Moving Guide: How to Prepare For a Move

Even if you are a clean freak or an organizational wizard, preparing for a move has a special way of making it feel like a tornado just blew through your home. 

There’s always that rogue spoon that missed the kitchen box or the poor plant still chilling on the balcony, soaking up sunshine like it didn’t get the memo. 

Moving tends to serve up a lot of those “Oh snap!” moments. But here’s the thing —  it doesn’t have to be a chaotic whirlwind. 

With the right plan in place, you can conquer your move and keep your sanity intact. Whether you are moving just a few blocks away or embarking on a cross-country adventure, this is the ultimate guide on how to prepare for a move.

Let’s get straight into it!

Step 1: Make a Moving Checklist

Before you start stuffing your life into boxes, you must not ignore the power of the checklist. 

Consider the checklist as your moving bible, outlining everything you need to know about how to plan a move. It should highlight what you need to get done before, during, and after the move. 

You can break it down into days, weeks, months, or whatever works best for you. However, it’s best to start your checklist at least 6-8 weeks before your move date. This will help keep the process manageable and your stress levels low. 

Your moving checklist should cover things like:

• Booking a moving company or truck
• Notifying utilities, your internet provider, and the post office about the move
• Scheduling a final clean
• Gathering packing supplies

Once you have your checklist, you will feel more organized. Moreover, crossing off tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and control over the process.

Step 2: Don’t Overlook Setting a Budget

Moving can be surprisingly expensive; the hidden costs even tend to sneak up on you. So, decide how much you can spend before you fall in love with the priciest movers or go overboard on bubble wrap.

This is also where creating a checklist becomes priceless in knowing how to prepare for a move. You know all the things you need for the move and those that require payment. 

When you create a list of these things, you can easily add an estimate of their costs and have an idea of what your budget should be.

Things that need budgeting for include:

• Hiring movers or renting a truck 
• Packing materials 
• Cleaning supplies or professional cleaners
• Temporary storage, if needed

Step 3: Decide — Hire Movers or DIY?

If you are working with a tight budget, figuring out where you can save a few bucks becomes critical to planning a smooth move. 

Are you going to hire movers, or do you want to roll up your sleeves and do the heavy lifting yourself? 

Both options have their pros and cons. You can hire movers like Robinson Relocations if you want less physical labor and less stress on move day. Suppose you can’t seem to figure out how to move a house piece like furniture movers can solve that problem for you. 

It is pricier, but the convenience is worth it.

On the other hand, you can choose to do it yourself. This works best if you don’t have many complex belongings to move or fragile valuables that could be damaged. 

Also, if you are on a budget or love the idea of packing everything just the way you like it, enlisting the help of family and friends on your DIY journey saves you some headaches and money.

Note:

When opting for the DIY route, remember to book your truck early. Moving trucks can get snatched up fast, especially during peak seasons like summer.

Step 4: Declutter Before You Pack

Moving can be your opportunity to play the Royal Rumble with the things you no longer need. 

Do you really want to carry that extra blender you never use to your new place? 

Decluttering saves you time, energy, and even money when it comes to packing and moving. How to prepare to move these items you no longer need begins with sorting through your stuff room by room.

Create a list with categories, it will help you decide what items should stay or be gotten rid of. Your average category list should look like this: 

• keeping, 
• donating, 
• selling, and 
• tossing. 

Step 5: Gather Your Packing Supplies

After sorting out what will follow you to your new destination, it’s time to pack. However, before you get right into how to prepare for a move by packing, ensure you have all the right supplies. 

Nothing is worse than starting the process only to realize you don’t have enough boxes or the tapes you have don’t seem to stick right.

These supplies include:

• Boxes. Get a mix of small, medium, and large ones
• Packing tape. You need the heavy-duty tapes
• Packing paper or some bubble wrap for protecting fragile items
• Markers for labeling boxes
• Hangers for clothing

You can either buy new boxes or save some cash by visiting local stores for free ones. Liquor stores have sturdy boxes perfect for heavy items like books.

Step 6: Master the Packing Process

Packing is one of the most demanding parts of preparing for a move. 

When done right, the loading and unloading process will be a breeze. If not done well, your move and even the transition to your destination will be fraught with hiccups.

Some packing tips for moving you should take note of are:

• Start early. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin packing, as it often takes longer than you think.

• Pack room by room with clear box labels to keep things organized.

• Pack an “essentials” box with items you will need immediately, such as toilet paper, snacks, and phone chargers.

• Use soft items like towels and blankets to wrap fragile items and save on bubble wrap.

Step 7: Plan Ahead for Moving Day (for you, the kids, and the pets)

Moving day can be chaotic, especially if you have little ones or fur babies in the picture. 

To avoid stress, plan ahead — here’s how to!

For kids

Consider hiring a babysitter for the day or sending them to a friend’s house. Moving day is much smoother when you are not chasing after the little ones or being mindful of where they are and what they are doing.

For pets

Make sure your pets are safe in a quiet room, or better yet, let them stay at a friend’s house until the chaos is over. Cats, in particular, get super stressed during moves.

Feeding plans

Moving takes a lot of energy. Having some easy meals or snacks ready to go can help you prepare for a move that will save you stress. Order takeout or pack sandwiches.

Bonus points if you grab some cold drinks to keep everyone refreshed.

Read more: Is a small move right for you?

Endnote — Ready for the Move?

After looking at this guide on how to prepare for a move, it is evident that planning not only gives you a headstart but also makes the process easier.

From creating a checklist, setting a budget, and decluttering, having these things in place will better prepare you for starting afresh in a new space. 

Remember to take breaks between each step of your preparation and packing process leading up to move day. So, protect your health as well when you pack.

Good luck!

Written by Billy Guteng. September 27, 2024

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.