Moving Day Cheat Sheet

A few weeks before you move:

1. Schedule a mover early. Moving companies tend to book up fast! If you don’t have one in mind, search online for reviews or ask friends and family for their recommendations.

2. Schedule a cleaning service to come after the movers have left, unless you’ve planned to tidy up the home after the move yourself.

3. Transfer your utilities or schedule the disconnect of utilities and installation of new services, some companies get booked up weeks in advance. If possible, shoot for cable/Internet installation the day after the move since you’ll be so busy on moving day and your timing might be unpredictable.

4. Acquire packing boxes, tape, and paper. See if friends or local stores have boxes you can take off their hands for free.

5. Begin packing early. Start with items you won’t need for a while like books, winter clothes, and holiday decorations. Aim to pack at least a few boxes a week (or day) so the move doesn’t sneak up on you.

The day before you move:

1. Label all your boxes to indicate which room at your new home each one should go into. You could also put stickers or masking tape on furniture to label where you’d like it placed by the movers.

2. Stock up on some bottled water, drinks and healthy snacks to help fuel you and the movers on moving day.

3. If you don’t have any handy, take out some cash so you can easily tip the movers the next day.

4. If you have a pet, consider boarding or dropping them off with friends or family the night before the move, so they’re not under foot or at risk of escaping on the day of the move.

5. Put some essentials, including a change of clothes, medicine, electronics, chargers and toiletries, in an overnight bag so you’ll have basic necessities on your first night at your new home. You’ll be exhausted and probably won’t want to dig through boxes for the items you need!

The day of the move:

1. Wake up well before the movers are scheduled to arrive. Eat breakfast and take advantage of this calm to review the busy day ahead!

2. Consider putting highly breakable items, valuable jewelry & important documents in your locked vehicle to transport to your new home yourself. Park your car in a secure area where you can keep an eye on your belongings.

3. Pack up or throwaway last-minute items like toiletries, yard waste or perishable food. Arrange for someone to put your trash out for collection if you are unable to before you leave the property.

4. During your final walk-through at your old home, take time and look in all cabinets and drawers to make sure you’re not leaving anything behind.

5. Keep an eye on the movers to ensure your items are handled with care. Advise them upon arrival of any tight turns or hallways to prevent damage to walls or your belongings.

6. When you get to the new home, label any rooms that correspond to box labels that may not be obvious to movers (like if a bedroom and study could be mixed up) to ensure items go in the right place.

While it’s unrealistic to expect your move to come off without any glitches, you can follow these tips to help reduce your stress on moving day.

Happy Moving!