Planning for a move can be a daunting task. There are many variables to consider. We share some easy tips on how to plan for your move in an organized and efficient way.
1. Make an inventory of your things
Many people only do a cursory inspection of their items prior to booking their moving arrangements. Once the packing phase begins, they discover they have a lot more than they originally thought. Taking a realistic inventory of your belongings early in the moving process accomplishes the following:
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Proper planning in advance goes a long way to insure a smooth moving experience. You got this! It will make your arrangements with your moving company easier and more accurate, resulting in a smoother move and less chance of miscommunication during and after the move.
- You have a clear picture of exactly how much “stuff ” you really have! This is especially important for people who have lived in the same place for a long time. We often accumulate things and store them in a way that leads us to believe we have much less than we actually do.
- It gives you the opportunity to make decisions about what you need to take and what can be sold, donated or purged before you move. You can save money on your moving expenses by reducing the total number of items to be moved.
- Identify what’s important. Rather than to simply get rid of your items at the last minute, doing an inventory early in the moving process allows you time to consider the items, furniture etc. that may have sentimental value and you aren’t quite ready to part with yet. If the particular item does not make sense to move to the new location, then perhaps some off-site long term storage might be an option to consider.
2. Create A Budget
How much can you afford to spend?
Establishing the amount that you are able/willing to spend on your move will inform all the choices involved moving forward. Having the ability to forecast your expenditures ahead of time and understand what to expect can remove some of the uncertainty and stress that comes with a big move.
Based on the moving estimates you receive, you can estimate the costs of the physical move itself: The moving job cost, truck rentals, packing, supplies etc. If you followed the step above and did a thorough inventory, than the estimate that you receive from the moving company should be fairly accurate with no surprises come moving day.
The next major expenses to factor in are travel, transportation and/or hotel costs (if you are moving state-to-state). Also, some businesses help subsidize moves and relocations of their employees, so it’s worth inquiring if your employer offers a similar program.
Potential Moving Expenses
- Cost of hiring professional movers
- Truck rental (if moving yourself)
- Packing supplies: tape, boxes, bins, pads, blankets, etc.
- Travel costs: fuel, lodging, meals (if driving) or cost of transportation: airplane/bus/train tickets
- Long term storage
- Short term storage (if your move-in date doesn’t line up with arrival date)
- Service calls: Requiring a technician visit to disconnect/connect utilities at old location and new
3. Get Organized!
Make your move less stressful by having everything at your fingertips
- Designate a dedicated folder or binder that you can keep all the research materials – From moving price quotes, to checklists, floorplans, and receipts – Everything that is important and relevant to your move.
- Create a list of important contacts and phone numbers. Having the phone numbers of your mover, local contacts, utility companies, travel services, etc. in one place can be a real time saver. No wasted efforts trying to hunt through your cell phone directory or trying to remember names, and companies. Everything will be accessible.
- FOLLOW THROUGH! Take control and track your tasks as you complete them. We recommend using a checklist that covers the necessary tasks in chronological order from the beginning to the end.
4. Schedule the important tasks
Make yourself a moving day timeline.
Put all important moving tasks on your calendar. Outlining the tasks on a timeline means you won’t be rushing to do them all at once. You will also be able to see clearly what tasks or actions may have dependencies and require the completion of another task before starting.
PRO TIP: Go Big! The calendar app on your phone works great as a daily planner, but sometimes you need to see the forest from the trees. Pick up a large format wall or desk calendar that you can add all the important moving tasks, appointments, deliveries etc. on. You will then be able to see them all in relation to one another. Seeing all the events in the spatial blocks of time can make it much easier to understand how your moving plan is shaping up.
