Prepare to Move: Must-Dos During The Final Six Weeks

Tips for Making Your Move Go Smooth 

Six Weeks Before Move-out

• Schedule in-home estimates with moving companies.
• Create a realistic budget for moving expenses.
• Find the new school for your children.
• Begin decluttering. Set aside items to be sold, trashed, or donated.
• Have a garage sale!
• Collect free boxes (grocery and liquor stores are good places to look).

Five Weeks Before Move-out

• Confirm that the moving company you’ve hired is insured, and has positive reviews.
• Obtain your children’s transcripts and notify their school of your move.
• Make time for friends and relatives before moving day.
• Buy moving supplies like boxes, tape, and permanent markers. (buy extra and keep them in a separate box)
• Create an inventory sheet of all your valuables. (Tip! Take photos of the condition of your valuables are in and your electronics while they’re on.)
• Address minor home repairs.
• Research packing hacks. (Such as rolling your clothes or using packing cubes.)
• Pack a little every day beginning with things you don’t use regularly.

Four Weeks Until the Move

• Consider purchasing moving insurance to cover all your belongings during the move.
• Confirm parking options for your moving truck (whether that involves obtaining a permit from your city/town or making your neighbors aware)
• Gather all financial, legal, and important documents (birth certificates, passports, and medical records) with you in one place.
• Request time off work for closing and moving days.
• Research doctors, dentists, and vets in your new location.
• Arrange utility services to be turned off at your old house and on at your new house on your move date.
• Shop around for cable, internet, and phone bundles.
• Label boxes that are fragile and their designated room in your new house.

Three Weeks Until the Move

• Make a plan for moving fragile or unique items like pianos, pets, plants, and fine art (or other challenging items to move).
• Transfer your homeowner’s insurance to cover your new home.
• Recycle or dispose of hazardous, poisonous, or flammable items like gasoline, old paint cans, bleach, and aerosol cans.
• If you’re moving cross country, make sure your car is serviced and clean or arrange for its shipment if that’s the route you’ve decided to take.
• File a Change of Address form with the post office and arrange to have your mail forwarded to the new address.
• Change your address with:
  • Government offices
  • Employer
  • Creditors
  • DMV
  • Auto insurance
  • Car registration
  • Monthly subscriptions
  • Financial institutions
  • Drivers license
  • Voter registration

Two Weeks Until the Move

• Fill out all of your prescriptions and transfer them to a new pharmacy.
• Arrange for any servicing that needs to be done at your new home so it’s done before you move in, or not too long after.
• Discontinue newspaper delivery, trash pick-up, lawn service, deliveries, etc.
• Make arrangements for children and pets to be elsewhere on move-out day.
• If you would like to, put together a list of local service technicians and preferred providers, as well as a note or small gift for the new residents.
• Continue packing….

One Week Until the Move

• Plan out your final week of meals using up whatever you have left.
• Donate unopened food.
• Pack your “Open-First Box”. (Including items like bed linens, pillows, and towels.)
• Set aside valuable and personal items that will travel with you.
• Drain fuel from gas-powered equipment like grills, heaters, lawnmowers, and snow blowers.
• Fill nail holes. (For white walls, try using a bar of soap!)

Day Before Move

• Unplug your fridge and freezer to defrost the night before. (Be sure to open the doors to avoid an unpleasant smell.)
• Withdraw cash to tip your movers.
• Clean the home for the next residents.
• Get a good night’s rest!

Day of Move

• Set an alarm to wake up early.
• Pack up any last-minute things (bed sheets, toiletries, cleaning supplies)
• Take photos of your empty place to prove it’s in move-out condition.
• Protect your floors and carpets during the move.
• Conduct a final walk-through to make sure nothing is hiding on shelves or in closets.
• Thank your real estate agent or broker.
• Leave your movers a review (and a tip for all their hard work)!

Wrapping It Up with Redbud