If you know you’ll be moving this summer, you should prepare a checklist of everything you need to do for your move. Checklists are fantastic because they break a big unmanageable task – like moving all of your earthly belongings to a new home – into small, manageable tasks. Our uShip experts agree that two of the most satisfying activities in the world are crossing things off checklists, and destroying a checklist once you’re done with it. All in all, a checklist is a very good idea. Here are our suggestions for some things that should be on your checklist.
1. Make a checklist. Begin your checklist with “Write a checklist”. You must resist the urge to cross this off just yet, because you’re not quite done with it (though you’ve done an excellent job getting started).
2. Take a general inventory of your home. You can begin separating items into “stuff to move” or “Stuff to get rid of”. While you don’t need to categorize every little thing, getting a general idea of what you’re moving will allow moving companies to give you a much more accurate estimate.
3. Contact moving companies. The earlier in the moving process that you can arrange for shipping the better rates you will get, and the least stressful the entire process will be. Summer is a peak time for moving, and booking early can help you get the dates you want at a better price.
4. Acquire packing materials. Estimate the amount of materials you’re going to need, then double it. You’re going to need quite a few boxes, tape, markers, packing paper, extra cardboard to protect your furniture and plates, packing peanuts, etc. While it may seem like you have too much, you likely have a lot of little things to move that you won’t realize until you begin the packing process, and you don’t want the added stress as you get closer to moving day.
5. Hold a garage sale or donate unwanted ‘stuff’. When you move homes, especially if you’ve lived in the same one for a long time, you end up with a lot of stuff that you no longer want, need, or don’t want to move. A garage sale is a relatively painless way to get rid of all your unneeded items, and make some extra cash to cover your moving expenses.
6. Get packing! This is going to be the longest and most tedious part of the entire process: packing everything up. Make sure you start with things that you don’t need on a daily basis and give yourself plenty of time
7. Will you need a storage unit? Early on in the process you should be able to determine whether or not you will need a temporary storage unit during your move. These can also be booked in advance near your destination so that the moving company can drop off the boxes that will go in storage. Make sure they’re clearly marked when you pack them so that you don’t deliver them to the wrong spot.
8. Prepare your children for moving. Depending on the length of your move, you will want to put some time into preparing your kids for moving. You want to make them feel a part of the process and not just a bystander. Special considerations may also be needed if you’re moving with pets.
9. Set up transportation for yourself. While your stuff will be moved by the moving company, you’re going to have to get to your new home as well. Make sure that you prepare transportation for the big day, and get your cars ready for travel or transport.
10. Change your addresses. There will be a lot of other things to do as you get ready to move, from requesting that your mail be forwarded, to canceling or transferring utilities, changing newspaper, magazine, or rental subscriptions, and sending your new address to friends and family. Make a list of all of these and remember to start taking care of them as your moving day approaches.
Since most of these deserve more than a short paragraph, we will be expanding on each of these “checkpoints” in the coming weeks as part of our Summer Moving Series. Remember, the key to a stress free move is to be prepared and give yourself plenty of time.
If you have any suggestions for other topics we should cover, please feel free to let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to add it in. For more great articles on moving, check out uShip's articles on moving.
Have a great summer!
