How to Prepare for a Move

You may be planning to move across country. You may be planning to move across town. In either case, planning is a good start. Let’s take a look at how you can prepare for a move, and hopefully cut down some of your stress while we’re at it.

• Create a Checklist: If you’ve never been a list-maker, now’s the time to start. Pro tip: Some major steps on your checklist should be broken up into several smaller steps.

• Declutter and Donate: If you don’t want it, don’t pay to have it moved. Pawn it, donate it, or just plain junk it. Go full Marie Kondo for maximum savings.

• Gather Supplies: Everyone runs out of boxes, tape, or both. Make sure you’ve got enough by gathering your supplies ahead of time.

• Start Packing Early: Get an early jump on your packing, and pack starting from least-used to most-used. Seasonal decor and artwork first, kitchen utensils and toothbrush last (we hope).

• Change of Address: Don’t forget your mail, banking, and utilities. It’s a lot of paperwork, but you don’t want to accidentally miss a payment on something.

• Prepare an Essentials Box: Pack a backpack or suitcase with everything you usually take on vacation. Toiletries, chargers, spare clothes - this way, you won’t have to dig for your essential items.

• Organize Tasks: Forgetful? It may help to make a “pre-checklist checklist” of all the major tasks you want to include.

• Detailed Planning: Every step can be broken up into smaller steps. Don’t just write “MOVE LOL” and call it a day. What goes INTO a move? Packing? Calling the movers? Booking storage? Get detailed!

• Use Categories: Some parts of your move may be geared for more specific categories. For example, you can break your list up by room, by person, or by importance.

• Digital Tools: If all else fails, you can use an old-fashioned notepad. But if you’re moving with others, Notes and Google Docs are useful tools for sharing a live list.

• Timeline: Give yourself a realistic timeframe. Don’t pretend you’re going to get it all done in a week.

• Sort it Out: Most people don’t know this, but moving day always means one or two cleaning days, too. Declutter your space and sort out what you won’t be taking with you.

• Sell it Off: This is a great option for those new-in-the-box items. Try to sell off your unwanted belongings. You can use the money to fund the rest of your move!

• Hand it Down: Okay, maybe the Pawn Stars guys didn’t want your old sofa. But you know who might? Your sibling/cousin/nephew/niece who’s moving off to college.

• Throw it Out: You tried selling it. You tried donating. If you still can’t find a home for it, you might have to just plain junk it. At the end of the day, you’re still saving money - it’s one less thing for your movers to charge you for.

• Boxes: Aside from pro movers, Home Depot usually has a wide variety of boxes. If you’re trying be extra stingy, ask your local office park, bookstore, and/or liquor store if they have any boxes they’re willing to part with.

• Labeling: This one is often overlooked. Don’t forget sharpies, and light-colored tape. This way you can quickly label your boxes.

• Eco-Friendly Packing: Moving generates a ton of waste. Be on the lookout for recycled packing supplies, or just use your clothes and other soft stuff for padding.

• Specialized Containers: If you can’t find the box (and styrofoam inserts) for your TV, you may have to track down specialized boxes. Pro movers may offer a wide range of boxes for your needs (and for a few bucks extra, they’ll even do all the packing for you. HINT HINT).

• Packing Tools: You never know when you might need it later. Look into buying a dolly or a few of those wheeled furniture movers.

• Non-Essential Items: Start with the stuff you don’t always use. Seasonal decor should be first, followed by art. Work your way up to all those things you use regularly, from your laptop to your chargers.

• Keep it Organized: Room by room, with clear labeling. If you can spare the space, we recommend setting aside either a whole room (or just a corner) for all your packed boxes. This will cut down on loading times when the movers show up.

• Make an Inventory List: Look, you’re already making a moving checklist, you may as well make an inventory list while you’re at it. You can also note down in which box you’ve put which item.

• Valuables and Documents: Don’t toss your birth certificates and passports in some random box. If it’s important, keep it close at all times.

• Forward Your Mail: Inform the post office, banks, and other important entities of your new address.

• Tell Your Bank: You should really tell your bank where you’re headed. This way, they know where to send you your bills (and they won’t accidentally put a hold on your debit card when you’re using it elsewhere).

• Update Your Subscriptions: Amazon, Netflix, Adobe, whatever you’re subscribed to, it’ll need updated billing info.

• Transfer Your Utilities: You will want a post-move shower when it’s all done. You know what you won’t want? A dry faucet and no water. Make sure your utilities provider knows when you’re moving in.

• Keep it Portable: Your essentials bag should be easy to carry, and easy to access. Your move may take several days, lots of driving, or even a flight or two. Make sure it’s a bag you can take through the airport.

• Toiletries: Include all your everyday items - or at the very least, whatever you take with you on short vacations. You don’t want to dig through a dozen boxes to find your toothbrush.

• Must-Have Electronics: Got your phone? Got your laptop? Got your Airpods? Good.

• Chargers: Don’t forget the chargers for those must-have electronics, especially if your move is going to take several days of travel.

• Change of Clothes: Just like any other trip, you’ll need a few changes of clothes. Include a smaller bag for your dirty laundry so it’s not just stinking up the rest of the bag.

A move has a lot of moving parts (pun intended). But if you start planning in advance, you can get a handle on all the chaos, and know what to expect on the big day. It all comes down to knowing what you’ll need, and knowing where (and when) you’ll be able to find it. Remember to list everything out, keep calm, keep breathing, and keep track of all those steps!

Best of luck with your move, and don’t forget to check out some of our other helpful guides to make moving even easier!