Moving Day

Download our Moving Day Checklist to help
you organize your move.

Is it any wonder that many people find the whole homebuying process stressful?  Not only are you spending all that money, you have to pack and move too!  As exciting as the prospect of a new home may be, getting to your new home is frequently a daunting prospect.

There are some simple things that can be done very early in your homebuying that will make the actual move easier.  Getting rid of as much clutter as possible is the absolute first place to start.  This is the time to go through your house room by room, inch by inch, and begin throwing out what you can, packing what you can,  and donating as much as possible to Goodwill or some organization that can recycle it.  This step can often be taken in many small stages during the time that you’re looking for a home and can really help when you do move.  If you will be selling your current home, this step will go a long way toward “staging” it in order to get the best price for it.

Most professionals recommend clearing clutter and getting organized as essential steps to having a successful move.  At the end of this section, there is a checklist to help with your move.  The beauty of moving to a new home is that it is a good opportunity to get rid of all the things you’ve been meaning to get rid of.  When faced with packing and moving it as opposed to getting rid of it, you may find many former treasures losing their value.  Unpacking at your new home will also be easier if you’ve been able to get somewhat organized before the move.

movingIf children of any age are involved in the move, it’s essential to keep them involved as much as possible and to keep a positive face on the move, even if you’re not wildly excited about it.  Use the school profile link on our website to give children more information about their new school. Sometimes just seeing a picture of the new school can help a relocating child. The book Let’s Make a Move by Beverly D. Roman has a wealth of information and games for young children that can take some of the sting out of leaving one home for another.

Pets are a large part of a move and may well be more traumatized by the move than any other family members.  One of the most important things to remember is to keep your pets safely restrained during the move.  Dogs and cats that never run out the front door, never bite, never scratch, never hide, never run away, may be so stressed themselves, or may pick up on your stress that they do any or all of these things.  Consider boarding your pet during the packing/moving stage if possible, or sending it to stay with a friend your pet knows, and then moving the pet once things are unpacked at the new house and they have a familiar environment to come to.

TIPS:

If you have a lot of stuff and want to get it out of your current home but don’t want to get rid of it, consider something like PODS, Portable On-Demand Storage.  A PODS can be delivered to your driveway, packed by you, taken away, and delivered to your new home to be unpacked.Have a garage sale and take the family out to dinner with the proceeds (remember the “keep a positive attitude” advice).  Your local newspaper may have a garage sale kit, if they don’t, here are some tips for a successful garage or yard sale:

  • See if you need a permit from your town or county.
  • Check with your neighbors about combining for a “block sale”
  • Put up signs, balloons, notices in grocery stores.
  • Run an ad in your local paper.
  • Use easily removable stickers for prices.
  • DO price everything.
  • Arrange with Goodwill or a similar group to pick up what’s left.  Whatever you do, don’t take it back in the house at any cost!
  • Have an extension cord handy to demonstrate that anything electrical works.
  • Have bags and newspapers to pack sold items.
  • Make everything as attractive as possible.
  • Younger children can have a lemonade stand during the sale.
  • Remember that the purpose is to get rid of stuff, not necessarily to make a fortune.  Any profit really is a bonus.

Things to cancel and replace at your new location:

  • Driver’s License
  • Voter Registration
  • Trash Collection
  • Car Registration
  • Dog License
  • Bank Accounts
  •  Gym/YMCA/Rec Center
  • Theater Subscription
  • Health Insurance

Address Changes:
You can arrange for change of address, mail forwarding and holding mail on the USPS website at https://moversguide.usps.com

  • Magazines
  • Car Insurance
  • Bank
  • Stockbroker
  • Dog License
  • Car Loan
  • Association Membership
  • Schools
  • Investments

Utilities: Gas, Electric, Phone, Cable, cell – as you’re setting them up in your new home, cancel them in your current home effective the date of your move; a list of utilities and other needed phone numbers is included in this packet.Make sure you get any deposits back from utility companies.

Cancel:

  • Local Department Store Accounts
  • Lawn Service
  • Newspapers

Does anyone have milk delivery anymore?

Download our Moving Day Checklist to help you organize your move.