Moving Plan
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1. Start early - Almost everyone has more stuff than they think they do,
and almost no one leaves enough time to pack it.
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2. Room Lists - Start by forming two room lists, one for your current place and one for your future place.
This will help you manage what has to go where.
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3. Room Inventory - Go to each room and write down the types of things that need to be packed:
furniture items, length of shelving, closets, etc.
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4. Time Allotment - Make sure to leave enough time. The most common timeframe reported by people
moving is that it takes a month to pack.
One study reported that it takes 4-5 hours to pack an average dorm room, so that should give you an idea
of what’s involved.
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5. Calendar - Pull out a calendar and plan by day when each room will be completed.
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6. Delegation - If you’re moving with family members, agree with them exactly which tasks they
will be doing and the date they will be finished.
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7. Track your progress - at least once per week track where you are against the date on the calendar.
Revise your plan if you’re falling behind.
Packing for a Safe Move
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1. Pack a suitcase - For each member of the family moving, pack a suitcase as if you’re all going
on a 3-day vacation, including changes of clothes, medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, etc.
Keep the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, such as in your car, at your new workplace,
etc. so you’ll have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
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2. Create “Open Me First” boxes - Pick one or two boxes per room as "Open Me First" boxes.
Put in them the things you'll need first at your new location.
Then mark the sides of the boxes so you'll know which ones are which.
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3. One at a time - Wherever possible, work on packing just one room at a time
(instead of several all at once) to keep things focused and organized.
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4. Less is more - Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale,
and/or the recycling center. Aim to eliminate 1/3 of your belongings. You'll save time and expense.
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5. Off the floor - Instead of the floor, use a completely cleared-off table top or counter in
each room for packing boxes. You'll find you get much more accomplished.
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6. Tracking small parts - When taking apart items to be moved, such as tables, tape screws and
other small parts securely to the underside of the item.
You'll always know where to look and save time putting things back together.
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7. Save space - Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items.
It will save room in your boxes.
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8. Criss-cross tape - Tape boxes along the seams where the flaps meet together.
Then tape perpendicularly at the center of the first tape, forming a cross.
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9. Stacking - Stack boxes with the heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top to prevent crushing.
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10. The 30-pound rule- Keep each box below 50 pounds absolute maximum and below 30 pounds wherever possible.
Heavier boxes lead to injuries, are much more likely to burst their tape or seams,
and they are more likely to be dropped.
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11. Scale - Keep a bathroom scale in the room you are packing so you can
keep the boxes below the weight limits.
More Packing & Moving Tips
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1. Markers - Use the thickest, darkest marker you can find for labeling boxes. Pencils, pens,
thin or light markers are almost impossible to see even just a few feet away.
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2. Two sides - Label each box on the two broadest sides, opposite one another.
That way if a box gets turned, you can still identify its contents.
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3. Abbreviate room names - Start box labels with the abbreviated name of the room followed by a box number,
such as “BTH2-6” for "second bathroom, 6th box."
You can then track each box to make sure everything arrived safely.
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4. Label - "Open Me First" on boxes where it applies.
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5. Mark - "Fragile" where appropriate.
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6. Identify contents - Identify the major contents and where they came from, such as "Medicine Cabinet"
or "Linen Closet- Towels and Wash Cloths."
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7. Box Inventory - Keep a clipboard and write down each box's room, box number and contents
(graph paper is great for keeping things recorded neatly).
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8. Verifying Delivery - When unloading, check off each box as it gets unloaded at your new place.
Then you'll know everything arrived safely.
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9. Labels out - Ask movers to stack boxes in your new place with the labels facing out so that you
can easily spot a specific box.
Notify Others of Your Move (General)
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1. Post Office - File your change of address with the Post Office at least 30 days prior to the date of the move.
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2. Referrals - Ask everyone you notify for a referral for that service in your new area.
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3. Records - Get copies of your existing records (transcripts from schools, medical records from doctors, etc.)
while you’re notifying the changes of address.
More Detailed List of Notifications and Move-Related Tasks
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1. Associations, Clubs, Lodges, Religious/Spiritual Organizations
- Alumni Associations
- Health Clubs
- House of Worship
- Professional Organizations
- Swimming Pool memberships
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2. Banks/Credit Unions
- Auto loans
- Checking Accounts (Checks with new address)
- Credit Cards
- Home Equity
- IRAs
- Mortgage
- Safe Deposit Box
- Savings Account
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3. Business
- Business Associates
- Business Cards (order new ones if applicable)
- Current employer/Old employer/New employer
- Customers/Clients/Prospects, if appplicable
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4. Children
- Athletic associations/teams/clubs (baseball, soccer, hockey, karate, etc.)
- Babysitter
- Child Care/Daycare provider
- Diaper service
- Lessons Teachers (Piano, voice, dance, etc.) (Get referrals.)
- Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
- Schools (Get copies of transcripts)
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5. Delivery Services/Subscriptions
- Dairy Procucts delivery (milk man)
- Dry Cleaning pick-up and delivery
- Food delivery (Grocery Store, Meals on Wheels, Diet Foods, Health Food/Supplements)
- Magazines
- Newspaper
- Pharmaceutical Supplies (Insulin, etc.)
