Many who decide to move wonder is there a checklist for moving. Well, there’s good and bad news – there is a checklist, and it takes dedication. Which is good news will depend on how well you’re organized. Check out this moving to do list guide that’s perfect for any beginner and experienced mover.
Moving internationally can especially take time and effort since there’s a lot of paperwork to take care of and decision-making around what to do with unwanted and extra belongings. Having a moving list of things to do for this type of relocation will be like a light in a dark tunnel and guide you through the toughest times.
The Perfect Moving to Do List Should Be Made Weeks in Advance
The list of things to do when moving into a new house can be pretty overwhelming, so starting early is key. What do you need to do before you move? Essentially, you must prepare for the move to go as smoothly as possible.
“Every possible way” means getting all the relocation essentials ready, from finding boxes to securing storage service. It also means taking care of all the documentation you need to submit, such as a working visa if you’re relocating abroad or a utility transfer to a new address.
When relocating, everything is important, but you don’t have to dedicate unnecessary amounts of time to each task. Sit with your list at the start of the day and look at the tasks for the upcoming week. Estimate how long each might take and how much free time you’ll have.
Start a Checklist for Your Move at Least Two Months Before
The first thing on your mind might be – two months before? At least? If you want everything to go down according to schedule and without too many issues, two months before relocating is the optimal time to begin preparing for your move.
While it sounds too far in advance, think of what you did two months ago and how fast today has arrived since. Nowadays, time flies, but this blog isn’t meant to give you an existential crisis (although relocating can cause all sorts of problems). It’s just here to help answer how do I make a moving schedule that’s right for me.
Here’s a short overview of what needs to be done around two months before relocation day:
- Contact and schedule a home visit with an international mover of your choice,
- Go over the lease and rental agreement and sign it only when you’re sure of the terms,
- Apply for the necessary documentation for living and working abroad,
- Give notice to your boss or company (if you’re relocating without their help/participation,)
- If you’re relocating with family, take care of the children’s school papers,
- Plan your budget out.
Check Out Your New Home, and Handle the Paperwork if You’re Moving Overseas
Even if you are relocating overseas, a visit to your new home just a couple of months before will be helpful. One of the responsible family members can check out the place and create a list of things missing at the new home, meet the landlord, check out the contract, and take pics of the area to avoid getting lost upon arrival.
Also, the person traveling may need to visit the embassy or consulate and announce the family’s arrival, get visa approvals, or anything similar. In that case, that’s another box to tick on the checklist. They can take care of the paperwork and the new home simultaneously.
Share Your Moving Inventory List With Your Interstate and International Movers
Assuming you’ll hire international moving services because relocating abroad is too complex and expensive to be done alone, you will have to share your household inventory list with them. Movers estimate relocation costs primarily by this list and, sometimes, the type of items.
You can get additional packing services for fragile belongings and arrange an overseas car shipping service, so your beloved four-wheeler comes along as the extra family member. All this should be taken care of in advance, so you have a budget estimate. There are ways to earn extra money during the following period to keep you afloat after relocation.
Around Six Weeks Before Relocation Day, Get the Necessary Packaging Materials
About six weeks before the move comes maybe the trickiest part – packing. Trust us; you’ll have to start this early because there will be more things you will throw out rather than pack, and figuring out what to do with them will be harder than any packaging party.
You’ll first have to secure the packaging materials for everything you want and don’t want to keep. Then, when you come back from visiting your future residence, compare what you need to bring with what’s already there. This will significantly narrow down your house packaging list.
Find Free Boxes and Other Packing Items Around Town
Finding free packaging materials is just one of the benefits of relocating on a budget. Those who aren’t as worried about money don’t know what kind of opportunity they’re missing to find free relocation boxes.
You can look for them in various places – supermarkets, restaurants, and wine shops typically have great containers that just lay around useless. Your neighbors may have unwanted boxes or other materials, too.
Friends and family eager to help you with the endeavor could sacrifice a few of their extra containers and bring them over; you probably have a lot at home without realizing it. It’s all about perspective.
Start Thinking About Decluttering and Narrowing Down Your Moving Packing List
If your house is small, packaging a month before may be too early, indeed. However, knowing American homes, you likely have a lot of storage space and areas with items you don’t always use.
It’s normal – American homes are bigger than in many other countries, and that’s sometimes good and other times, not so much. Begin packing room by room while simultaneously decluttering. First, separate ‘keep,’ ‘trash,’ and ‘donate/sell’ boxes and then pack systematically.
