Moving to a new state can be stressful and it’s easy to forget things. A typical move can take several days.
According to Eagle State To State Moving, it takes on average 2 to 5 days for an interstate move.
To make things easier for yourself you should start preparing a few months in advance. Here is a helpful checklist that you can use to make moving easier.
Three Months Until The Move
Start planning your move. Check over your house and decide what you’ll be packing and what you’ll be throwing out. Don’t start packing yet, just prepare a mental inventory.
Consider having a yard sale to get rid of things that you don’t want to take with you. If you have furniture that’s been sitting in the garage for a while collecting dust, this is a good chance to get some money for it.
Donate items that you don’t sell. You can also prepare old clothes and shoes to donate as well.
Two Months Until The Move
Now is the time to hire your movers. Make sure to check that your movers are licensed to transport goods to the state you’re moving into.
If you have children, now is a good time to contact their school. Inform the school about the move and obtain your children’s records.
Contact your doctor and obtain medical records for every member of your family. If you haven’t found a doctor in the state that you’re moving to, ask your current doctor for recommendations. They can often give you good advice, and you can have your medical records sent ahead.
Contact your insurance agent and make sure your plan was still cover you after you make the move to the new state. It may be necessary to switch to a new plan.
Order your packing supplies. Don’t leave this to the last minute. Make sure you have everything you need in the way of boxes and containers to make moving as easy as possible.
It is also a good idea to start measuring your furniture to make sure you can get through the doors in your new home.
One Month Until The Move
Now it’s time to start packing. Start with the non-essential items. Anything that you haven’t used for a while should be packed at this time. You can also pack anything that you don’t need to use for the next month. Things like books, ornaments, sports gear, and some of your seasonal clothes should all be packed at this time.
Label everything. Write the contents on each box to make unpacking it easier at the other end. if you’re concerned about theft, you can prepare a master list of the contents and label the boxes with a code. For example, box 3A might contain towels and bedding, etc.
If you have pets, make arrangements for their travel and contact your vet if necessary.
Backup your computer. Make sure all your files are stored in the cloud or on a removable hard drive that you can take with you.
Start cleaning out your freezer. Eat whatever you can and dispose of anything else.
Take your car to a mechanic for a tune-up and oil change. You want to be certain that it’s going to work throughout your moving period.
Go to your local post office and change your address or you can use USPS.gov.
Inform anyone that you need to about your move, such as your bank, credit card companies, and your employer.
Two Weeks Until The Move
Confirm with the movers once more to ensure that there will be no hassles on moving day.
Arrange for time off work. You may need from several days to a couple of weeks during the moving period.
Moving companies often won’t take boxes that contain chemicals and paint tins, so now is a good time to dispose of any that you have lying around.
Consider hiring a cleaning service for moving day. Using professionals will be much easier than cleaning the house yourself.
One Week Until The Move
This is a good time to clean any large appliances you have such as fridges and freezers.
If you need to, visit a pharmacy and refill your prescriptions. Don’t leave this until you reach your new state. You have enough headaches with moving as it is.
Aim to finish your packing in this week. The less you have to do on moving day at the better.
Pack one bag to take with you. It should contain at least one change of clothes for all members of your family, as well as items like toothbrushes and other toiletries. You may need to live out of this bag for a couple of days before you get fully moved in at your new home.
You should also prepare a separate bag for valuables such as jewelry, credit cards, and cash that you want to take with you.
A Few Days Before The Move
In the last few days before the move, you should confirm with the movers once again. It is a good idea to get a phone number from the driver and give them your cell phone number as well.
You should also prepare written instructions on how to get to your new home to give to the movers.
Now is also the time to get the keys for your new place, or to confirm that someone will be there to give them to you.
To reduce the number of boxes to move, you can donate any non-perishable foods that you still have, such as cans and spaghetti packets.
Disassemble any furniture that requires it. Keep the nuts and bolts together in a bag and attach them to the underside of the furniture.
Moving Day
Make sure someone is available to supervise. Take note of the condition of all boxes and record any damage.
Once all boxes have been moved into your new home, review the bill of lading. Sign it and make sure the head removalist signs it as well.
Record the meter readings for electricity, gas, and water in case of any problems in the future.
Finally, perform an initial clean and vacuum of your new house before you start unpacking.