8 Weeks Out:
How are you going to do it?
Here is where everything starts. Decide how you’re going to move. Are you doing it yourself? Are you hiring a moving company? Now is the time to set the date and recruit friends and family to help. If you’d prefer not to do it yourself, find the moving company for you.
Finding the company that can best meet your needs can be difficult. Before looking, consider these questions:
- How far are you moving?
- Do you have a large amount of things to move?
- What are you looking to spend?
- What are all the services you hope to get from the moving company?
Getting recommendations from people you trust is always a good way to start. And it doesn’t hurt to do a quick google search to find an excellent moving company. When looking, you’ll want to consider the following questions:
- Are they insured?
- What kind of liability coverage do they include?
- What are considered extra services?
- Where are they located?
- What do other people think about their services? (Yelp reviews, Google reviews, etc.)
- Do they have restrictions on the types of boxes and bags to pack in?
- What is the payment process like? Do they require a deposit?
- How long is the move expected to take?
- How do they handle broken or missing items as a result of the move?
Select your top 3 moving companies once you’ve done your research. Give each of them a call and get some estimates (make sure you are clear about all the services you will need from them). You should be able to quickly narrow down which company best suits your needs.
Arrange your personal travel.
Are you driving? Are you flying? Maybe you are going by train? Decide this now.
If you’re driving, figure out your route. Consider how you’ll pack your car, how long it will take, and how much you’re going to stop.
If you’re flying or going by train, get your tickets as soon as possible to get the best rates. Also, if you have a pet to transport in your move, you’ll want to make arrangements for them when you get your tickets if they are going with you. Otherwise, check out different pet shipping services online to ensure you pet will make it safely to your new home.
Will anyone need to transfer schools?
If you are in school or have a family with children who are in school, you’ll want to get records squared away. Call your school and notify them of the relocation. If you’re going far away enough to attend a separate establishment, you’ll want to figure out how to get those records over there.
First, if you have not done this already, find your new school(s). An easy way to do this is through Zillow. In addition to listing all housing, available and unavailable, this website allows you to find schools near your new location. Once you’ve entered your new address, you’ll scroll down and there you’ll see a list of schools and the zones they’re in. They will usually display about 4 schools for all different grades
If you’re a college student, you’ll simply have to transfer records.
Second, call your old school and figure out the transfer process. Will they send your records to you new school or will you have to do it yourself?
Third, call the new school. Figure out what they need, and what you need to do.
Fourth, you can choose to finish the process of transferring now or save the info about steps to take and finish the process in week 4.
Are you switching countries?
If you’re moving internationally, you’ll want to call some authorities in the new homeland. Hopefully, you’re not bringing too much. A lot or a little, you’ll still want to know what you can bring in. This could apply to anything like a car, or a samurai sword that’s been in the family for generations. To get information or a phone number, Google something like “Moving to ____ from ___.” You’ll be able to get the info you need.
7 Weeks Out:
Time to figure out finances and utilities.
The last thing you’d like would be to show up without access to a bank, then to go home and not have running water. Now’s the time to get those things figured out.
First, you’ll want to figure out your bank options.
If you have a widespread chain, you’ll have little trouble switching. Still, contact your current bank and let them know about the move. There may be some steps you’ll need to take to confirm and finish the transfer so that you’ll be ready to go.
If you’re at a local bank, you’ll need a new one. Do some research to find a new bank that will be best for you. Once you choose, make the necessary contact with both banks to ensure a smooth transition.
Next, get your utilities set up.
Though you probably won’t have much of a choice, do a Google search to find the appropriate utility companies for your area. Call each company you will need and make arrangements. Let them know the move in date. Be ready to give them credit scores, set up accounts, and pay deposits. You’re sure to have a functioning house upon arrival.
Consider your health care.
Will you need to transfer your health insurance to a different state or switch companies altogether? This is a good time to begin taking the necessary steps to switch things over if you need to.
Chances are, you’ll need a new doctor for everything. Eye care, dentist, general physician, etc. Do your research and consider the following:
- How close are they?
- What reviews do they have?
- Is my insurance accepted there?
Ask your current doctors for referrals. Do your research and choose some favorites. Give them a call. Confirm that they accept your insurance. Also, notify your current doctors that you’ll be leaving. This will give them time to prepare records for transfer and make any necessary changes. Check to see if you need to transfer the records or if they will do it for you. You’ll want to make sure they have the correct information for your new doctors if they are doing the transfer.
6 Weeks Out:
Time to de-clutter!
