Moving day is always a chaotic affair, no matter how well you plan. There are a million things to think about and even more things to do. It can be easy to forget something important in all the commotion. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide for moving day preparation so that you can relocate without a hitch.
So, you’re moving abroad. Whether it’s for work, school, or some other adventure, relocating to a new country is an exciting but stressful undertaking. There are a million things to think about and organize—but don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on how to ace moving day preparation and make your transition as smooth as possible.
Moving Day Preparation Starts With a List
There will be a couple of moving abroad checklists you will use before your big day arrives. This moving to-do list should be your Bible for the next few weeks leading up to your big move. Include everything from decluttering and packing to arranging for utilities and transferring your medications. However, you will need one separate move-out list with all the things you need to do on a big day.
Keep a running list of everything you need to do so you don’t have to scramble on moving day to remember all the minor things. So that you have enough time to finish everything before you go, you can prioritize and get up a little earlier if required. Here are some things you should have on your list:
- Lunch for you and your workers,
- Empty the freezer and refrigerator,
- Throw out the trash,
- Clean everything up,
- Buy bottles of water.
Ensure You Also Have Some Cash to Tip International Movers
One of the things people forget to do when relocating is to have some cash on them for their movers. This is something that is totally up to you, and if you feel that movers don’t deserve tips you should not give them any money. However, if workers are exceptional and you are satisfied with their service, you should tip them. Around $20 for each worker should be enough, but if you have a larger household with a lot of heavy items, you should tip them more.
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Hire a Babysitter to Keep an Eye on the Kids
One of the common relocation mistakes people make is they forget to hire a babysitter for their kids. If you are relocating with kids, this should be your top priority. Not only the whole process will be finished much faster, but your kids will be safe from accidents or harm. If you don’t want a babysitter, you can ask family members or friends to watch out for them.
Plan a pick-up or drop-off early in the morning if a friend or relative will be babysitting kids for you so you can entirely concentrate on everything else that needs to be done. If your children will be staying, try your best to keep them occupied and out of the way.
If You Have Pets, You Should Also Hire a Petsitter
If you are relocating with pets, like dogs or cats, you should keep an eye on them on a moving day. There will be a lot of people coming in and out, and you want to make sure they are out of the way from harm. Designate one room where your pets and kids will stay that will be off limits for everybody except you and your family members. If you don’t have that much space, you can also hire a pet sitter to watch out for your furry friends.
Also, if you will be traveling on an airplane with your dog, you should prepare him for that flight as well. Before you take off to the airport, take your dog on a long walk – the goal is to spend all the energy so it can sleep most of the flight. Talk to your vet about safe anxiety medication you could give a dog so it can bear flight easier. Take a look at this video for an extra tip on how to prepare your dog for an airplane flight.
Don’t Forget Your Bag of Essentials
Moving across the world means you will be without your belongings for some time. Most people hire overseas moving companies for international moving by sea, where all your belongings will be shipped on a ship. This is usually the cheaper option, and it allows you to carry more stuff. There is moving by air, but this usually costs more and has a limitation on how much you can carry. But no matter which option you choose, it will pass some time until you get your belongings.
So to maintain a normal life in your new country, you should pack a bag of essentials for you and your family. A “go” bag, also known as a moving necessities bag, is a small duffel, box, or suitcase that you fill with whatever you know you’ll need on moving day and the days after, as well as any important papers and valuables you don’t want to load onto the moving truck. Add items like phone chargers, personal care items, prescription drugs, and a few additional sets of clothes. Keep it in your car or another special location where you can be certain it won’t be loaded for transportation.
A Well-Stocked Cooler Is Also a Must
Even if you hire movers for packing service, there will be a lot of work you will have to do. From cleaning to packing your essentials. And if you decide to pack everything alone, it will be even more hard work. It’s easy to get sidetracked and forget to eat or drink enough, so it’s a good idea to have a cooler filled with water and easy-to-grab snacks. Fill it with low-mess, high-protein items like protein bars, premade sandwiches, bags of nuts, and dried fruit. Consider packing a little bit extra for your movers as well. When you start to feel worn out in the middle of the day, you’ll be quite glad you have your stocked cooler on hand.
An extra moving tip is to arrange food delivery early in the morning for a set time in the middle of the day, so you and your movers can have a lunch break.
Charge Up Your Phone and Laptop
Even if you are in the last-minute moving jam, try not to forget to charge your phone and laptop. On moving day, you likely won’t be able to play Candy Crush much, but you should still have a full battery. You never know if you’ll need to contact your movers or if you’ll get lost while driving to your new home. On the eve of your move, keep your phone plugged in, and without a second thought keep the charger besides other essentials so you can recharge if the battery runs out, maybe from playing music the entire day.
Prep Your Home for the Movers
Yes, hiring an international moving company will take care of numerous responsibilities involved in the relocation process. While a reputable firm will send a professional team to disassemble furniture and pack everything away, you must first treat your appliances and furniture with a thorough cleaning. Once you’ve dusted, scrubbed, and washed as necessary, make sure everything is dry. This is crucial when moving overseas because your items will be shipping overseas in containers, and if you place them dirty or wet, they can easily get mold.
Another important thing you need to do to move more efficiently is to clear all the pathways so your movers can easily come in and out of your home. Also, if possible while packing, place all the packed boxes in one room, this will speed up the process and reduce the chaos.
If you are moving in winter, make sure you spread salt on a driveway the night before if it’s snowy and put some old sheets on the floor to prevent them from getting wet and dirty.
Label Everything and Finish Packing
Your overseas shipping company has probably made an inventory list of things you will be shipping. However, if you are packing by yourself, you will have to label all the boxes properly. Make sure you write on each side of the boxes the content inside. for example box with glasses should have a “fragile” label on each side, so your movers know to handle this box with care. Also, as you may know, there are items movers won’t move, so make sure these boxes are properly labeled and placed separately from other boxes.
Have Some Cleaning Supplies Ready
Even though you’ve probably already done your thorough cleaning, you should still have some basic cleaning materials on hand in case you need to perform any last-minute touch-ups. It should be adequate to have a broom, dustpan, and jar of sanitizing wipes. Maintain your cleaning materials in a location where they won’t be placed into the truck, such as your car or a closet. When the area is free of boxes and vacant, you can assess whether any last-minute cleaning is necessary.
Don’t Forget to Cancel Your Utilities
Moving to another country means you will not need any of the utilities you are currently using. So make sure you call your providers on time and inform them about your move. Keep in mind you will need all the utilities on your big day, so one of the moving hacks is to set a date for cancelation to be the day after. Also, you must notify other institutions about your move, like IRS, Post Office, DMV, and insurance companies.
Prepare Your Car for Shipping
Moving internationally for most people includes overseas vehicle shipping as well. If you are one of those people, you probably already know what documents you need to have to ship your car across the world. However, aside from paperwork, there are some preparations that must be made before movers arrive. You must empty the car of all of your belongings and have it inspected before handing it over. In order to adequately document any damage, prepare its documentation and make sure it’s clean.
Have a Final Walkthrough and Head to Your Next Adventure
If you are moving for the first time, you can easily forget to do something, which is why it is important not to skip this final step. Once your movers are gone, take another walk around the house to make sure everything is in order.
As you can see, moving day doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you’re prepared ahead of time. By following these simple tips, you can make sure that your move goes off without a hitch. And once everything is done, you will get to see the true benefits of moving and will embrace this new adventure ahead of you.