When you make a decision to move to a new home, there must be thousands of questions you want to have answers for. Whether this will be your first of fifth time moving, most of the tips in this guide will make it easier for you to have a stress-free moving experience.
The information in this guide has been gathered from moving industry veterans and many other important sources. Please, read it carefully, and have an easy move!
1. When to move
2. What to move
3. How to move
4. Preparing for the move
5. Moving day
6. What to do after the move
When to move
Question number one would be: “when is the best time for me to move?”
You should plan your move to take place at a time convenient for you and your family. However, due to a seasonal nature of the moving industry you should remember that during certain periods it will be harder to find a good mover, and the prices tend to be generally higher.
Those periods include:
1) The summer months – for many families with children summer is the most convenient time to move because the school term is up. In addition, summer weather is usually more suitable for moving.
2) Beginning and end of each month - first and last days of each month, regardless of season, are very busy days for the moving industry.
3) End of the year holiday season – during end of December things tend to be especially hectic.
During the “peak” periods the demand for moving services is higher, and so are the prices. In addition, it is more difficult for the moving companies to ensure the quality of service that you would expect, making your move even more stressful.
To learn more about different factors influencing the cost of your move read Moving Guide->Moving Cost-Financial Tips
What to move
Question number two would be “what should I move to a new place, and what to leave behind?”
General rule of thumb: an item that hasn’t been used in over year should be considered for selling, donating, recycling, or just thrown away. Consult your family members – maybe someone needs it.
Make sure you inspect your house from top to bottom and decide what is going and what is staying. If you plan to have a visit from a visual estimator make sure you know exactly what you want the moving company to move for you. Show all those items to the estimator.
You might have things that you don’t want to part with, but which will inevitably be stored in a storage, shed, or garage after the move. Those items should be packed very well in containers that are rodent, moisture and dust proof. To learn more about preparing your items for storing read Moving Guide->Moving Storage Tips.
Some items can’t be moved at all, or should be moved with a special care. Those items include hazardous materials, perishables, and personal and valuable items. To learn more about do-not-move items read Moving Guide->Do-not-move Items.
How to move
Next question will be “how am I going to move? Should I do it myself, or should I hire a moving company?”
There a three general ways to move:
1) Hire a full service moving company that will do everything for you;
2) Rent a truck and move yourself;
3) Hire a self moving company that will provide you with a truck and a driver, but you will have to load and unload by yourself.
Regardless of the option you choose, remember to reserve your moving services or truck well ahead to secure your moving date and time. Read more to learn how to:
Choose the right moving company: Moving Guide->How to Choose a Moving Company
Renting a truck: Moving Guide->Truck Rental Basics
Use the self moving services: Moving Guide->Self Moving Tips
Also, when exploring your moving options consider the following tips:
Hiring helpers – if you decide to move yourself you might want to use extra help to load or unload. There are companies that offer moving labor only. You can find such company in our Moving Labor section.
Small moves – if your shipment is really small and can fit in a small van your move is considered small move. Some companies (often called as “Man-with-a-Van”) offer inexpensive services for small moves. You can find such company in our Small Move section.
Insurance - If you are hiring a professional, it's a good idea to insure your belongings. Replacement of damaged belongings is bothersome, but possible with proper coverage. Find out if your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy covers your belongings in transit. To learn more about moving insurance read our Moving Guide->Moving Insurance Guide
New premises – It’s important to pay attention to the doorways and hallways in your new house. Some of your old furniture might not fit, and will have to be abandoned. Check the space for your laundry and kitchen appliances, such as refrigerator. And finally, check out where TV, phone and internet connections are located.
Auto moving – If you decide to use an auto transporting service to move your car, consult our Moving Guide->Auto Moving Tips.
Preparing for the move
Good planning and organization is a key for successful move. You should keep a special notebook with all the planning, tasks, and important move-related information.
Prepare your items for move. Packing all your belongings and preparing your furniture for the move is one of the most laborious parts of the moving process. To make it easier consult the following tips:
Get rid of the items you don’t want to move by having a garage sale. Allow yourself enough time to organize it. If you don’t want to deal with garage sales consider donating your unwanted items.
Keep a floor plan of the new house with you for reference while you pack and for moving day.
Keep tools for assembling beds and other furniture in easily accessible place, or tape them to the furniture itself.
Clean your belongings before moving them.
To learn more about packing techniques, consult Moving Guide->All Packing Tips
Arrange your finances. It’s important to organize your finances to be ready for all kinds of surprises and unexpected emergencies. Consult the following tips:
Make sure that direct debit and billing links to your bank accounts are organized to handle any changes resulting from your move
Budget wisely and conservatively for any items that will be needed once you are in your new home.
Open new bank account. Try to open a new account before closing your old one, and transfer your funds.
Keep a detailed log of moving expenses in your notebook. Some may be tax-deductible, so make sure you keep all the receipts.
To learn more read Moving Guide->Moving Cost-Financial Tips
Changing your address. Remember to notify the post office that you will be moving, and provide them with a new address. It can be done online – click here.
It is important to supply companies with a forwarding address where they can send final invoices. Don’t get yourself surprised with late fees and credit circumstances.
Also, it is important to teach your children the new address and phone number. Ask them to write it on every packed box for practice.
Don’t forget small things.
Check the dry cleaners for anything you still need to collect.
Set aside and label keys to give to the new homeowners.
