The moving day checklist you need – how to move efficiently
So you’ve made it to the big day. You’re almost over the hump of your big move; all you have left to do is tie up some loose ends. Unfortunately, failure to prepare correctly for your final day at your old residence might end up causing you added stress. That’s why we’ve compiled the ultimate moving day checklist to help you get through your moving day seamlessly.
End your moving-eve night early. Going to bed early the night before the move might seem impossible with so much going on, but you don’t want to be a zombie on moving day. So if you have the choice between staying up all night or going to bed early to get your day started fresh and alert – choose the latter.
Eat a healthy breakfast. It’s pretty common for people to forget to eat on their moving day. Between the stress and the time crunch, it feels like a mission to even snack on a bag of chips. However, it’s important to remember that your body still needs fuel. Without a good healthy meal in your belly, you run the risk of burning yourself out quicker.
Initial Walkthrough. Chances are, on the day of the move, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what’s left to do. But you probably don’t have a solid plan to get it done. So before the chaos starts, take an initial walkthrough of the whole house and think about the best and most practical way to get it done. Have a plan set in place for the day to make moving day go a little smoother.
Have your sleepover bag ready. Before you have everything loaded and ready to go, make sure you have your sleepover bag (or suitcase ready). The bag should include pajamas, a fresh change of clothes, toiletries, and any important documents you want to keep with you at all times. Having this bag ready will save you the trouble of rummaging through piles of boxes at your new home (especially when you’ll be beyond exhausted).
Have small bags and a sharpie ready. A lot is happening on moving day. Furniture is coming apart, and it’s easy for small things like nails and screws to get lost. So make sure you have plenty of baggies around where you can easily toss any small pieces and label them so you know what they belong to.
Communicate well with movers. If you’re lucky enough to have a moving company helping you, you must communicate with them about any special instructions. If you have any questions now, it is also the time to ask and always go through and verify terms, services, and contact information one last time before moving.
Leave contact information. If you’re moving out of a house, consider leaving contact information for the next person. Doing so helps give them peace of mind should any questions about the place arise. This is optional but considered good etiquette.
Measure your furniture. If you haven’t already, make sure you measure your furniture and write down dimensions on a pocket notebook. Writing down this information will help you tremendously when you arrive at your new destination. It’s also a good idea to keep your notebook and a tape measurer in your sleepover bag.
Label your boxes. Before any boxes start going in the moving trucks, take a few seconds to make sure they are labeled. It is especially important to label fragile boxes and boxes that are a priority to unpack first.
Plan for children and pets. If you have small children and pets moving with you, try setting aside any special toys, food, and accessories they need. The move will be tough on them, so ensure you make them feel as normal as possible by setting aside their essentials.
Pack a cooler. This easy tip seems to be one of the most forgotten ones, but it’s indispensable if you’re moving during the summer. Having cold water, sports drinks, energy drinks, or even a few snacks in there can help you stay hydrated, fueled, and alert throughout the big day. The movers helping you will be very appreciated.
Don’t forget your chargers. Chargers for the essentials always seem to go missing during a move. Make sure you have your phone charger in your overnight bag. If you need things like a portable DVD player for the ride or another entertainment device, make sure you have the chargers packed up ahead of time.
Pillows and Blankets. If you have a long move ahead of you, you’ll want to keep pillows and blankets along for the ride. But even if you’re moving within the same state or even the same city, having clean pillows and blankets available will help make the new place feel like home.
Last walk-through. Once it seems everything is packed and ready to go, give your house one last walkthrough. Things to look out for:
- Lights off
- Thermostat off
- Blinds lowered
- Trash empty
- Run the garbage disposal
- Refrigerator & dishwasher empty
- Closets empty
- Water heater off
- Doors & windows locked
- Everything is generally clean
Have plenty of cash. This one is significant if you’ll have a moving company helping you. Make sure you stop by the ATM and grab some cash for tipping. The amount you tip your movers is entirely up to your discretion. While $20 per mover seems to be a good rule of thumb per 4 hours of work, try to keep in mind distance traveled, labor, and quality of work when making your decision.
Final paperwork. If you haven’t gone through your final paperwork, including your moving day checklist, moving day is probably not the time. However, it would help if you made a note of it in your moving notebook to check on things the night or week before like cancellation or transfer of homeowner’s insurance, change of address, and cancellation of anything pertaining to your old address. You’ll want to do this ASAP to avoid being overcharged.
Now go ahead and print this out, stick it in your moving notepad, and double-check it on moving day. If you follow this moving day checklist, you’ll have a much less stressful day ahead.
