When Should I Start Preparing to Move?
Plan Your Move with Ease Using Our Moving Timeline
When it comes to moving, the devil is in the details. While moving may seem straight forward, there are plenty of elements that can easily slip through the cracks if you aren’t organized with your planning. With our month-by-month moving guide, you can ensure that your move is as cost-effective, time-sensitive, and painless as possible.
One Year Out
If possible, it’s a good idea to begin saving up for your move a year prior, if not more. From paying security and pet deposits to that first month’s rent and any unexpected expenses, you’ll be glad you socked away some extra funds. By beginning to save so far out, you can save slowly and avoid the stress of mounting fees.
Three Months Out
It’s time to begin organizing your life! We recommend beginning this process by taking stock of your belongings.
- Sort through what items you’d like to keep, what you’d like to sell, donate, or trash. If you choose to sell any items, add that money to your moving-money stash. You’ll thank yourself later!
- Create a list of all your belongings to help plan for moving costs and supplies. This is crucial for insurance purposes.
- Gather up all your essential documents: passports, social security cards, school records, medical records, birth certificates, and similar paperwork should be housed in a safe, secure location.
Two Months Out
Movers
If you plan on hiring professional movers, this is the time to start doing research. We recommend getting quotes from a few different companies to ensure you get the best deal on the most reliable moving company.
Doing it yourself? Now is the time to book your rental truck so that you know a truck will be available on the day you want to move.
Supplies
Start stocking up on moving supplies! This includes boxes, tape, paper, Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, and anything else you feel you might need to wrap up your possessions safely.
A good rule of thumb is to buy more than you think you’ll need. This can cut down on back-and-forth trips to the store.
Six Weeks Out
Packing
This step may seem premature, but if you start packing now, you’ll save yourself from scrambling to pack at the last minute. Set yourself a goal of packing a box or two each night, and the process won’t feel nearly as overwhelming. Start with items like your out-of-season clothing, holiday decorations, and similar items you don’t use frequently.
And don’t forget to label your boxes with their contents!
One Month Out
With only one month left, your moving day might just sneak up on you if you aren’t careful. Now is the time to notify your utility, cable, and internet providers that you’d like to stop or transfer your service on your moving day. You don’t want to spend the first night in your new home in the dark!
This is now a good time to start changing your address as well – you don’t want to miss any important mail! Double-check that all of your subscriptions have been updated, as well as your bank account, car registration, insurance, and employer records.
One Week Out
If you’re moving out of a rental property, you’ll need to leave your residence clean in order to get your full deposit back. Don’t forget to clean out your oven, microwave, and fridge. Baseboards looking grungy? Give them a once-over as well.
The Night Before
If you don’t want to spend your first night in your new home hunting down your toothpaste and related toiletries, you should pack up all your essentials in an overnight bag the night before. Set this bag in your car so that it doesn’t get packed with everything else.
And it may seem obvious, try to get a good night’s sleep! Moving is hard work, and you won’t want to power through on too-little sleep.
While moving is never fun, thorough preparation can help you reduce your stress when it comes time to pack up and head out. We hope you find these tips useful on your next move! Switching electricity and natural gas is now easy. Check out our online plans and remember us for your next move!
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