New Beginnings Unfold: Complete Guide to Moving to Your New Home

When it’s time to move homes, the last thing you want to do is start creating lists when you have a million other tasks on your mind.

That's why iMoving has put together an all-in-one worry-free guide to moving homes. Step by step is to help you move smarter!

So you’ve found a new place to call “home sweet home.” Congratulations! The first and most important step is to book your moving company ahead of time to ensure to get the best option at the best rate.

1. Book your movers on iMoving

• Why iMoving? We are the only platform that offers pre-vetted moving company options for the entire USA. All our movers undergo a rigorous vetting process including verification of all their licensing, insurance, and other required documents. Save time by trusting iMoving to work through the tedious vetting process for you.

2. Gather Moving Boxes

• You can save money by running to your local giant chain stores and asking what day they toss their extra cartons. If you don’t have patience for this, moving boxes can be purchased at your local hardware store. Don’t forget the masking tape as you’ll be putting them together.
• Bubble wrap central- Enjoy the fun of this step! Don’t forget to double-wrap any glass pieces. 

3. Slowly Begin Packing Up Room By Room

• Save the kitchen main items for last. You’ll still be making eggs and coffee even on moving day.
• Start with the lesser-used rooms such as guest rooms, extra bathrooms, and laundry areas.
• label each box by the former room packed up and write in Sharpie as detailed as possible what is in each box to save you from digging in your new place.

4. Measure Your New Home

• Knowing the measurements of each room will help you understand what furniture you have will work in the new home and what should be gotten rid of. Measurements will help you plan out the space. 

5. Donate

• Moving is a great opportunity to get rid of the extra clutter in your life. Think about when the last time you used an object was and decide how badly you want this item in your new home. 
• A garage sale is another great way to offset moving costs

6. Close Out Bills and Open New Accounts

• As you close out each bill on your old home, ensure to set it up for your new residence. Ie: Shut off the electric bill in the old home, and on the same day give your credit card details to the electric company for your new home. This way you don’t leave any old subscriptions running. 

7. Change Your Address

• While this seems obvious, you will need to have this done in order to register for all local services like schools and mail. 

8. Take the Day Off

• Nothing is more stressful than attempting to half be on a Zoom call while actually packing up your last boxes and dealing with the movers. Do yourself a favor and take a personal or sick day to really be present for your moving day. 

9. Clean Your New Home

• Squeaky-clean is the way to start things off on the right foot. Either go there yourself and wash all the floors and insides of cabinets or hire a professional cleaning staff to take care of it for you. Don’t ever skip this step, as once the furniture is in place, a deep clean just doesn’t go as deep.
• Don’t forget to clean up after your movers have moved all your items out of your current house. No one likes to move into a dirty home. Do the next buyer a favor. 

10. Have a Moving Day Helper

• The day of your move has enough going on as it is without the added worries of children and pets. If possible try and book a familiar babysitter or dog sitter to be able to better focus on the task at hand.

11. Don’t Get Dehydrated and Ensure to Snack

• Stress can make even the best of us forget critical things like eating and drinking. While we truly hope your move is stress-free, this is your friendly reminder to check in with yourself and your loved ones. 

12. Pro-tip: Defrost the Freezer 

• Do this at least 2 days ahead. Why you might ask? This will save you the headache of wet boxes and a gross freezer arriving at your new place.

13. Give yourself an Unpacking Timelines

• Leaving things in boxes for months is not the best way to get actually moved in but happens to the best of us when we don’t set clear boundaries and goals. Avoid this by setting a 2-week unpacking goal for all bedrooms and living room. By one month, all boxes should be out of your house. We recommend using this opportunity to continue decluttering and getting rid of those extra items you just couldn’t part with beforehand. 

14. Be Easy On Yourself

• Breathe. Moving is a huge change. You can do this without stress. Stress won’t get you closer to your goals so take a deep breath and keep the goal in mind.

• If your move is cross-country, ensure to book a comfortable hotel for the nights in between.
• If you are traveling long- distances to your new home, try and make the journey a little more fun by planning a stopover in a fun place or new restaurant. 
• Plan a bag of things needed for the day in between your homes.

What are the most important things to have ready for your move on the day of?

• All important documents should be in your possession and not thrown in a random box.
• Keep out enough food and coffee to get you through the morning of your move. If you prefer, have bagels and coffee delivered and keep things as simple as possible.
• Make sure your phone and charger are handy.
• Keep a first set of bedding available for every room so you can pass out after the move-in bed.

First Steps in Your New Home

• Put away your most used items such as kitchen utensils, everyday pans, and glasses so you can feel at home.
• If you have a pet make sure to set up their bed and familiar items so they can adjust easier.
• Enjoy a coffee, take a deep breath, and know that the best is yet to come!

Moving can be stressful, but with an organized to-do list guide you can ensure you aren’t missing anything at any step along the way. Ensure to close out all bills, pack room by room, and most importantly to book an honest and trusted mover on iMoving. Take a deep breath and enjoy the journey to your new home. 

Written by a fanatic mover who moves home almost every year. Rachel has become a packing pro by this point and is here to help you!