Return any library books, rental videos, or items you may have borrowed from friends or neighbors. Make sure to get back the items once borrowed from you as well.
Utilities. A very important part of your move is disconnection and reconnection of all the utilities. Consult the following tips:
Learn about disconnection rules by calling a utility companies or visiting their websites.
For disconnection or transfer of your utilities contact the companies at least two weeks before the move. It will give them enough time to take final readings of water, gas, and electrical meters. It also will save you from being subjected to any late notification charges.
Settle all the bills that are unsettled before the moving day, and recover all the refunds and deposits.
If you are moving across town, you may be able to transfer your services to your new home. However, if you are moving long distances, you will likely be dealing with a new company that may or may not charge a setup fee. At the same time you could save few bucks by getting a “bundled” television, phone and Internet service from one company.
Water and sewer service can be arranged directly through the appropriate town or city department. The same holds true for garbage pickup and recycling, the cost of which is usually rolled into the property tax bill.
Make sure your utilities are working until a day after your moving day. You don’t want to get your phone disconnected before the movers come, because they will not show up without confirmation.
Prepare for your journey. If you are planning to drive to your new home, remember to tune up the car to avoid a breakdown on the way. Also, pack a first aid box that will contain bandages, bug spray, sunburn spray, tissues, and medications you or your family will need along the way
If you are flying to your new home, check the flight schedule closely and be sure to factor in the time required to retrieve luggage and travel from the airport. Also make backup plans in case the flight is delayed or you get stuck in traffic.
Moving day
Finally, the moving day arrives. Be ready to have a very hectic day, with plenty of activities, and lots of details to remember and take care of. That’s why it is crucial to prepare yourself well.
Be present during the move. It is important to be present at the location from the time the moving team arrives to the very last moment when the truck leaves your home.
If you cannot be present during the move, or you have a problem to be home to greet the movers arrange for someone to do it for you. You might be facing extra charges for the time in case the team will arrive at your home before you do.
You should supervise the movers’ work. Accompany the moving crew foreman as he fills out the inventory sheet and supervise the loading process into the moving van. Be available to answer any questions your movers may have, which means staying around until they're finished
Finally, keep your pets away from all the activity on moving day. If your dog is frenzied because of the moving day activity, confine it somewhere away from the action.
Be considerate to your neighbors.
Remember, it’s you who are moving, and not your neighbors. Try to move during the daytime, but not too early or too late.
Make sure the sidewalk and neighbor's driveway are not blocked with moving truck or furniture waiting to be loaded. Keep movers away from walking over your neighbor's lawn or through their flowerbeds.
Finally, don't leave trash, unwanted furniture or other debris on the sidewalk. Place it in proper containers, and if it begins to overflow, go to the local dump.
Signing the papers. It’s a very important part of the moving process. The foreman will ask you to sign a bill of lading and check an inventory sheet when they are done loading the truck. More about the different documents related to the move read here: Moving Guide->How to Choose a Moving Company->Important documents.
Make sure you inspect all of your belongings closely and read the paperwork closely before you sign anything. Read the inventory sheet carefully, and ask the foreman to explain anything you don't understand. Take a second walk throughout the house to make sure all items are accounted for. Make a note of your shipment's registration number, and keep your Bill of Lading handy.
Finalizing the pick-up. If you're moving long distance, be aware that your property might share a truck with that of several other households. For this reason, your mover might have to place your belongings in his transit storage for several days. Therefore, ask your mover whether your goods will remain on the truck until delivered. If they have to be stored, ask whether you can check the warehouse for security, organization and cleanliness.
And finally, give the foreman your phone numbers and email addresses so you can stay in contact. For long distance moves it is important to be in touch with the company’s long distance department to make sure your shipment is scheduled for delivery and they have all the contact information and addresses.
Take good care of the movers. Movers work hard for you, and you should take good care of them. Remember to set out water and snacks for the movers. On cold days, offer them hot tea and coffee. Also, if the move will take long time get them lunch.
If you're satisfied with the way the movers handled your possessions, it's customary to tip the movers. Read more about tipping here: Moving Guide->Moving Cost-Financial Tips->Tipping the movers
Leaving your house. You should leave your old house as clean as you would like to find your new house. Clean as much as you can before moving day, and then make a final check after everything is out.
Also, always shut and lock all windows and doors as you leave your old home on moving day.
What to do after the move
When you finally arrive at your new home you probably can’t wait to settle your house. However, don’t rush and take your time. Don't spend too much time unpacking right away. It is important to unload the essentials, of course. But wait on the less important stuff.
In the first few days, take time to enjoy your new home with your family. Don't despair if you are not totally happy with it on the day you move in. Keep in mind that most homes can be adapted over time to suit your lifestyle and tastes.
Take walks in the new neighborhood. Introduce yourselves to your new neighbors. Plan to order take-out food or eat out, since you will be too tired to cook, and most of your appliances will still be packed. So, take a
walk to check out local restaurants and take-out spots.
When unpacking keep in mind the following tips:
After you've moved, it's a good idea to let all of your electrical appliances return to room temperature before plugging them in.
Flatten all your moving boxes for recycling. Many moving companies will pick them up after your move.
To learn more about unpacking read Moving Guide->All Packing tips-> Unpacking tips.
And remember – always expect the unexpected. Few moves go smoothly, anticipate and predict trouble, and most important – always keep a positive attitude!
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