The Ultimate Moving Checklist

The moment you know for sure that you’re about to move, life seems to turn on its head. If only all of your stuff could magically appear in a new home without any stress or sweat on your part. But the moving process can be less of a chore if you break down the tasks into a checklist. And hey, we already did that for you! Who knows, our ultimate moving checklist might even make moving fun.

Step One: Schedule your Move

For the best prices and flexibility, start researching moving companies and/or trucks, roughly six weeks out. If you are renting a truck for your move, make sure to compare your options. There are several big brand rental companies out there, but for a local move, you might find a local company that offers a better value. If you are looking to hire a professional moving company you can find our handy guide to hiring a mover here.

Step Two: Sort and Purge

You can start this step anytime, but don’t wait any longer than four weeks before your move. Go through every room of your house and decide what you’d like to keep and what you can get rid of. Think about whether any items will require special packing or extra insurance coverage. That might help you decide whether or not it’s worth keeping. Finally, plan a garage sale.

Step Three: Pack Non-Essentials

Now is the time to begin packing. Start by boxing up non-essentials and seasonal items first. These could include winter coats, off-season sports gear, books and any other belongings you won’t need in the weeks leading up to the move. Be sure to pack all fragile items with extra care and label boxes as clearly as possible. Also, keep valuables and important documents separate.

Step Four: Transfer your Utilities

Several weeks before you move, call all utility service providers to let them know about your move. Utilities include cable and internet, water and sewer, gas, electricity, satellite, security system, trash, and phone. If moving within the same city, you may be able to transfer utilities to your new house. However, those moving somewhere new will need to research utility companies in the area and schedule installation dates. Make sure you have important utilities such as electricity and cable turned on in your new home before you move.

Step Five: Update your Address

Fortunately, forwarding your snail mail is an easy task that can be done ahead of time. All you have to do is go to USPS.com and choose the date you wish to begin forwarding your mail. But don’t forget to update your bank account, credit cards, and other billing addresses. Most of the time this can be done in less than a minute online or by phone.

Step Six: Finish Packing

A week before your move is the time to finish up the packing process by boxing up kitchenware and other essentials. Be sure to label these boxes as clearly as possible to avoid losing track of them during the moving process. The day before you move, be sure to pack all necessary items in suitcases that you plan on taking with you. These should contain your first week essentials including pajamas, toiletries, clothing, shoes, medications, pet and baby necessities, as well as any important documents or valuables.

Step Seven: Moving Day

On the day of your move, be sure to take inventory of all belongings. Keep track of what you have and what the movers are transporting. If you have hired a company, check your driver’s inventory sheet as well. If anything is missing or damaged make a note of this beforehand. It may also be a good idea to take photos of fragile items such as appliances or lamps for liability coverage and insurance purposes. To avoid leaving anything behind, be sure to do one final sweep of your home before you move out. Don’t forget to look in your bathtubs, washers, dryers, kitchen cabinets and any other easy-to-miss spots.

Whether you’re looking for temporary storage while unpacking or a long-term solution to your clutter, renting a storage unit is a perfect option for those relocating to a new home. Remember that AA1 is a reputable local company that has some of the best priced Sparta, NJ storage units around. Look no further than here!

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AA1Self Storage provides self storage, storage units, moving storage, and secure storage in Southern, Ogdensburg, New Jersey

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