Check all your items and create an inventory of all the belongings that you like to be moved. Scout through every single room and create an inventory of all the items you’d like to take with you and the ones that you’d like to get rid of.
- Donate or get rid of – any unwanted furniture or clothing or any other item you have at your home should either be donated or gotten rid of. Make sure to recheck all the items you have and create a final inventory.
- Garage or online sale – You could make use of many selling platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and garage sales to sell the items that you no longer need at an optimum price. Some items could be valuable whereas some won’t so only these selling platforms should help you get the best price for your items.
- Moving supplies – Collect all the moving supplies such as boxes, bubble wraps, tapes, markers, etc. All the specialty things such as dish barrels, mattress covers, etc. should also be purchased by this time.
- Change of address form – Make sure to submit a change of address form to your post office. By changing your address well ahead of time, you should avoid receiving all your important mails at the old address, and get everything delivered to the new one.
- Select the moving company and dates – Make sure to contact a professional moving service provider and confirm the moving date, at least a month early. Never select a moving company over the phone. Talk to different service providers, look at reviews, word of mouth, experience, reliability, insurance, etc. to select the right moving company. In some cases, the moving company might be booked for the date you were planning the move, so be flexible and decide on a specific moving date because even they need to plan the move.
- Items that can’t be moved – There are certain items like heavy appliances which cannot be moved using a professional moving company. You need to find them out and decide what to do with those items.
Checklist #2 (Two weeks before moving)
- Packing – You should start packing all your belongings 2 weeks before the move because time flies. All the items you use very less frequently such as Christmas decorations, books, etc. should be packed first. Note down the value of every single item, as you pack.
- Cleaning – The rugs and draperies in your old home should be washed and dried. Professional cleaning services return them wrapped. This can be packed right away and taken to your new home for unwrapping.
- Antique items appraisal – Antiques do have a special value so appraise them to know the exact value of such items before packing them. Added security and insurance are mandatory for moving such items.
- Moving truck parking arrangements – Make sure to book your moving elevator and also secure a safe parking spot for the moving company truck. Moving elevator is a must if you are living on upper floors. Prior permission for parking the trucks should also be obtained.
- Insurance transfer policies – When you are moving from one place to another, you need to transfer all the insurance policies. Notify the insurance company about your move and give them adequate time to process the transfers.
- Contact notifications – Create a list of contact details, containing the names of all your friends, companies, corporate accounts, personal accounts, etc. Also create a list of every other organization that you’d like to notify about your move such as banks, HR, brokerage firms, subscription magazines, newspapers, utility firms, etc. to inform them about your move.
- Arrange for a leave on your moving day – Inform your office HR department about the moving day and make sure to get your day off. Informing them beforehand should be beneficial for both parties.
- Clear minor home repairs – If you are moving out of your apartment, make sure to get all the minor repairs sorted out before moving.
Checklist #3 (A week before the moving date)
- Active packing – We have already packed all the less frequent usage items earlier and now it is time to start actively packing all the belongings that you plan on taking with you. Move from one room to another packing things so that you don’t leave anything out.
- Tape shut and marked – Tape all the boxes you have packed so far and mark them. Make sure to pay extra attention when implementing this step because if you miss it, you won’t have a peaceful unpacking experience at your new home.
- Check the quality of furniture – Make sure to check the quality of all your furniture and belongings. Take a picture or note down all the dents and scratches that you see on the furniture.
- Cleaning service – A cleaning company should help you clear out all the junk and waste from your home before the move. The same should also be utilized before moving into your new home.
- Labeling – Make sure to label the items that you need to access first when unpacking. Organizing should help you keep unpack everything in the new home.
- Clean and drain – Clean your refrigerator, and defrost it at least a day before the moving. Make it empty and clean if you are carrying it with you. Drain water hoses, lawn mowers, propane tanks, etc.
- Travel arrangements – Make sure that all the flight tickets or train or bus tickets and transit arrangements are made for all the members of your family, including your pets.
- Utility cut-off and activation – Inform and check with all the utility companies for fixing a date for cutting off cable, gas, electricity, garbage, and water connection in the old home, and also activating them, in your new home.
- Keep documents in one place – Store all the important documents, warranties, and manuals in one place. Take pictures of all the electrical appliances and how they were connected in your old home, which should help you connect them properly when moving to the new home.
- Lockbox – Store all your valuable jewels, cash, and other items in a lockbox for security.
Checklist #4 (Moving Day)
- Organize the loading pattern – You should create a priority list of the boxes that have to be loaded first and last. You can create this list based on the value, importance, and size of the boxes too.
- Make sure that every loose item is packed and ready to go.
- Ensure that you have removed all the pictures and wall hangings.
- Make sure to label the boxes on top with the corresponding rooms or cupboards or categories in which they have to be stored in your new home.
- Double confirm that there are no contents in your appliances.
- Ensure that every single item is removed from furniture, cupboards, and other big moving items.
- Check all the rooms, closets, bathrooms, cabinets, etc. for any missing items.
- Disassemble the bedding set.
- Make sure to be present at the new home, helping and giving direction to the movers on placing the boxes in their appropriate spots.
- Create an essential box kit, which should include items like toilet paper, garbage bags, phone chargers, snacks, cleaning supplies, towels, pet food, a portable tool kit, scissors, etc.
- Make sure to check the following before you leave your old home. Check whether the lights are turned off, water is shut off, windows are shut, locked, house keys are surrendered to the owner, turn down the thermostat, and check whether you have left anything behind.
Checklist #5 (On the new home)
- Unpack all the boxes, flatten them all, and donate them. You could also subscribe to unpacking services from the moving company if they offer that.
- Make sure to change the address on your car insurance and driver’s license.
- Write a review on the services rendered by the moving company, which should help them improve and also provide valuable insight to other individuals who are planning on a move recently.
- Throw a housewarming party. Unwind yourself in the new home with your pet, family, friends, and colleagues in your new home.
All these moving checklists should help you organize and plan your move without facing any stress and hassle.