Packing up the old home and getting it into the new home is always very overwhelming. This holds true whether you have just bought the home of your dreams, got a job in a new area or went from renting to owning your own home. The helpful staff at States Van Lines has come up with 10 steps to make the move a little easier
- It is important to start the move process about two months before you actually move into the new home. You should obtain the house plans of the new home so you know what to keep and what to get rid of. Sort through the items that you wish to move and the items that will be sold or donated. It is then crucial to take inventory of the items that you are wishing to keep.
- At this time you will also want to decide if you are wanting to move yourself or hire movers. If hiring a mover contact your insurance company to see if the move is covered under the current home owner or renter policy that you hold, if it is not more insurance may need to be purchased. This is the time to notify the children's school of the move so that the files can be collected and transferred to the new school. Sending out a postcard and letting friends and family know the date of the move with the new address is always a nice thing to do.
- Start looking, ordering or asking for moving supplies. These supplies include boxes, box tape, newspaper or bubble wrap and markers. Remember that any fragile or breakable items needs to be packaged with care and labeled so on the box. Try to label the boxes for the room it will be used in at the new house also the general items that contained within the box.
- Start cleaning and packing the most cluttered areas first, this includes any sheds, basements and garages. These areas seem the least important to start packing but will normally take the longest to get through.
- A month before the move call your utility and services companies and inform them of the date of disconnection and possible reconnection at the new home. Also confirm the movers or reserve a truck if you are choosing to move yourself. If you are flying to the new home with your pets, be sure that all current paperwork is completed. Plants that you know will not be moving with you, a new home will need to be found for them. At this point furniture or kids toys that are not being used can start to be dismantled and discarded.
- Confirm flights and travel arrangements for you and your pets. If you are driving to the new home have a maintenance check done on the vehicle. No more grocery shopping needs to be done, try to have the family eat whatever food is left over in the refrigerator, freezer and pantries.
- You should start packing up all items in the house that will not be needed until you are moved into the new house. The living room, dining room, kitchen, den/family room and bedrooms should all be down to the bare minimums. The bathrooms are usually the last place that you pack up.
- It it now moving day, as the moving company is loading you items onto the truck be present so that you know that all items are accounted for and labeled and loaded correctly. After everything is loaded on the truck, do a quick walk through of the house and double check that nothing was left behind before the truck leaves. Read through all the paperwork and be sure that everything is correct before signing. It is extremely important that you confirm that the driver of the truck has the new home address and a phone number to reach you if there are any problems that arise.
- After the truck has left it is then time to do any last minute cleaning on the house before the new tenants move in.
- Leave a note for the new tenants with your phone number and new address so that if there is any stray thing that may have been forgotten or mail that is delivered they know where to send it. Shut off the lights, say good bye and lock the door. The move is all over now it is time to get settled into the new home.