In this article:
When you begin planning a move cross country or even just down the street, there are many factors you need to consider. Even before scheduling your movers, we recommend glancing at our tips to get an understanding of how to best plan with your family.
Moving can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! With proper planning and due diligence, the process can be made fun and into a learning experience. After moving countless times here are our readers top recommendations for pre-move plans:
Iron out all the details ahead of time such as closing fees, move-in date, and move-in condition to understand small details that really matter such as factoring in time to clean if needed.
Without this simple but critical step, you will struggle to move over utilities or sign up for services such as schooling, mail forwarding, and more.
On your final day at the old home, ensure to take photo proof of your water and electric meters. Have the contact details handy to be able to call both vendors during the move and pay off any remaining debts.
While waiting for your movers to finalize and load up the truck, call your new utility providers and add your credit card details so that you will have running water and electricity when you arrive. This can be done usually up to a week in advance or when the previous tenants have paid off their outstanding debts.
To avoid missing sign-up dates and ease your way into the new neighborhood, it is best to plan ahead and look up sign-up dates for every program you are hoping to have your kids join.
Knowing where your new local gym is will be a nice way to ease into the new spot. Being able to hit the gym the day after a long move will relieve stress.
Focus on eating up the food you currently have stored. We all tend to keep on stock lots of grains and pantry staples. These heavy items just take up valuable box space. Get creative with your meals before the move, but don’t let this add stress to your schedule.
Make a tally list of all items in your home including details on their condition so that you can ensure it all makes it onto the truck and to your new abode. No one likes a cracked TV as a surprise.
Pro tip: Take photos to be able to make strong claims in case anything does incur damage.
Knowing your budget what is adjustable and what should be set in stone is key to booking a fitting mover and extra services.
iMoving offers everything from DIY extra hands to full service where packing pros come in and box it all up for you. If you need your piano moved cross-state or your precious glass bottle collection, we can hook you up. Whatever the right choice is for your family, we can help you budget.
This step will streamline the process of booking the right mover for you. Whether it be questions about special and fragile items or having a list of what is important for you, this will come in handy down the road.
iMoving has a list of prepared questions you may want to review before booking.
iMoving is here to help you make the right decision on qualified and vetted movers in your area. Start understanding costs by inputting your data into our moving marketplace and understand the various options available.
Don’t trust sketchy vendors. Ensure you book a binding quote with one of our experts to avoid scams.
Close moves: Plan a fun coffee and bagel stop to spice up the day! Don’t forget to eat during the day. As simple and obvious as this sounds, many clients end up dehydrated and hungry as they skip this step.
Cross-border long-distance moves: Plan out and book your hotel as well as fun activities in the area you'll be crossing to make the move feel a bit like a road trip! Making moving fun makes it seem like less of a chore and more of a joy! If you are passing a cool location anyway, take the time to stop in. You won’t regret it.
If possible when moving with small children or pets, it is best to find them a babysitter or pet sitter. If this isn't an option, then maybe a fun activity in the area that doesn't require your presence could be a great stress reliever for you and your family.
Many areas have daytime doggy daycare. Knowing that your furry friend is safe during the move and not snacking on potentially dangerous items will keep you calm and cool.
Knowing where you plan to place will save valuable time and frustration on the mover's side from moving beds and sofas multiple times. Even sketching out the layout including measurements on a simple paper and understanding where the big pieces will be placed will help you on a moving day.
Sell off pieces of furniture that just don’t sit right. Not everything from your old home will sit perfectly and that's ok. Try and sell off as much excess as you can ahead of the move to avoid cluttering the new home.
Plan storage options in the new place and a general overview of what items will need to be hidden and stored away. If you have under-the-stairs space or multiple cabinets or closets try and understand how many boxes of items will need to be stored to avoid excess clutter.
It’s rough enough moving! Don’t try and do it without a freshly brewed cup of joe! Pack up your coffee machine last to enjoy a last cup of coffee in the morning before the movers arrive. If this adds stress to your mindset then pack it away and know where the closest coffee and donut shop is to make the more of, sweeter!
Plan a sandwich for lunch as you likely won't have time to leave the movers in the middle of it all.
Go get those stacks of boxes, extra duct tape (at least one roll per family member), and bubble wrap because you’ll need it once you're in the swing of things. Having all the materials on hand is bound to incentivize you to keep packing and stop slacking.
You’ll still need many basic items the night before and day of. Here is a sample list of what we like to keep aside
We have a million tips for packing up those cartons, but the main one is just to work organized, room by room, and label everything as detailed as possible. This will save you from later having to open 7 boxes in search of your mascara.
Pro closet tip: Leave your clothes on the hangers themselves to save valuable time! While they will take up a tad more space in the boxes you won't have to unhang and rehang everything this way!
Planning ahead for the basics really eliminates added stress on the day of the big move. We recommend prepping as much as possible and booking a solid team of professionals for the move itself.
Whether it is a short move ten minutes away, or a cross-country adventure with a stop-off at Disney, a proper plan will keep the day running smoothly! iMoving is here for you every step of the way.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our moving specialists if you have any questions, and know that no matter the VIP service you are after, we have a mover who can hook you up.
Rachel is a seasoned mover. After moving homes over 4 times in three years, she has the basics down! From packing to booking movers, to prepping the drive she knows her stuff. We hope this article has been helpful for you!
Get all moving services you need in one place
Shop Our Services