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The Best Moving Checklist

Moving for most people is a very stressful event. A moving checklist is a great way to make your move easier. They keep you on track week by week leading up to your big moving day. UtilityHound has recently created their own moving checklist and it’s AWESOME! Let’s dive in and see how it will simplify your next move.

What is The UtilityHound Moving Checklist?

Imagine going to the grocery store to get food for your Super Bowl party. There are tons of items that you’ll be needing to pick up. You’ll want to maximize your time at the market and not leave any items behind. Now transition this mindset to moving. The UtilityHound moving checklist starts 8 weeks prior to your moving day. This is the perfect amount of time for you to organize and prepare for your move.

UtilityHound Moving Checklist

 

8 Weeks Before You Move:

Your big moving day is 2 months out. Start preparing now to get a head start!

  • The first thing you should do while preparing for your move is to start looking for movers. While conducting your search make sure the movers being considered are insured. This is important because any items they accidentally break, they will cover. A good place to search for movers is at UtilityHound. They have partnerships with over 500+ insured movers nationally
  • Be sure to create a folder to store quotes. This will help keep all your quotes organized and in one place!
  • Talk to your boss about your upcoming move. It’s always best to request time off from work plenty of time ahead of your big move.

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7 Weeks Before You Move:

  • Start researching housing, schools, and childcare in your new living area. Most schools and childcare require early enrollment for children that plan on attending the upcoming year. Read through their websites and call in to make sure you have all the required information.
  • Additionally, you’ll want to start gathering school, medical and dental records. Before you move it’s very important to gather this information from all your old schools & doctors. The new physicians and schools your children will be attending will definitely want this information.
  • The next thing you’ll want to do during week 7 of your moving checklist is to make a garage sale inventory list. More than likely you have items pilled up in your garage or closet that aren’t being used. These items don’t need to be moved to your new house. Making a garage sale inventory list of these items is a great way to prepare for an upcoming garage sale to offload these items.

6 Weeks Before You Move:

  • Look into ordering your moving boxes or rent plastic moving containers. Also, look into ordering moving supplies for your move. Some examples of moving supplies that may be needed are tape, scissors, permanent marker & a first aid kit.
  • As you start pre-packing make sure all boxes are numbered with a corresponding list. This will allow you to know what’s in each box on moving day. It will also help you and the movers to know which rooms the boxes go in.
  • At this point in the moving checklist, you should have hired a licensed and insured mover. If not, make sure you have one selected by weeks end. The reason this needs to be done so early in the process is that these movers book up quickly. You also want to make sure they Schedule in advance for the correct amount of people to be available that day for your move.
  • Start packing those items you don’t frequently use. This is a great time to take 45 minutes a day after work to slowly start packing those unnecessary items. Doing this now will help reduce your packing stress the closer you get to your big day.
  • Go through your house or apartment and start fixing small repairs. These shouldn’t take a long time to complete. However, some may require a trip to your local hardware store or some DIY Youtube tutorials.

 

5 Weeks Before You Move:

  • If you will be completing a long-distance move. Now is a great time to get your vehicle serviced. Have your mechanic do a quick one over on the car. He’ll most likely recommend having the oil changed and replacing any air filters that need replacing.
  • Start an inventory sheet for the items you plan on moving. This will be helpful on moving day as the movers will know exactly what items are going in the moving truck. Additionally, it will serve as a checklist post move to make sure nothing was left behind.
  • Find new doctors, veterinarians (for your fur-baby) & Hospitals. It’s important to get records over to your new primary care physician as soon as possible. This way if you encounter any unexpected injuries they will already have your information.
  • Five weeks out from your move is also a good time to update/notify credit card companies, Magazines and insurance companies of your upcoming move.
  • In addition to contacting the above. You should also reach out to notify the DMV, IRS & Social Security Administration of your new address.
  • You should empty out any safety deposit boxes with banks if you’re moving a considerable distance away.
  • Notify those close to you such as friends and family about your upcoming move.

UtilityHound Moving Checklist

 

4 Weeks Before You Move:

You’re now 1 month out from your move! Keep on track with UtilityHound moving checklist!

  • Change your mailing address for free at UtilityHound.
  • Set up your new home/apartment services (Electricity, Gas, Internet, TV & Security) at UtilityHound.com
  • If you will be changing jobs at your new location now is a good time to put in your 30-day notice with your current employer.
  • Hold a garage sale for the items you previously put on your garage sale inventory list. This is a great time to de-clutter.
  • Moving long distance? Take time to set up travel arrangements such as flights and hotel stay through sites like travelocity.com.
  • Continue to pack non-essential items.

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3 Weeks Before You Move:

  • Set Up your trash and recycling services at your new home.
  • Talk to your new neighbors about recommended babysitters in the area. Also, look into pet sitting services. Having someone watch young children and/or pets on your moving day will make your day a lot less stressful.
  • Now is also a good time to start asking friends and family if they can help you move.

2 Weeks Before You Move:

  • Be sure to cancel current utilities at your old location for the day after you move.
  • Update your driver’s license, auto insurance & car registration.
  • If you’re currently living in an apartment. Now would be a good time to schedule a final walk through.
  • Start prepping frozen meals for your next two weeks. You’re going to be very busy leading up to your move and this will come in handy when you’re hungry and too tired to make dinner.
  • Cancel or transfer any gym memberships.
  • Before you move make sure to fill any and all needed prescriptions.
  • If you’re in need of extra storage options, visit UtilityHound for a quote on storage pricing.
  • Put your two-week notice at work if need be.
  • Continue packing items.

 

1 Week Before Your Move:

  • Finish packing your remaining essential items.
  • When moving to a different city or state you should notify your credit card company of your upcoming move to avoid fraud alerts.
  • Pull some emergency cash to buy lunch, tip movers and for other random needs on moving day.
  • Check UtilityHound.com to get signed up with renters insurance if you’re going to be renting.
  • Check weather updates on your moving day. This will give you an idea if you’ll be needing to prepare for rain or hot/cold temperature conditions.
  • Prepare appliances (Defrost/Un-plug your refrigerator and freezer) also (drain gas and oil from lawn equipment).
  • If you’ve rented a moving truck and will be moving on your own. Start loading your moving truck. Make sure you lock it when you’re gone or sleeping.
  • Measure large items to ensure they’ll fit through all your doorways at the new property.
  • Pack an essential bag for moving day. (Scissors, Pen & Paper, Tape, First AidKitt, Tool Kit, Trash Bags, toilet paper, toiletries)

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MOVING DAY:

If you’ve followed this moving checklist you should be well prepared on your big move day! A couple of things to remember on this day…

  • Make sure your doorways are clear for the movers to freely come in and out of the house.
  • Before the movers take your belongings to your new home. Make sure to verify the exact destination address and your contact information.
  • Do a final walkthrough (check all rooms & closets) before leaving the residence.
  • As the movers begin unloading boxes it’s a good time to start cleaning your new house.
  • Start unboxing all of your items. Make sure to refer to your numbered list you created when originally boxing your items prior to your move.

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Post Move-In:

Congratulations! You’ve moved into your new residence!

  • Protecting your family and house should be a top priority. You can order a security system through UtilityHound.
  • Be sure to recycle, store or share your moving boxes.
  • Make sure to send moving announcements to friends and family.

We’ve covered a lot of information and you’ve been busy the past few weeks. Hopefully, this moving checklist made your move a lot more enjoyable and stress-free! For more moving & relocation tips visit our related blogs!