Moving Guide Basics—How to Plan a Seamless Move
Moving Day is the start of a new beginning. Some people may be starting a new job, moving in with the love of their life, expanding their family, and so much more. While moving is an exciting process, some people may find the countdown to Moving Day to be also a bit stressful. But it doesn’t have to be! Let’s take a look at our moving guide basics that will help you to plan a seamless move.
Countdown to Your Moving Day
Plan a countdown to Moving Day to avoid it sneaking up on you. At first, it may seem like you have months to prepare, but before you know it, you’ll only have one week to pack a four-bedroom house with 15 years’ worth of belongings.
Adding your Moving Day into your calendar or downloading a fun app so you always have a live timeline of when the big day is approaching is definitely a moving essential. Break down the larger project of moving homes into smaller tasks that can be assigned to each week as you approach Moving Day. For instance, at about four weeks before your move, contact your utilities, credit cards, and post office to change your address and move services to your new home. In the final week before Moving Day, pack your Moving Day bag or suitcase with the items that will be by your side that day and not loaded onto the moving van.
Pack and Declutter Early
It’s never too early to start packing and decluttering! Our moving guide would not be complete without this important tip. Many people find themselves decluttering as they unpack in their new home after their move is complete. While any opportunity to declutter should not be passed up, decluttering before your move offers the opportunity to not only open up space in your home but also to save you money on your moving bill. After all, why pay to relocate items you no longer want?
As Moving Day approaches, you can strategically start packing up your belongings. Start with large storage spaces filled with rarely used items, such as the attic, garage, and storage closets. Next, you can pack up your bookshelves, decor, and artwork. Week by week, pack up a little more, and before you know it, Moving Day will arrive, and your home will be all packed up! Need some help getting started? Download our free Declutter Guide!
Make a Plan for Items You Don’t Want
Sometimes decluttering can be easier said than done. While it takes time to decide what needs to go, it takes even more time and planning to find those items a new home, even if that new home is the trash. So our moving guide tip number 3 is to start early and make a plan! Will you hold a garage sale? Maybe invite some neighbors to join you and draw a bigger crowd. Are you going to donate items? Start calling charitable organizations to see what they are currently accepting. For the belongings that can’t be sold or donated, make arrangements to properly recycle or dispose of them.
Get the Right Packing Supplies
Packing supplies are one of the most important moving essentials. Some packing supplies you may need are felt-tip markers, color-coded labels, bubble wrap, and packing tape. The right packing supplies will make for faster and easier packing. Proper packing and labeling will make for faster and easier unpacking. Check out Camelot’s free online packing tutorials for more tips on how to pack your belongings! Be sure to label all your boxes clearly by room and by contents. This will help your moving crew unload faster and will make unpacking much easier.
Make a Grid
Make a grid of where your furniture will go in your new home. A grid will give you a realistic idea of which furniture will fit comfortably in each room. Making a grid perfectly ties into making a plan for items you won’t need. If you have any furniture that won’t have a place in your new home, make plans to sell or donate it before Moving Day.
Transfer Your Utility Services
These days it is hard to go even one day without the Internet. That is why making utility arrangements in advance is an essential item on our moving guide. Make arrangements so that your Internet, electricity, water, and any other utilities you’ll need are in place by the time you move into your new home.
Sometimes utility companies may require a few business days to install utilities. Call and make appointments ahead of time to make sure you won’t be left in the dark or without the Internet.
Pack an “Open First” Box
There are certain items that you will need right away once you arrive in your new home, such as toiletries, bedding, and eating utensils. Pack these items together in a box clearly labeled “Open First.” Make your first night in your new home calmer with this essential step on our moving guide. Whether you’re planning a local move in Southern California or a cross-country move to New York, at the end of Moving Day, your open-first box will save you a lot of stress and headache.
Have a Food Plan
This moving guide tip can save your household a lot of last-minute moving stress. If you’re moving locally, use a large cooler to safely transport your food to your new home. If you’re planning a long-distance move, make a plan to completely empty your fridge at least a few days before Moving Day to ensure it is clean and dry before it is loaded onto the moving van.
Happy Moving Day!
We hope that our moving guide will be able to help you have a seamless move. Are you ready to start planning your move? Whether you’re moving locally within the Southern California area or moving across the country, give us a call to get a quote today!