Whether you’re selling, buying, or renting a new place, moving is bound to stress you out. However, if you start planning and organizing on time, it can be a much smoother process. We prepared a comprehensive moving checklist to help you move on to the next stage of your life with less stress, as well as a brief overview of the budget.
The Budget
Your budget will depend on your location and the people you hire. We’ll cover the average costs for three states.
• North Carolina – Moving companies charge around $600 for a one-bedroom, cleaning services cost around $17.95 per hour, while junk removal services typically cost at least $190. You can get reliable junk removal in Charlotte, NC, the entire state, or another location.
• California – Moving companies charge around $122 an hour, cleaning services cost around $22.76 per hour, while junk removal services typically cost at least $200 to $250 for small loads.
• Texas – Texan moving companies charge around $103 per hour. You’ll likely pay cleaning services $20 per hour, and spend $100 for a single item to around $700 for a full truck of junk.
Two Months Before the Move
If you haven’t started two months before, you may need to hurry up a bit, But whatever you do, don’t skip this organization and planning part, as that might cause problems down the road.
• Create a moving binder – Keep all your move-related documents, receipts, notes, and contacts in one place, it will be much easier once you start packing.
• Set a budget – Calculate the expenses for moving, cleaning, junk removal, and other services, and any packing supplies.
• Research moving companies – Get quotes from several movers, read the reviews, and research their services.
• Start planning – Set a moving date and see how you can fit other moving obligations into your calendar.
• Declutter – Go room by room and donate or discard unnecessary items.
• Create an inventory list – You don’t have to go into extreme detail, but you can build a list of your items room by room.
• Order packing supplies – Order boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other packing materials.
• Notify important parties – This may include your landlord and utility companies.
One Month Before the Move
You’re still planning and scheduling, but things are becoming a bit more real. You’re starting to pack.
• Label boxes – Mark each room with a distinct color (but spell it out, too), as it will be much easier once there are a few dozen boxes.
• Separate valuables and documents – Your passport, documentation, jewelry, and other essentials should move with you.
• Start packing non-essentials – Start packing items you don’t use daily, such as seasonal clothing, rarely used kitchen tools, books, and decor.
• Arrange storage – Schedule temporary storage if you think you’ll need it.
• Schedule your moving company – Book your movers.
• Schedule junk removal – If you have any unused appliances or large items, schedule junk removal services. A good time is a day or two before the move.
• Measure your new home – Take a tape measure and note the size of the doorways and rooms to ensure your furniture can fit.
Two Weeks Before the Move
This is usually when people become pretty nervous and excited, but if you’ve followed our checklist so far, you should be okay. Here’s what you need to do a fortnight before.
• Change your address – Transfer utilities and change your address wherever it counts (bank, insurance company).
• Pack essentials – Pack toiletries, towels, a change of clothes, snacks, and other things you’ll need immediately after the move into one box.
• Confirm with the movers – Confirm details, instructions, and everything else that may be stressing you out.
• Continue packing – Pack at full speed.
• Plan meals – It’s time to start eating the things in your freezer and get creative with your meals.
One Week Before the Move
A week goes by quickly, so the more you do at the beginning of the week, the better your moving day will go.
• Finish packing – Now it’s time to wrap it up, leaving only the essentials for the last couple of days.
• Secure top priorities – Pack valuables and important documents separately to take with you personally.
• Disassemble furniture – Start taking apart furniture so it’s easier to move.
• Defrost refrigerator and freezer – This is in the last two or three days. Defrost and clean. You can also clean your oven.
• Clean – Deep clean the entire home yourself or hire services.
• Do a final walkthrough – Make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
Moving Day and After
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the moving day. Now your job is to supervise movers, do as many final walkthroughs as you need, pack anything that’s left, and say goodbye to your home.
When you arrive at your new home, unpack the opposite way — essentials first. After you’re able to sort of function in your new place, go room by room and set the new home up.