The Best Everything You Need to Know Relocation List
The possibility of a new house is interesting. Packing up and moving your things-- not so much.
We asked Sarah Roussos-Karakaian, whose New York business We OrgaNYze focuses on packaging and unpacking for domestic moves, to help us create the perfect trouble-free move.
" The most significant error people make when they pack, "she states," is not specifying enough."
Taking time on the front end to arrange will make sure a much better moving and unpacking experience. Here's a week-by-week schedule to assist you handle your move:
8 WEEKS AHEAD
Start a folder or binder. Keep whatever related to your relocation in one location: packaging lists, estimates, receipts, home loan documentation, and so on
. Do a stock. Go space by space estimating the cubic footage of your stuff to identify how numerous boxes you'll need. Step huge furnishings to determine what goes where in the brand-new house.
Purge what you can. Whatever you take will cost cash to move, so don't cart the same unused things from attic to attic; be callous and get rid of it. Sell it on eBay or Krrb, or contribute it, and take a tax reduction.
Order new appliances. If your brand-new home doesn't featured a fridge or stove, or requires an upgrade, order now, so the home appliances are delivered prior to you move in.
6 WEEKS AHEAD
Research moving business. Get in-person, written quotes, and check referrals with the Bbb.
Moving pricey or fragile items like art, antiques, or a grand piano? Discover movers who specialize.
Review your mover's insurance. Make sure the liability insurance your potential movers bring will cover the replacement value of anything they might harm.
Call energy business. Arrange to have energies switched off at your old home and turned on at your new location. Discover dates for garbage and recyclable pickup, in addition to any limitations about having packaging particles picked up.
Moving long range or delivering a lorry? Set up kennel time or ask a good friend to keep your 4-legged friends out of the moving chaos.
Some movers offer boxes. Get more boxes than you think you'll need, especially easy-to-lift little ones. Don't forget packaging tape, colored tape and markers for coding boxes, bubble wrap for prints and mirrors, and packing peanuts.
4 WEEKS AHEAD
Start packing seldom-used products. Box out-of-season clothes and holiday accessories before moving on to more regularly used products.
Track boxed products. Create a spreadsheet with color-coded rows for each space and sufficient columns to cover all the boxes per space. As you pack, mark and number each box (e.g., "Cooking area 12") on its 4 vertical sides (the top is hidden when boxes are stacked) with the pertinent tape color. As you seal each box, list its contents in your spreadsheet, so you AND the movers will know what remains in each and where it goes.
Get specialized boxes for Televisions and wardrobes. Pull trash bags over hanging clothes in clumps and tie the bags' strings around the bunched hangers to keep contents easy and clean to deal with.
Keep hardware together. Put screws and other hardware from anything you dismantle-- sconces, TELEVISION wall installs, shelves, etc.-- in sealed plastic bags taped to the items themselves. Just beware not to attach the bags onto a surface area that might be harmed by the tape's adhesive.
Fill out USPS forms to have your mail forwarded to your new address. Give your brand-new address to family members, your banks and credit card magazines, papers and companies, the Department of Motor Automobiles and your company.
2 WEEKS AHEAD
End up packing your house. Label packages you pack last that include your most-used items-- laptop computers, phones, everyday meals, remote controls, and so on-- with 3 strips of colored tape. Tell movers to keep these boxes quickly accessible in the new area.
Verify your dates. Call energy companies to ensure your services are scheduled to be connected the proper day, and confirm the relocation website time with the movers. If you've organized to have your old house cleaned up, it's smart to check that job, too.
Defrost your fridge and drain gas-powered devices. Disconnect the refrigerator to give it time to thaw and drain pipes. Drain gas and oil from lawn mowers and comparable devices, and discard the fluids correctly.
Produce a "Opening Night Package." Load a box or overnight bag for each relative with a change of clothing, medications and toiletries, plus favorite toys for kids and pets. Include cleaning supplies, toilet paper, snacks, an utility knife (for unpacking) and a first aid kit.
Pack your valuables. Bring precious jewelry, medications, easily-damaged products and other prized possessions with you.
Get cash to tip the movers and purchase pizza for the household. Choose up the keys to your brand-new house.
Moving Day
Show up ahead of the moving truck. Give yourself plenty of time to find out furnishings arrangement and where things go.
Direct the operation. Explain your system to the moving company's foreman, and give him a copy of the spreadsheet prior to his team begins working.
Take care of your movers. Moving is difficult work, so plan to provide water and lunch for the movers. When it comes to tipping: For a half-day task, $10 per mover is the general rule; for a full-day, $20 each.
Offer your old home a clean sweep. If you're a homeowner, you'll most likely have to do this prior to the closing. Take photos after you're done-- in case of disagreements if you have a security and lease deposit.
Unload the bedrooms. Set up the furniture first to make certain there's a clear path to the bed. Make the beds NOW, so at the end of the day, everyone can simply topple in-- exhausted.
Week After The Move
Pick up the animals. Make certain you have their litter, food and water boxes.
Modification all exterior locks. Get a new set of keys to your house and make copies for all member of the family and a few extras.
Unpack the kitchen area. Discover those final-items "3 stripes" boxes and unpack.
Praise yourselves. Sure, there's still plenty to do and you most likely will not get as far as you 'd like in the very first week. Says Roussos-Karakaian: "If you're hanging art in the first 7 days, you're a rock star."