Thinking about moving? If so, you are not alone! According to a recent survey, 39% of America’s renters searched for homes outside of their current communities in the past year. A quarter of renters contemplated interstate moves.
Moving is a matter of attitude. Resolve to make it a time to welcome a future filled with new possibilities. As you review our practical step-by-step guide to moving, embrace your individuality. You, and only you, know the way you prefer to do things. Your journey to a new residence begins with planning and packing, continues with transporting, and concludes with unpacking.
Planning
A little organization goes a long way. It will help you retain a feeling of being in control throughout the process. CNET reviews a variety of apps designed to organize and streamline aspects of your move. Consider tracking the process with an app like Moving Planner. At MoveAdvisor, it is possible to create a timeline and a home inventory.
DIY or a mover?
Should you hire a mover or reserve a rental truck? Use the U-Haul website to estimate the cost of a DIY move. Apps like Dolly get you quotes from multiple moving companies. For shorter moves, it is possible to hire others to move only the larger, heavier items. Make your moving decision a month or more in advance, as prices tend to increase closer to your move date.
Utility connections
Schedule dates to begin electric service at your new home. Do the same with natural gas, cable, and internet as applicable.
Address updates
The list of required address notifications is longer than you might imagine, including:
- Forward your mail at com.
- Update your address with credit card companies and financial institutions.
- Report the new address to your auto insurer.
- Update pet ID tags.
If applicable, seek recommendations for a new physician. If you’re moving far away, make arrangements to close out your safe deposit box and/or storage unit.
Packing
While packing up an entire household is no small task, there are ways to ease the burden. As you pack, decide what you’ll keep, sell, donate, or throw away. Think of it as a spring cleaning of sorts. Donate unneeded items for the benefit of others or sell them via online marketplaces. Facebook Marketplace is one option. OfferUp connects buyers and sellers within the radius you specify.
Inventory possessions
Use your smartphone to take pictures of possessions you intend to keep. Organize them in an app like Under My Roof. Sortly allows up to eight photos per item. While you’re taking photos, document the condition of everything you are moving. This will also serve to catalog your possessions for future insurance needs.
Gather supplies
Use a box calculator to determine how many small, medium, and large boxes you’ll probably need. Stock up on bubble wrap, packing tape, and color-coded labels. Account for large possessions like TVs and delicate items like heirlooms. When possible, use the original packaging for televisions and small appliances.
Labeling best practices
For quick identification, label boxes on multiple sides. Label them by content and location. For example, “Books – Family Room.” Consider using color-coded labels, like yellow for the kitchen and green for the bathroom. Label boxes “Fragile” as appropriate. Use the term “Essentials” to identify boxes you’ll want to unpack first.Care for the cold stuff.
Clean out your refrigerator/freezer in the hours before your move. Dispose of outdated items, and pack the rest in coolers with ice and ice packs. Consider dry ice for longer moves. Check out this detailed guide at the Chef’s Resource.
Prepare a “go bag”
Gather the essentials you’ll need during your move. This includes toiletries, medications, important documents, charging cords, and a change of clothes.
Transporting
Make sure there’s room to park the moving truck near the exterior door you’ll be using. If you are using a mover, obtain your driver’s name, cell number, and license plate number. When it comes to your moving crew, a little empathy goes a long way, as it is often a demanding job.
Conduct a final inspection to make sure nothing gets left behind. Conclude your stay per the property manager’s guidelines.
Moving with a pet often poses a challenge. The ASPCA recommends that you gradually acclimate pets to their crates. First, place food in an open crate, then serve them meals with the door shut. As moving day approaches, take your crated pet for a series of short drives.
Unpacking
Here’s where disciplined labeling pays off, as boxes go straight to the correct rooms. The mover will likely ask you to sign off on a form when their work is done. Before you sign, consider writing “Subject to inspection for loss or concealed damage” on the form. This protects you should you discover damage as you unpack your boxes. A Consumer Affairs survey suggests that tipping movers for quality service is a common practice. Check out their guide to tipping.
Unpack your go bag and put refrigerated/frozen food away. Pull out other dining essentials like plates and cutlery. Unpack bedding for the bedroom and towels for the bathroom.
At this point, it is time to kick back and enjoy a well-deserved beverage or meal. After a little rest and rejuvenation, take a moment to say “Hi!” to your neighbors.
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