Start going through the house and find things you’ll want to get rid of. Have a pile for the stuff to keep, the stuff to donate or throw away, and the stuff to sell. You may want to consider a garage sale before heading out.
Any furniture, TV’s, or other large clunky things that aren’t coming with you (in decent condition) can easily be added to craigslist. Depending on the price you set, you can request that buyers come pick up their purchases themselves.
You can visit them at www. craigslist.org
Let the post office know where you’re going!
You’ll have to file a change of address with USPS. You can easily do this on their website. We’ve included the link to the USPS address change form.
Make an address change list.
You’ll want to inform people about where you are going. Create a checklist, including the following contacts:
- Family and Friends
- Current Employer
- Landlord
- Postal Services
- Utilities
- DMV
- Government Agencies
- The IRS
- Financial Institutions (bank, credit card companies)
- Insurance Companies (car insurance, home & renters insurance, health insurance)
- Phone Company
- Medical and Educational Establishments
- Subscription Services – Magazines and Newspapers
5 Weeks Out:
Time to solidify packing dates.
Some things may need to be moved sooner than others. You’ll want to have those items packed and planned out so that you or the moving company can get those things squared away.
Setting up a checklist and a calendar might be the tool you need to make sure you’re getting things done. Two excellent tools are Trello or Asana. Both help you easily set up and keep track of things you need to do.
Begin some of the cleaning!
This is a good time to get a head start on cleaning. Since it’s still 5 weeks out, you can start by taking things to the cleaners. If you’re leaving things like the rugs and the drapes, your landlord will appreciate it if they are cleaned. Even if they’re coming along, you may consider cleaning them anyway. Do a google search to find the best deal!
Finish that de-clutter.
Now is the time to finish getting rid of things you don’t want to take with you. Put things on Craigslist or have a garage sale. You can also call ARC, Habitat for Humanity, or Goodwill. ARC will even come pick up your things for you. You might also look up info about tax deductible donations.
Another thing to consider is that professional women’s clothing is welcome at ABLE Women’s Career Closet. This nonprofit organization located in Ft. Collins helps outfit underprivileged women for job interviews!
4 Weeks Out:
This is kind of the wrap-up and confirmation week, one month out from the move!
Make sure to let necessary contacts know about your move.
Remember the checklist you made in week 6? You’ll want to make sure you’ve notified everyone on your checklist of your address change by this week.
Transfer your school records.
If you didn’t complete the transfer in week 8, follow the instructions you were given by your schools and finish transferring your school records now.
Time to pack!
Pack up anything that you won’t be using in the next month. This may be included in what your moving company can do for you. You can begin packing things like off-season clothing, seldom-used dishes, holiday decorations, books, videos, and other things you won’t need in the weeks to come. Start in the attic and the garage!
3 Weeks Out:
Transfer your health records.
Think back to week 7. Now is the time to start getting those records transferred to your new selected dentist, physician, etc. If your doctors are the ones doing the transfer, check in with them to make sure it’s getting done.
Start finishing up that food!
Our guess is that you’re not looking to pack and move food as well. Consider using up some of the stored food. This might be freezer food, canned food, etc. If you feel like you’re not going to be able to finish it, you can always donate nonperishables to a local cause. In Fort Collins, we recommend The Food Bank for Larimer County. They are located at 1301 Blue Spruce.
Organize some child and/or pet care.
If you have young kids or pets running around the house, you might consider having someone else take care of them for moving day. This will allow you to be more focused on getting everything done without having to constantly keep track of the kids and make sure they’re okay. Not to mention, moving can stress the furry companion, so having pet care can help eliminate that.
Hire some friends or family to watch them for the day. If no one is available, get referrals for caretakers from trusted contacts. If you are unable to find someone, do a Google search. Remember to carefully check those reviews! It may be a good idea to drop in to meet the caretakers before moving day to make sure your child and/or pet is in good hands.
Create an essentials folder.
Throw together the necessary documents for travel. This will include any important documents you don’t already carry in your purse or wallet. Some of the documents you may want to add to this folder are your driver’s license, passport, insurance, and registration. Keeping them together in an easy to find folder will be handy for anything planned or unexpected.
Schedule an auto appointment.
If you’re moving far via car, you’ll need a vehicle tune-up for travel. An oil change, tire rotation, an alignment (if necessary), and fluid replenishment will be sure to serve you well in the many miles ahead.
If you don’t already have a mechanic you trust, get referrals from your connections or start another Google search. Finding the appropriate shop can save you money and stress. Check those reviews.
