A week before moving tips

So here we are once again: Googling how to sleep for eight hours in four, right? No matter, we will help you do just that!

Hopefully, you’re reading this text around two weeks before your move, but even if you’re here a week before, we will help you pack everything you need for the actual move. Now, let us give you the wise words of Douglas Adams to begin our journey together:

Don’t panic.

If you have a week or so before your move, you’ve probably kind of sorted through your things in your head, knowing what you will be taking with you to your new home and what you won’t. So, it’s time to get rid of the unnecessary weight: hold a garage sale or donate.

Next, let’s talk about packing.

Some clever tips about packing

As you want to make sure that your items stay safe during the move, you should definitely not try to save money on packaging. Buy new boxes. There are different options, from size to materials, and we’d like to point out here that there are some companies who rent boxes only during your move. So, you won’t need to buy the containers which will use up unnecessary space later on. Start packing from your mostly unused items, like old books and decorative items, working your way towards the things that you need on a daily basis, clothes and cutlery.

While packing, here is another week before moving tip to consider: light in big, heavy in small. While piling your items into boxes, you aren’t really counting or measuring their weight or adding anything in your head. You’re mostly just attempting to fit everything that you own into the back of the moving truck. We understand. That’s why we’re giving you this clever week before moving tip. Pack your heavier items into small boxes. This way, your movers will have little difficulty picking them up and loading them into the truck. If you’re placing your lighter things into bigger boxes, as intimidating as they may seem to the workers, they will be as light as a feather for them to move.

Our next piece of amazing advice is: label everything. No, we aren’t really attempting to make you into one of those OCD people who divide their clothing by color and label every single drawer in their wardrobe with the items stored in it, though, we are attempting to make you live in their shoes for a week or so. If you like it, feel free to continue labeling. Now, back to the point. As you’re stuffing things in those boxes, it’s a good thing to jot down what you’ve hidden there and tape it on the inside of the lid. Yeah, why not on the outside? Because we don’t want it to be lost during the frenzy of the move, of course. This way, once you’ve settled into your new home, you won’t have too much trouble finding that other sock (the one not eaten by the washing machine).

Another week before moving tip regarding labeling is: top and bottom. Especially while you’re packing your kitchen or your bathroom, make sure that you’re labeling which side goes up and which goes down. We want your plates and glasses to stay safe and intact, after all. As we’re talking about kitchenware, we’d like to remind you to stack your plates on their sides, rather than one on top of the other, especially if you’ve got original packaging.

Once you’ve labeled the contents and the correct side up/down, there is one more thing which you should remember to scribble on the boxes: load first/load last. Now, you’re probably guessing what this tip is about, and there is a high chance that you’re right. Your movers will want to know which boxes they can place at the end of the truck, which will be loaded first, and which to place at the very front. Now, you want to pack and load first the things which are seldom used, as you won’t really need to access them during your move. Hence, we suggest that you write load first on those boxes. The things like sheets and everyday clothes should be loaded and packed last.

A week before moving activities

We understand. What else is there to do a week before moving except packing? That already takes up all your energy and concentration. First things first, we’d like to remind you that distance is money in this case. Make sure to arrange a parking space for the movers as close as possible to both your current and future home. This way, it will be easy for movers to load your belongings into the truck. Be sure to also check with the moving company which items they won’t be able to transport, so that you can arrange a way for them to arrive to your new home. Check if your movers only take cash at the unloading site. Most companies’ workers won’t unload from the truck until they’ve received payment. Also, if you liked their services, make sure to leave them a tip. The workers are underpaid, after all.

Regarding the other, numerous things which you should also do before moving, luckily for you, we’ve made you a short checklist, just to keep you on the right track.

Contact your insurance company and transfer coverage to your new home
Arrange a parking space for the movers’ van as close to your current and new home as possible
Contact your moving company and finalize your deal with them (date, parking spot, price and method of payment etc.)
Make arrangements for transporting items which the movers won’t take in the van (pets and houseplants as well)
Go to your bank and change account status (if necessary)
Transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy near your new home
Cancel any subscriptions and deliveries (newspapers, magazines etc.)
Have your car serviced or make sure that you have bought your ticket
Empty the secret hiding places of your current house
Dispose of toxic and flammable items which the company won’t take into the van (check the list with the moving company)
Drain the gas and oil from powered tools
Check that you’ve arranged for all your service providers to disconnect their services the day after your leave
Pay all your outstanding bills
If you have kids or pets, make sure to have a babysitter or someone to watch them at your disposal the day of the move and when you arrive to your new home
Pack your load last boxes and place them in a separate area, where the movers can easily access them
Pack your necessities for the trip
Charge your cellphone and make sure that you are available at all times

And with these last words of wisdom, we leave you to your last week before your move:

It is a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up. – J.K. Rowling