20 Tips for Stress-Free Moving

Thanks to Claire at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® for today's guest post!

Moving is a very stressful time for everyone… your once organized home quickly becomes a disaster zone. In order to make your move and life easier, I’ve included a schedule containing tips many of us have learned over the years at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. Follow these tips so you won’t forget something important or have to scramble to get everything done at the last second. Two months before

• Photos. Before you do anything, take pictures of your home. My husband and I do this every time we move and I am so grateful. I know some day when we have kids, I will enjoy showing them pictures of where we lived.
• Go through your belongings. Go through every room of your house and decide what you want to keep and what needs to go. Don’t forget the basement, attic and garage. This may seem like a lot of work but trust me, come moving day, you’ll be glad you did.
• Take inventory. Take inventory of every valuable item you plan to move. Include photos along with written descriptions.
• Organize records. If you have kids, make arrangements with their current schools to have their records transferred. Make sure you have copies of everyone’s medical records as well as recommendations of doctors in your new community.
• Talk to your kids. Moving is a very scary time for kids, especially if they are leaving the only home they know. Early on, begin including your kids in moving discussions and give them an idea of what will happen on moving day. Make sure they know they can talk to you about any fears they have about the move.

• Research. Now is the time to decide if you are going to try moving on your own or if you are going to hire a moving company. You don’t need to book anything yet, but it’s good to plan accordingly. When interviewing moving companies, make sure to ask if they are insured and bonded, if they hire full and part-time movers rather than temp movers, and how they charge.
• Finalize real estate or rental needs. If you are renting, make sure to communicate with your landlord about the upcoming move. See if they have any guidelines or polices you need to follow while moving out.
• Order supplies. Order boxes and other packing supplies. Don’t forget plenty of bubble wrap and tape! Look into wardrobe and other specialty boxes as they make packing much easier. Whatever you do, don’t use food or supermarket boxes! You never know what little critter is hiding in them or if the box will be strong enough to support your possessions.

• Begin packing. Start packing up items you don’t frequently use. Make sure to clearly label each box with the name of which room it is for.
• Choose a moving company. Now that you’ve done your research and thought it over, decide how you want to move. If you decide to use a moving company, make your reservations plenty of time in advance to ensure you get your ideal day and time.
• Notify utility companies. No one wants to pay for utilities they’re not using. Make sure each company knows what day you are moving and arrange for your new accounts to be started when you get to your new house.
• Change your address. To change your address, you can either go to your local post office or visit usps.com to fill out a change of address form.
• Notify important parties. Contact your bank, insurance provider employer, and magazines or newspapers you subscribe to. You can also announce your move in a fun way by creating moving announcements that will be sent out to all of your friends and family with your new address.

• Finish packing. Remember to pack important and sentimental items separately so they are easily accessible. Plan on keeping this box with you personally when you move.
• Confirm move. Confirm the time the movers will arrive as well as other specifics and make sure you have prepared exact, written directions to your new home for the movers. Also include contact information, such as your cell phone number.
• Clean. The last thing you want to do before you move is clean everything in your house. In order to save you time, begin cleaning rooms you don’t use as often. It’s also a good idea to make a “survival closet” containing things for the last cleanup before you move out. For example a broom, dust cloth, dust pan, mop, etc.

• Pack your suitcase. I highly recommend packing a suitcase for everyone in the family containing essential items and clothes for the day/night. You will be exhausted after the move and when it’s time to get ready for bed, you don’t want to have to dig through multiple boxes.
• Eat a healthy breakfast. It’s going to be a long day so make sure you eat a nice, healthy breakfast to help you get energized in the morning.
• Initial walk-through. Take some time and do an initial walk-through with the movers. Make sure they do a thorough inventory of your items and know what is going to be moved.
• Lock up. Walk through the entire house and make sure everything is out. Also check to make sure the windows are locked, the lights are off and the doors are closed and locked.