No matter how far you’re going, it’s never easy to get your life boxed up and loaded onto a truck. The good news is that a little bit of planning now will go a long way towards making Moving Day as painless as possible.
- Research and choose a reliable moving company or decide if you are going to move yourself.
- Take inventory of your belongings and decide what you will keep, donate, sell, or throw away.
- Notify your current landlord or real estate agent about your move and arrange to either break your lease or transfer it to someone else.
- Notify your utility companies (electricity, gas, water) about your move and schedule disconnection and/or transfer of services to your new address.
- Set up utilities for your new home, such as electricity, gas, water, and internet.
- Notify your internet, cable, and phone providers about your move and schedule disconnection and/or transfer of services to your new address.
- Submit a change of address form to the post office to redirect your mail to your new address.
- Notify your employer, schools, doctors, and other relevant organizations about your change of address.
- Update your address on important documents such as driver’s license, vehicle registration, and voter registration.
- Make arrangements for any necessary pet transport and update pet registrations and microchip information.
- Gather important documents such as birth certificates, passports, medical records, and insurance policies and keep them in a safe place during the move.
- Start packing belongings that you will be taking with you, labeling boxes with the contents and the room they belong to.
- Arrange for a moving truck or pod if you are moving yourself, or confirm the details with your chosen moving company.
- If needed, make arrangements for temporary storage of your belongings during the move.
- Coordinate with friends or family to assist with the move, or schedule professional movers if necessary.
- Make travel arrangements if you are relocating a long distance or internationally, including booking flights, hotels, and rental cars if needed.
- Pack a bag or box with essentials that you will need immediately upon arrival at your new home, such as toiletries, a change of clothes, and any necessary medications.
- Notify your neighbors or landlord about your moving day to avoid any potential inconvenience.
- Make a list of tasks to be completed on the day of the move, such as disconnecting appliances, disassembling furniture, and cleaning your current home.
- Finally, double-check all arrangements and preparations a day or two before the move to ensure a smooth relocation.
