Once you’ve found a new home and you’re ready to buy (and your current home is in the middle of selling), you need to start planning your move. It’s a big project, but if you follow our advice and break it down into manageable pieces, you should be able to knock a lot of your tasks out of the way quickly.
The key is to do as much of your moving prep four to six or even eight weeks in advance. The more you do ahead of time, the more prepared you will be when unplanned complications pop up or unexpected problems arise. Getting things done early also gives you peace of mind. Moving can be stressful, but it does not have to be. We have seen it all over the years here at AQMS, and as your Santa Clarita movers, we know the steps you can start taking now to ease your moving day stress.
Here is a list of things you can do to prepare for your move, weeks in advance of moving day.
Choose a Moving Date
This step may seem obvious, but this is the date around which everything else falls into place. If you do not have a move-out date yet, pick one as soon as possible. If your moving date is flexible and you are not sure when you should move, our team can walk you through your options during your free in-home estimate.
Decide on Whether to Hire a Moving Company
It will take a few days to do research, schedule quotes, and compare your choices, whether you decide to hire a full-service company or handle the move yourself. Our crews go through AMSA Certified Packer Loaders training, so if you bring us on, your belongings are packed, loaded, and transported by people who do this for a living. We break down what that kind of help actually looks like in our blog on the benefits of hiring professional movers.
Ask Friends & Family Members for Help
Planning to put friends or family to work before or on moving day? Try to get commitments well in advance. If you aren’t the most organized person, see if your “Type A” friends would be willing to help you pack. If you have young children, you’ll also want to consider hiring a babysitter for moving day or for a weekend day so that you can focus on packing.
Inventory What You Have
When you prepare for your move, be sure to take stock of your current belongings on paper or in a note app that is easy to reference. Will it all fit in your new home? Will you need to downsize? Are you moving to a climate where certain items are no longer necessary? Having a list of your belongings also helps you make sure everything makes it to your new place.
Get Rid of the Unnecessary Stuff
We say it all the time, but purging your belongings before you move is a great way to save money and effort. This is a time-consuming step, so start as early as possible, even before you settle on a date. Taking extra items along during the move can be a financial and physical strain, so your early downsizing efforts will pay off. If you are not sure where to start, focus on one room at a time and set aside anything you have not used in the past year.
Start Packing Seasonal Items & Decorations
Anything you do not need right now should get packed up first. Spreading out your packing effort this way means you will not be exhausted on moving day, and it also helps you see more clearly what you should sell or donate. If you would rather not deal with packing at all, we offer complete packing and unpacking services for your move.
Make a List of Essential Items You’ll Put in an Overnight Bag
Even if you plan thoroughly, a move can be tiring. You probably won’t have the time or energy to unpack much on the day you arrive at your new house. Pretend that you’re going for a weekend trip and make a list of must-have items that you will put in a suitcase or duffle bag. Make sure you do this for every member of your family, and for any pets too.
Talk to Your Children About the Move
With weeks to go until moving day, now is the time to get your children excited about moving. They might be sad at first, and that is okay. A few weeks of talking it over and showing them the new home allows them to warm up to the idea. Keeping the conversation ongoing, rather than a single sit-down talk, tends to help kids of all ages adjust to this kind of change.
Have a Plan for Your Pets
Our furry friends do not always deal with change easily. You know your pet best, so spend some time thinking about what they will need to make it through moving day and the transition to your new home. This is another important step when you prepare for your move. This might mean having a new toy and extra treats on hand, or it might mean lining up a pet sitter for the day. A little planning here goes a long way toward keeping your pet calm once the boxes start coming out.
Send Change of Address Documents
Credit card companies, friends, family, coworkers, utility companies, and other parties should all know that you are moving. Use this time to let them know so you avoid unexpected problems later. Most of this can be done online in one sitting once your new address is confirmed.
Find New Service Providers
Moving somewhere new means finding a new doctor, dentist, veterinarian, repair shop, daycare, salon, and all other kinds of service providers. Doing that now means you’ll be ready to go on moving day. This is also the sort of thing you can easily do on your phone when you’re in bed or waiting in line. It might not be the most important step to take, but it will certainly help you feel more comfortable with your new location.
Schedule Transfer or Disconnection of Service
Utilities like gas, electric, waste pickup, cable, internet, and satellite TV can all be scheduled to shut down ahead of time. You can save yourself unnecessary expense by scheduling shutoff before the flurry of moving-related tasks gets started. It’s also good to get these services connected as soon as possible in your new place.
When you prepare for your move early on, you’ll save yourself a great deal of time and stress later.
Our Advice? Hire an Experienced Southern California Moving Company.
We are proud to be the team Santa Clarita and Southern California families call on for an organized, well-handled move. Our warehouse managers and moving crews are trained, insured, and easy to work with, which is exactly why our clients keep choosing us for their moving services. We recommend starting your planning as early as possible, since the more you get done now, the less you will have to scramble for later. No matter if your move is two months out or two weeks out, we have the experience and resources to get you through moving day without the added stress.
If you are looking to pull off a big move with time to spare, let us help. Our moving services are customizable, we offer free in-home estimates, and we have the tools and experience to safely pack, transport, and store your belongings, whether you are moving down the street or out of state. Laura S. said it well in her Google review. “Great experience. Top-notch communication throughout. It all went without a hitch on both ends. I absolutely would recommend highly.”
Prepare for your move the right way. Speak with our licensed Southern California movers at (661) 622-2636 for a free in-home quote.