How To Prepare For A Move

Moving into a new home this summer? While moving into a new home can be an exciting time, it can also feel daunting. 

PLAN

Start by crafting your plan. Planning ahead is the best way to stay organized during a move. A checklist will help identify what tasks you should tackle on what days and keep you on track. Gentle Giant has a great pre-made checklist here. Have a specific journal or create a note on your phone for all of your move information- it can be very helpful to have all of your move information in one designated spot and at your fingertips while you’re juggling all the different aspects of your move. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks, consider using a task management platform such as Asana. It’s our favorite!

ESTIMATE

Get a quote from two to three professional moving companies, even if you are leaning towards a DIY move. Often estimates are of no cost, and as you move you should be armed with as much knowledge before making your decisions. Remember the cost of moving is more than just dollars; it is your time and energy that are part of the investment as well. Gentle Giant is Boston born and bred and we have used them for many of our clients with exceptional results. 

PURGE

Take advantage during your packing time to purge. We cannot stress this enough! It is the best time to identify the items that you use the most, and what items aren’t being used that can be donated before a move. Don’t pay the movers to move your junk that you no longer want to then just donate it later on. Moving with a smaller inventory of items and furniture is always easier and cheaper. We have a great list of resources here for where you can take different categories of items. Sorting and donating your items ahead of time will make settling into your new home much easier and so much more enjoyable! 

SUPPLIES

Make sure you have all of your supplies before you begin to start packing. Most moving supply stores such as Gentle Giant will take returns of unused boxes and tape, so it is often a good idea to purchase more than you think you might need. Other than boxes and tape, it’s great to have several reams of packing paper, and a handful of sharpies at your disposal. To lower potential stress, keep your packing supply area stocked and organized. 

LABEL

Before packing, it is also a good idea to determine what your labeling system will be. Typically writing a brief description of the box contents and where the box is going is the best way to go to eliminate unnecessary steps when moving in. If using professional movers, label your most fragile boxes “TLO” that stands for “top load only” as it is the industry’s lingo. The movers will make sure these boxes stay secure and don’t get crushed in the truck. 

SAFETY

If you have pets or young children, consider taking the pet to a vet or sitter  the day of the move, as well as having childcare that day. There will be many things happening simultaneously that can pose a danger to our smaller ones. Always remember to keep safety top of mind. Make sure you have clear pathways and know where your steps up and down are to avoid a disaster. 

THE EXTRAS

Also, do not forget to identify any outdoor spaces or structures that are being moved as well. There’s nothing more frustrating than having the truck ready to go and then realizing the contents in the backyard shed were not packed!

MOVE MANAGER

Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t have the time or energy to coordinate your own move, contact us at The Little Details to be your move coordinators! We will handle your move every step of the way from scheduling the move day, to purging the excess from your entire home, to hauling out donations, packing and labeling boxes and even unpacking and getting you organized on the other end once the move is complete no matter what city or country you end up in.

If you have traveled to a new destination during quarantine, but need your previous home packed and the contents moved? Not a problem! We've worked 100% virtually with clients all the way in New Mexico and Colorado to purge their entire homes via FaceTime/Zoom and coordinate the rest of their move without them being present. We’ve never seen our clients so relaxed on move day.

Moving can feel like an overwhelming task, but with planning and organizing, being able to enjoy your new dream home will be easier than you think!