You’re in the final stretch! At this point, you may be a bit worn out and ready for this whole move to be done. Hang in there and stay focused through this last phase…
The Days Before the Move
- Prep your appliances, clear the fridge and freezer, remove all food, and clear cabinets, leaving only what you’ll need for the next few days and moving day.
- Finish packing…NO LOOSE ITEMS! You don’t want to finish packing when the movers are there.
- Make sure you thoroughly understand your mover’s insurance options before move day. It’s hard to process the information on the spot when the movers arrive. There is a difference between standard coverage and full replacement coverage. The morning of the move will be hectic, and it’s not the best time to have a full conversation about that.
- If you have large or odd-shaped objects that you are not able to pack, make sure your movers know ahead of time so they can come prepared to pack on move day.
- Don’t forget that you might have items in the garden that you’re planning on bringing with you. Find out your mover’s policy on transporting plants.
- Garbage emptied, hazardous materials dealt with.
- Arrange to have water available and cash tips for the movers.
Moving Day
It’s moving day and you’re packed and ready for the movers who like to get started early and they hit the ground running as soon as they arrive. They move quickly so keep separate your moving day kit and anything you are taking yourself. Stay out of the way, but plan to stay on site during the move.
- Have breakfast. You don’t want to get too far from your normal routine.
- Pack up any of those last items you were using the day before; The sheets on your bed can be thrown into a box the morning of the move.
- Accompany the mover as he or she inventories your possessions (interstate moves) and makes condition reports.
- Do a final sweep of the house before the movers leave to make sure they get everything.
Move-in Day
- Have your floor plan ready so the movers know where the furniture is going. They will usually unload the furniture first.
- Supervise the unload. Make sure the boxes get taken to the rooms they will need to be unloaded. You don’t want to be moving a box from the basement up to the attic yourself. This is why labeling is so important. Take full advantage of the help you’ll have on move-in day.
- If you do an interstate move, every box will be numbered and correspond with an inventory list. Use that list to make sure all your items arrive at your new location.
- Make sure the “unpack first” boxes aren’t buried under a stack.
- Make a plan for what you’ll do with empty boxes; create a staging area where you can gather them and sort by size. Offer them up for free on Craigslist, NextDoor or Offer Up.
- Get your critical areas up and running first: heart of your kitchen, toiletries, sheets on your bed, for example. This is why having some clothes packed separately is helpful. You might not get to your clothes boxes on the first day.
- Unpack room by room once your critical areas are set up. Take your time and get help if needed. Having your new home set-up in an organized way is a great gift to yourself.
Celebrate!
Once the movers are gone and your bed is made, if it’s not too late, get a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine and a bowl of fruit and celebrate!