If you’re leasing your vehicle from a dealership, they may be able to do the tune-up for you.
2 Weeks Out:
Make a moving plan.
Start planning out how moving day is going to look. Make sure you’ll be able to get everything where it needs to go, stress-free.
Consider no loading or parking zones; walking a few extra hundred feet can make it a rough experience.
Are hallways and stairways clear for the moving of large furniture?
Hiring a moving company can take the stress out of this. In most cases, they’ll handle this all themselves.
How is the pet coming along?
If your pets are coming with you by car, make sure you have the necessary pet carriers to keep them safe during travel.
1 Week Out:
Here it is, moving week! Prepare to be busy!
Have some fun!
Moving week can be stressful. Your home is soon to be someone else’s. Plan some fun with the family before taking on the task at hand.
Plan food for the week.
Because this week will likely be the busiest week of all, it will probably be a good idea to have protein-filled snacks on hand as well as fast meals that don’t need much prep. It’s a good idea to have bottled water so that you’re remembering to stay hydrated and don’t have to keep track of cups around the house.
Confirm that utilities are ready to go at your new place.
Though you’ve already set these up, you’ll want to call your utility companies to make sure the house is ready to go. Simply double checking!
Fill any prescriptions you need.
If you have medication, be sure to have enough for two weeks. The last thing you need is to be all out in the middle of the big move.
Finish Packing!
Chances are, you’ll do the majority of your packing this week. Whether you’re doing it yourself or not, you’ll need to know some tips.
Remember to leave out supplies for the next two weeks. This might be clothes, laptops, snacks, etc. You don’t want these necessary things to be packed away deep in the moving truck.
Do not pack any flammable, explosive, corrosive or liquid items. Movers by law cannot move these items. This includes pressurized containers, aerosol cans, propane tanks as well as ammunition of any kind. Either find a safe way to move them yourself or dispose of them safely.
Disassemble some furniture. Moving companies like Mountain Moving can do this for you, but you might consider doing it anyway to save yourself some money and save your movers some time.
Organize all your fragile furniture. Mirrors, countertops, glass tables, and all things like this fit into this category. The movers will know where to put this stuff. Having it all together will make for a flawless loading process. Also finish removing wall décor and things on your shelves and pack it away together. You won’t want to risk knocking things off the walls as you’re moving out large furniture and boxes. Having these things packed together will be beneficial for when you begin unpacking at the new home.
Clean up the house!
Organize a crew and clean anything you might want to before heading out: the kitchen, the bathrooms, carpets, etc. The new or current owner of the house will be very grateful!
Create a floor plan.
Print or create a floor plan of your new place for yourself or the movers. This will help guide furniture to the rooms they need to go, little hassle to you.
2 Days Out – Confirmation Checklist:
- Is the house clean? Are those cleaning supplies packed?
- Do you have supplies to last you two weeks? Clothes? Prescription? Snacks?
- Do you have your important document folder ready and accessible?
- Is the fridge and pantry cleaned out?
- Have you double-checked all the storage areas (garage, attic, storage sheds, closets) to make sure nothing gets left behind?
1 Day Out:
Electronics and Appliance checklist:
- Are all computers backed up and ready to go?
- Are all other electronics already unplugged?
- Did you pack your chargers where you can access them when they’re needed?
- Are major appliances disconnected? These are things like refrigerators, washing machines, etc. Be sure to turn off those gas and water lines!
- Moving anything with a gas tank (mowers, weed whackers, etc.)? Empty those tanks!
Be in contact.
Have a moving company? When they call for check in, please provide them plenty of contact information so that they can reach you at any time. This will help lessen stress in the move!
Keep those valuables close!
To keep yourself sane, make sure to keep track of your birth certificates, documents, jewelry, and other valuable items. You’ll probably feel better moving these yourself.
Tape it up!
If your mover is NOT doing your packing, have all moving boxes fully packed and taped shut before the crew arrives. Try not to over or under-fill boxes so that they can be neatly stacked. Carefully label the side of each box with its contents, and whether or not it is fragile. If you have requested professional packing services (dish packs, picture/mirror boxes etc.), please know that this is an additional service.
You can also start moving boxes into the main room. Stack them about 4 feet high so that the movers can roll them out to the truck with little difficulty.
Take care of yourself.
The day before your move we recommend getting take-out or going out for dinner at your favorite local restaurant. Also, remember to make sure to get a good night’s sleep.