Everyone who has ever had to pack up their things and move to a new apartment or household agrees: moving is stressful, and decidedly not fun. However, preparation can always ease the burden! Local moves are much easier to handle due to their very nature: you’re not going very far, so the most important things can usually be done within six weeks of the actual move. Here’s everything you should be focusing on in the six weeks leading up to your local move, whether it’s across the street or the county!
- Week Six: Organization is key. Since you’ve got to plan everything out so far, creating a “Move Information” file or folder to keep all your moving-related documents in can really help — if you ever have a question, you’ll know right where to look. The six-week mark is also a great time to update all of your insurance information, transferring and adjusting you fire, auto, and property insurance. Additionally, you’ll want to complete a change of address form with the local post office and DMV. Most importantly, do research on local movers in your area to figure out which would be the best fit for your needs and budget.
- Weeks Four and Five: Time to start sorting through all that stuff! Keep in mind that the more you need to move, the more it will cost; try to purge all unnecessary or unused items (if you haven’t touched it in a year, do you really need it?) ahead of time and you’ll be grateful you have so much less to unpack. Make a list of what the moving services will handle, what you will be taking, and what you’ll be donating to simplify the process. Start collecting packing materials — contact your local liquor store, employers, and neighbors for any empty boxes they may have.
- Week Three: Notify your movers if there have been any changes in plans or timeline, and be sure to clear your schedule for the day of the move so you can concentrate exclusively on getting everything sorted. Get any manual tools (rakes, shovels, hoses, etc.) gathered together — they can be easy to forget!
- Week Two: Clean your home in its entirety, including closets, basements, and attics. Give it a few thorough run-throughs to ensure you haven’t left anything behind, and do the same to your fridge! Plan meals to use up your food so you don’t need to throw it out or worry about bringing it along. Let your local movers know if you’re moving your appliances as they may be able to help you schedule disconnections and preparations.
- Week One: Check your planner to make sure you haven’t missed anything. Be sure to arrange to have your utilities disconnected the day AFTER your scheduled move-out, and call ahead to have them connected in your new home (either the day before or day of). Make sure your movers have your contact information in case they need to get a hold of you for any reason.
Around 62% of movers last year stayed in their original county after their move; hopefully, they worked through this checklist in the same manner you did and had a stress-free moving experience!