The Ultimate Moving Checklist

Moving is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. The more you prepare for your move, the more smoothly everything will go once the day arrives. If you know what steps to take in advance and stick to a schedule as closely as possible, there won’t be any unexpected surprises on moving day–and you can breathe easy knowing that all your important possessions have arrived safely at their new home!

Find movers

The first step in planning for your move is finding movers who can do the job right. No matter how long you've been at your current home or how much stuff you have packed away, there are certain things that only a professional moving company can do. You want movers who use safe practices and equipment when they pack up your possessions, so they don't get damaged during transit; who provide insurance coverage for their services; who take care when disassembling and reassembling furniture; who have experience moving large items like pianos or antiques.

Change your mailing address.

Your next stop is the post office. Make sure to update your address with them as soon as possible if you haven't already. If you've moved in recent months and haven't changed your mailing address, do so now!

Once again, this can be done online or at a local post office branch.

Start packing–100 days out.

Don't pack until you have a place to move to. The last thing you'll want is to start packing, only to find out that you don't actually get the apartment after all.

You can put off packing as long as possible, but once your lease ends or the landlord gives notice that they're selling the house and have given everyone 90 days' notice of their eviction (and no one wants their stuff), then it's time to start thinking about what needs to go into storage or left behind in storage until after the move.

Create a binder with all the important paperwork you will need throughout the moving process.

The moving process is long and often tedious, so staying organized throughout is important. The best way to do this is by creating a binder filled with all the important paperwork you will need throughout the move.

• Driver's license and car registration

• Vehicle insurance card (including name and contact information for the insurance company representative you spoke to)

Prepare for the move by decluttering your home and getting rid of unwanted or unnecessary items.

With all of the stress that comes with moving, it's tempting to postpone your decluttering efforts until after you've moved into your new home. However, this can actually make your move take longer than necessary and add unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation. It's best to start preparing for a move as early as possible—even if you don't plan on moving right away. This will give you time to organize and get rid of everything in the house that doesn't belong there before they become cluttered!

To help you get started, we've put together a list of some items that should go into their own category:

Make sure to set up new service appointments for your utilities before moving in, so you have them installed and ready when the time comes.

There are two types of utilities: water and electricity. In general, you should set up an appointment with both to have them installed once you move into your new home. If there's no existing service for either, you'll need to contact local companies directly and set up the arrangements yourself.

The process is simple, but it can take several days for the utilities to be fully functional. In general, you'll want to set up an appointment for each utility about a week before you move into your new home.

After moving day, you should remember to call a locksmith to change the locks on the front door. This should be done by a trained professional.

Give notice at your old building.

Giving notice at your old building is important. If you live in a residential unit, chances are you’ll have to give 30 days' notice for moving out. Other buildings may require 60 days' notice, so be sure to check with your landlord so you know how much time you have.

Having a plan and sticking to it is key to making a move go smoothly

Having a plan and sticking to it is key to making a move go smoothly.

A simple moving checklist might include the following:

• Decide how much stuff you’re going to take. If you have items that are important for your job or hobbies but not essential for day-to-day living, consider leaving them behind. You can always purchase replacements later on if needed.

• Pack up all of the things you want to transport in boxes or bags and label them with their destination room or location as well as any other information that may be helpful when unpacking (such as what type of box it is). This will save time later on when you don’t have to wonder where something went when it comes out of storage!

Conclusion

One of the best things about moving is that there’s so much to do! From packing and getting rid of stuff you don’t need anymore to cleaning and decluttering your home so you can sell it (or just make it look more presentable), many little tasks need tending to. And if you keep your checklist handy throughout the process, it will help keep everything organized so nothing gets missed along the way.