Moving to a new home is a thrilling adventure – a fresh start filled with exciting opportunities and new beginnings. However, amidst this excitement lies a maze of boxes, to-dos, and logistics. Whether relocating to the other side of town or across the country, meticulous preparation is the key to a seamless transition.
In this guide, we unfold a comprehensive checklist that promises to transform your moving experience from a daunting endeavour into a smooth, stress-free journey.
From the initial preparation a couple of months before your move to the last-minute packing and cleaning the day before, we’ve covered everything you need to ensure nothing is left to chance.
A Couple of Months Before You Move
Your move is coming up in a few months, which doesn’t mean you must start packing immediately. Instead, here are some things to do a couple of months before your moving date.
Get a quote from removalists
Moving to a new home is one of the most stressful events in your life, so hiring professional removalists to do the heavy lifting can make it that much easier.
Contact several removalists a couple of months before moving into a new home and get different quotes. Once you’ve found a removalist company and quote that you’re happy with, go through all the small details (cost, packing, types of items they move) before signing the contract.
Start collecting cardboard boxes
When it comes to moving house, it’s better to have too many boxes you don’t need rather than not enough. Therefore, you should start collecting cardboard boxes a couple of months before moving into a new home.
You can buy cardboard boxes from a retailer, but to save money, ask if your friends or family members have boxes they no longer need. You could also go to local businesses and ask if they have any spare boxes you could use.
Begin packing rarely-used items
When you have collected cardboard boxes, start packing up rarely-used items to make the process easier when it comes time to start packing up the rest of your belongings. For example, if you’re moving houses in summer, it’s a good idea to start packing your winter items, such as clothes and blankets.
Alternatively, you could start packing supplies room by room. For example, you could start packing up the guest room since it’s used the least and move on to the main rooms when your moving date approaches.
Go through your belongings and identify unwanted items
Moving to a new home is a fantastic excuse to organise your belongings and fill boxes with items you no longer need or want. If you haven’t used it for over a year, put it in the “getting rid of” pile to make the decision easier.
Have a garage sale or donate items to charity
Once you’ve gone through and identified items you no longer want or need, you can choose to either have a garage sale or donate them to charity. Since you’re doing this two months before your moving date, you have plenty of time to organise a garage sale and collect some extra cash. Or, if you don’t want to go through the effort of marketing and having a garage sale, the next best thing is to donate your unwanted items to charity.
Notify people of your move
When moving houses, it’s important to inform specific organisations, such as your insurance company and bank, about your move date. You don’t want to move to a new house and still have your insurance and bank documents mailed to your old address.
Book flights, if necessary
If you’re moving across the country and aren’t planning on driving there, you’ll need to book flight tickets. The sooner you book flights, the better, as the closer you get to your moving date, the higher the price of the flights will be.
A Couple of Weeks Before You Move
Two weeks may seem like a long time, but your moving date will come around quicker than you think. Here are some things to start doing two weeks before you move house.
Start packing non-essentials
Start packing all the items you won’t use within the next two weeks into boxes. Label the boxes to make adding them easier over the next two weeks.
Confirm moving arrangements
Double-check your booking with your removalist company to ensure everyone involved knows the exact date and time.
Notify important parties
Contact your utility providers (electricity, gas, water, internet) to schedule a disconnection in your current home and set it up in your new home.
Take care of plants
Most of the time, people don’t take plants with them when they move house. If you aren’t taking your plants, you should find them a new home.
Plan meals
Use perishable food items and plan your meals to avoid buying groceries that won’t be eaten before moving.
Update your driver’s licence
Update your driver’s licence online to reflect your new address.
During The Week of Moving
The week of your move is finally here! These seven days leading up to your move are crucial as they are when you need to finish packing and cleaning your house.
Here are the things to do during the week of your move.
Finalise packing
Aim to have nearly everything packed, leaving out only the essentials you’ll need for the last few days and the first day in your new home. Double-check closets, drawers and storage areas to ensure you’ve packed everything.
Create a moving day itinerary
Outline a schedule for moving day, including when the removalists are arriving, meal times and any last-minute tasks.
Pack an essentials box
Pack a box or suitcase with items you’ll need during the first 24 hours in your new home, including toiletries, a change of clothes, chargers, snacks and basic kitchen items.
Prepare appliances
If you’re taking appliances with you, ensure they’re cleaned, unplugged and ready to move. Defrost the freezer and secure appliance doors.
Clean your old home
Just because you’re moving out doesn’t mean you can leave the place dirty. Before moving out, give the house one last clean to ensure the new owners move into a clean house.
The Day Before Moving into Your New Home
Today’s the day!
After two months of preparing to move to a new home, moving day should be easy, with only a few more things to tick off your list, such as:
Final packing
Ensure all your belongings are packed except for the essentials you’ll need on the day of the move and immediately upon arriving at your new home.
Charge your electronics
Ensure your phone, laptop and any other electronic devices you’ll need during the move are fully charged. Keeping chargers in your essentials box or suitcase is also a good idea.
Prepare your home for the removalists
Create a clear path for movers to navigate through your home. Secure any loose rugs and ensure plenty of space for the removalists to park the moving truck.
Check every room
Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet and storage area to ensure nothing is left behind.
Moving Made Easy with Ready Movers
As you embark on the exciting journey of moving to a new home, following a comprehensive checklist can transform a potentially overwhelming process into a manageable and efficient transition. However, while a well-organised move is achievable on your own, partnering with professional removalists can significantly reduce the stress and physical strain involved.
At Ready Movers, we provide packing, moving and unpacking services that cater to your unique needs. With our experienced team by your side, you can focus on the excitement of starting a new chapter in your home, confident that the logistics have been taken care of.
If you’re looking for a stress-free moving experience, get a quote from Ready Movers today.