- Water delivery service
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6. Government Agencies/Services
- Courts (especially for traffic tickets or local disputes)
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- IRS (form 8822)
- Passport
- Post office (Temporarily forward mail)
- Social Security Administration
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7. Medical/Health
- Chiropractor
- Dentist
- Doctor/Physician (Family Doctor, Specialists) (Get referral for new location)
- Home Care/Nurse
- Orthodontist
- Pharmacy (Get year-to-date expense summary for taxes)
- Physical Therapist
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8. Personal
- Family members
- Friends
- Luggage tags (replace existing ones)
- Return Address labels (order new ones)
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9. Pets
- Pet Sitter
- Dog Walker
- Pet Day Care
- Veterinarian (Get vet records and recommendations)
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10. Services
- Accountant/tax preparer
- Attorneys
- Broker
- Cell Phone provider
- Credit Bureaus
- Credit Card issuers
- House Cleaning service
- Insurance providers (auto, health, life, other vehicles)
- Lawn Care
- Retirement Plan holders
- Snow Removal service
- Swimming Pool maintenance (pool cleaning, pool opening or closing)
Essentials Box for the Kitchen
- Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
- Break-proof or disposable flatware, cups, and plates
- Coffee maker and coffee (don’t forget the filters!)
- Dish detergent
- Frying pan and spatula
- Pet food and bowls
- Scissors
- Tea kettle
Essentials Box for the Bathroom
- Bath mat
- Bath towels
- First-aid kit (aspirin, band-aids, hydrogen peroxide)
- Shampoo
- Shower curtain and rings
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Essentials Box of Tools & Misc.
- Duct tape
- Flashlight
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Hammer
- Level
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Picture hangers
- Tape measure
- Utility knife
Essentials for a First-Aid Kit
- Wrapping Bandage (for sprains, etc.)
- Antibiotic Ointment (e.g., Neosporin, Polysporin)
- Antiseptic Wipes(alcohol)
- Antibiotic Hand Cleanser
- Bandages of all sizes
- Burn Ointment(antibiotic & pain relief)
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Pain Reliever - Acetaminophen (e.g., Ibuprofen or Advil)
works well as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, & fever reducer
Move Day
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1. Again, start early - You want to have everything as organized
as possible prior to the arrival of the movers.
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2. Use sitters - Recruit help in watching your small kids and pets on Moving Day.
Your attention will be needed for the nuts and bolts of the move.
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3. Have food ready - Whether you have professional movers or friends and family,
having coffee, orange juice, and bagels or donuts available will make it easier for
everyone to get started.
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4. Cell phone numbers - Make sure you have the cell phone number of the driver
of the truck entered into your cell phone, and that the driver has yours in case you
get separated or have a problem.
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5. Proper payment - Almost all professional movers will demand payment in full
and in cash before they will unpack a single box. Make sure you have payment ready.
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6. Directions - Have directions and a map ready for anyone will be driving
between your old place and your new place.
Moving In
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1. Unpacking Plan - Just like with packing, have a plan for unpacking.
Otherwise you are likely to end up frustrated with a sea of half-opened boxes
with your necessities still "missing in action."
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2. Prioritize Rooms - Focus on "Open Me First" boxes in the bathrooms and kitchen first.
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3. Trash and Recyclable Boxes - Keep at least one trash bag (for the real trash)
and one large emptied box (to hold used packing paper and biodegradable "peanuts")
available in each room BEFORE you start the heavy unpacking.
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4. Time Limits - Set an objective of unpacking a certain number of boxes
each day until all the boxes are all unpacked.
More Tips For Planning Your Local Move
Save Money by Disassembling Furniture Yourself
Another thing to keep in mind when paying movers by the hour is that they'll need to
disassemble and reassemble anything that's too big to get out the door.
That can take a lot of time -- if you have a big bunk bed, for instance,
you could be looking at up to 45 minutes on each end.
The general rule is that if they take it apart they have to put it back together.
Maybe you want to take it apart yourself and save money.
As with all transactions, it comes down to how much you value your time.
If spending hours taking apart your bed and then putting it back together is worth
the money you'll save, by all means break out the toolbox.
Check Their Credentials, i.e. Check To See If Your Mover Is Licensed
Avoiding scams or misconduct is often a simple matter of sticking with a licensed and reputable moving company.
Fortunately, there are certain boxes that can be checked off to ensure that you're working with a legitimate mover.
If you're moving from one state to another, the moving company must be registered with the FMCSA,
which you can confirm by looking the company up on protectyourmove.gov.
And for the sake of your property, make sure the mover offers liability insurance as required by law.
Any legitimate moving company will be insured and bonded and be a part of a legitimate trade association.
You can always find someone on Craigslist and those people are going to cost less,
but there's a reason they cost less. You won't be able to recover any damages from them.
Take Pictures of All Your Property
Speaking of insurance, remember that you'll have a lot more luck claiming damage to your
property if you can actually show that it wasn't damaged before the move took place.
Look at the condition of your stuff before you move it.
If you have pictures of your stuff before and after, it's easier to claim damage.
A legitimate mover should inventory your property before the move to make sure nothing is lost,
but taking photographs of all valuable property provides an extra layer of protection should
things go south and you find yourself needing to file an insurance claim.
Protect Your Walls and Floors
Furniture isn't the only thing that can be damaged during a move.
Walls and doorways in both your old and new houses can be nicked during the moving process,
and carpets can likewise be damaged by muddy boots trekking in and out.
Most moving operations will have rug runners and door pads to protect your carpets and door frames,
but whether they are included in the cost or show up as an extra charge varies from company to company.
To make sure that the moving company doesn't spring any last-minute charges on you for the use of these pads,
make sure they're included in the contract you sign with the mover, also known as the bill of lading.
Indeed, charges for all services -- from insurance coverage to shrink-wrapping your couch to protect
it from dust damage -- should be itemized in the bill of lading to prevent any unforeseen charges.