How to get organized before a long-distance move
Create a to-do list and schedule
Writing down tasks helps you create a schedule. The list is constantly updated, but a working document is crucial. Start with things that should happen almost immediately, like: For example, calling movers for a quote, and work your way down to last-minute tasks like: B. cleaning your house after moving out. Set realistic deadlines and allow yourself room for the unexpected.
When speaking to movers, ask detailed questions about planning. Are your items consistently driven by the same person? Are other customers’ belongings loaded onto the same truck? Do you guarantee delivery on the agreed day? Try to iron out the logistics early on, but also know that you’ll need to confirm and reconfirm multiple times as your move approaches.
A move provides an opportunity to evaluate your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, throw away or recycle. Minimizing your moving volume can save you a significant amount of money.
Try to get everything out of the way that you won’t be taking with you before you start packing. And if you’re selling your home, ask the buyer if they’d like to purchase any large pieces specifically tailored to your space, such as B. Garden furniture.
Be realistic about the storage space in your new home. If you don’t have space for an artificial Christmas tree, you shouldn’t take it with you. If you don’t have a garage or basement, don’t stack toolboxes.
And start rinsing early. It takes time to comb through an entire house. Arrange a pickup for furniture donations as early as possible, as the lead time is often long. Collect your children’s clothes and toys to donate, or send used items to a friend. You can also have old electronics, paint, building materials and other bulky waste picked up by a scrap company.
One way to save money — and do something good for the environment — is to crowdsource boxes and packaging materials. Ask friends, family, and neighbors if they have materials, and keep an eye on your local mailing lists for hints about free crates. You will need boxes of any size and you should collect more than you think you will need.
Pack fragile items securely in bubble wrap and wrapping paper. Stock up on packing tape and have markers in each room. Label the boxes with the room they will be unpacked in and be specific about the contents. Mark boxes with important items as “unpack first”.
If your budget allows, consider having movers pack some of your belongings, especially fragile ones. Some movers only insure fragile items that they have packed.
Carry important documents such as passports, birth certificates and vaccination cards, as well as laptops, phones, cables, jewelry and keys instead of packing them in boxes.
Unlike a local move, which typically involves loading and unloading your belongings within 24 hours and only covering a short distance, a long-distance move carries a greater risk of breaking or damaging something.
Find and copy receipts for major purchases and check if they are covered by your home insurance. If you have owned a valuable work of art for a long time and its value may have changed, have it appraised. The same applies to valuable furniture, jewelery or wine. Ask friends and family for recommendations and schedule an assessment early.
Check with your insurance company for coverage when your belongings are in transit and update your policy to reflect your new address. And familiarize yourself with the mover’s policy for lost, broken, or damaged items. Your mover may even request a list of your home’s general furnishings, which can be turned into an inventory checklist on move day.
- Build in a travel time cushion in case your flight is delayed, your car breaks down, or someone gets sick so you still arrive in time to meet your moving truck.
- Make a plan for transporting pets and making sure they are away on both move-out and move-in days to relieve their – and your – stress.
- Make an appointment for the Internet service to be installed the day after you unpack your truck. Move-in day is too messy, and it’s better to have access to your computers and TVs during installation to make sure everything is working properly.
- Think about where you want to place rugs and large pieces of furniture. If you’re completely new to the area and don’t know anyone, once the movers have moved, you may not have anyone to turn to for help if something heavy needs to be moved. Sometimes it is helpful to sketch the layout of the room for reference.
- Notify the US Postal Service of a change of address at least two weeks before you move, and let family and friends know your new information.
- If you’re moving to a city, check parking and permitting policies for moving trucks. If you are moving into an apartment building, confirm with the management that you are allowed to move in on the agreed date and reserve the loading dock and freight elevator if necessary.
Nicole Anzia is a freelance writer and owner of Neatnik. She can be reached at [email protected] and on Instagram @neatnikdc.