Plan Your Move Effectively

Whether you’re moving across the street or the country, you’ll want to Plan your move effectively. This proactive step can prevent many common moving mishaps such as lost items, expensive service charges and overlapping timelines. It’s especially important to plan ahead if you’re moving on a tight schedule or hiring movers.

Take inventory: Make a room-by-room list of what you want to pack and start with non-essentials, like winter coats, books, and off-season clothing. As you pack, label your boxes with the room name and contents. This will save you time when unpacking, plus it’ll help the movers stay organized. Also, group similar items together—such as artwork and furniture—to ensure they are packed properly.

Plan Your Move Effectively: The Ultimate Moving Strategy

Line up help: If you’re planning on getting help from friends, family members or a moving company, this is the time to ask. This will give them time to block out the day and make arrangements for childcare if necessary.

Buy supplies: This is a great time to get your boxes, tape, a dolly and markers. You may even want to consider a barcode system for your boxes to keep track of what’s inside.

Set a date: Choose a date for your move and make sure it’s convenient. If you’re moving far away, consider travel plans for yourself and any pets. Also, make sure you’re giving your landlord or future landlord the required 30-day notice. And don’t forget to update your address with your bank, credit cards, utilities, insurance companies and more.