The size of the room will determine how long the packaging process will take. While it’d be ideal for a space to be packed in just a few hours, it takes about a day to declutter and another to pack everything with proper care and attention.
Considering six weeks before the move is just six Saturdays away, you’ll need to hustle more than just during the weekends. The woman in the video below also suggests packaging early and explains why; she also gives tips on packaging belongings and decluttering.
Four Weeks Before the Move, Take Care of Your Utilities and Address Change
People may not always consider important tasks like utility transfers and address change. If you don’t want to burden the new tenants with your old mail or simply prefer to receive every piece of mail sent to you, then changing your address will be the most common-sense decision.
And the trick for canceling utilities is pretty simple – do it just after the renewal date to keep them for the following month while you get ready to move out. You’ll shower, eat, and use the internet while preparing to leave the house.
Get Rid of Items Movers Won’t Move and Ask Them About a List of Things to Do When Moving
Your international moving company has rules on things they can’t move. That’s simply what every company does since transporting items that can cause damage and harm is against the rules and doesn’t present a safe opportunity for relocating.
Ask the company about this list and see if you can perhaps sell some of the items and recycle or donate others. Considering they typically don’t transport flammable and hazardous things, recycling them safely will be the best course of action in that case.
This is the best moment to make sure there aren’t any other relocation rules you might break, and ask the company what to consider when the relocation crew finally arrives at your address to move your belongings.
Plan a Garage Sale and Recycle Old Furniture Two Weeks Before Leaving Your Old Home
As the move gets closer, many people wonder, “what should I do 2 weeks before moving.” If you’ve already taken care of the decluttering and packaging parts, then you have a few more relocation hacks to crack.
This is the ideal moment to figure out what to do with the unwanted stuff lying around the place. One way to get rid of them is by selling them at a garage sale. Organize it one weekend before relocating and ensure all the stuff is in good shape. No one will pay for dodgy-looking furniture.
This is one of the best methods for getting rid of stuff, and you’ll be doing yourself a service since you’ll make a bit of money before leaving. This extra cash could potentially keep your head above water in difficult times.
With stuff that doesn’t sell, try donating to those who need it. Contact volunteer centers to see what they’re collecting, and contact recycling companies to check what’s eligible for conscious disposal.
Ask For Favors on Relocation Day Around This Time – Petsitters and Babysitters Are Welcome
Next to finding ways to get rid of stuff you don’t want to keep anymore, this is the perfect moment to contact people who might be willing to assist you during relocation. Friends and family may pretend to be busy for packaging, but they won’t be if you offer them a petsitting or a babysitting job.
Whatever you require help with, be direct about what you want them to do since relocation is complex and asking for assistance can be a big deal. Handling people can be tricky, but you can always learn how to treat friends who help you move and stay on their good side.
The Week of Your Move Should Be All About Packing the Essentials and Doing Final Preparations
Now that the moment is near, the nerves might be catching up with you a bit. And when people get nervous, they tend to make relocation mistakes here and there, so keeping up with your to do list for moving will be the best way to stay sane for now.
We’ll give an overview of last week’s essential tasks, but first, we’ll mention something fundamental – an essentials package. This package can contain one box or a suitcase, or it can be both. If you’re traveling with family, it’ll likely be more than just one container.
This essential package has everything you need to survive the first week at your new place – sheets for the beds, canned foods for cooking, your comfiest clothes and shoes, toiletries and towels for hygiene, and tools to repair and install whatever’s necessary.
What Final Preparations Should You Add to Your Moving List? Here’s a Short Overview
Besides the vital essentials care package, here are some other things to consider and take care of during the last week before relocating:
- Clean the soon-to-be old place from corner to corner,
- Unplug the fridge and freezer to defrost,
- Donate extra food,
- Check the weather forecast for relocation day,
- Confirm the schedule with the company that’s handling your move,
- Make worst-case scenario plans in case someone runs late, or things get out of hand,
- Check if you have any scheduled deliveries,
- Withdraw some cash to tip the crew for their hard work.
On Relocation Day, the Most Important Thing Is to Keep a Positive Attitude and Be Ready for Every Outcome
When you consider all your reasons to move, the stress of it all may be worth it – it usually is. Knowing that what’s about to happen today has been in the works for a couple of months shows how much you’ve dedicated to it. Even if some things didn’t go as planned, tap yourself on the back and acknowledge everything that did.
Today, all that’s necessary is waking up early, eating a nutritious breakfast, and staying optimistic that everything will go as planned. You have an exit strategy designed and know what to do in every situation. Keep calm and carry on – straight to your destination.