Moving day has arrived! It’s both stressful and exciting at once because with this big moment of owning your new home also comes a lot of hard work getting moved into your home. Here are some tips to make sure the move into your dream home doesn’t turn into a nightmare.
Start Early
Doing anything last minute leaves a lot room for error. Do yourself a big favor and begin packing early. Typically you have 30-60 days to get everything packed and ready to go. Make a plan early on to figure out how you want to successfully move and then start right away. Make a weekly task list that will ensure you don’t forget anything.
Purge
Long before you start packing, begin decluttering your home. This will make your moving day much lighter and organized. Start a few piles or boxes for trash, donations and items to sell. Have a yard sale, sell large items on Facebook’s Marketplace or another online site, shred old documents and get rid of anything you don’t want or need. This will make moving day much easier on you and your movers.
First Night Box
Pack a bag or box of items you will need on your first night. Things like toiletries, towels, bedding, first aid kit, paper plates, napkins, utensils, cups and snacks. Also make sure you have cleaning supplies, trash bags, tools, flashlights and light bulbs handy for your first night. You will have some cleaning to do and possibly some unexpected things to fix around the house.
Be Organized
Not only is it inefficient when no one knows where to put boxes, it’s also really annoying to your movers. Label everything! You can color code, write the room name or use fun stickers, but make sure you label the contents of each box and where they need to go. If you’re particularly fond of organization, keep inventory of your boxes by numbering each one. That way you can keep track of any boxes that may get lost. Another helpful tip – anything packed in garbage bags could easily be mistaken for garbage and thrown away, so use them at your own risk.
Arrive Early
On moving day, before all the commotion begins, walk through your new home with your realtor. Make sure everything looks to be in the right condition and that things are where they should be. Check faucets, light switches, toilets and the appliances. This is also a good time to add signs to rooms to coordinate with your very organized boxes or totes.
Take pictures
Before taking down electronics, snag a picture so you don’t have to figure out how to set things up later. Figuring out electronics once is enough! Also take a picture or jot down your meter readings to make sure they match your final bill.
Supervise
On moving day, your job is to supervise. Let the movers move things and you make sure you’re available to answer questions and give instructions. Whether it’s a professional moving company or your friends and family, communicate well with your team.
Valuables
If you’re using movers for your valuables, get insurance for the move, especially if there are fragile or breakable items. For items that are particularly valuable to you, find a safe place for them on moving day. With all of the hustle and bustle, there’s no guarantee they will make it through unscathed.
Hold Off on Deliveries
Getting new furniture and appliances is really exciting and helps transform your house into your home, but delay these deliveries so they don’t fall on your moving day. You have enough to think about and too many people in and out of your house already. Adding deliveries to your list of responsibilities for moving day will only slow down your move and inconvenience your movers.
Find a Pet Sitter
Moving can be stressful for pets so it may be best for them (and for you) to find someone to watch them during your move. Plus, with doors being left open for your movers, they could escape and cause you more unnecessary stress. It’s safe to say, moving day is not a good day for your pet to be around.
Thank Your Movers
Even if you’re paying movers, it’s courteous to have drinks available for everyone. It’s hard work hauling around all of your stuff, the least you can do is thank your movers with refreshing drinks and some food. Pizza is a great meal option for pleasing many palettes and not breaking your pocket book.
Meet Your Neighbor
Now that you’ve got all your boxes and items in your new house, it’s a great time to meet your new neighbors. If you’re looking for ways to be a great neighbor, check out these five ways you can be a Mr. Rogers kind of neighbor.
If you’re looking for more ways to make your moving day easier, we’ve compiled a ton of smart ideas on our Pinterest board.