Are you planning on moving soon? Sometimes it seems like there are a million tasks that need to be taken care of beforehand. To help you keep track of everything, we’ve created a checklist with 15 items to remember before, during and after your busy moving day.
- Double check all closets, drawers, shelves, attic and garage to ensure they are empty
- Carry all important documents with you.
- Pack toys, games or special items for the kids to keep them busy during the move.
- Remember to pack a box of basics you may need on move-in day (tools, paper products, all-purpose household cleaners, etc.) e sure to have it loaded last so that it will be first off the truck.
- Don’t pack paint, bottles of bleach, gas cans or other flammables. It is against federal law for movers to transport flammable and combustible materials.
- Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobes and other special items.
- Pack audio-visual equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten transit screwed. Before removing cables take pictures of the back of the unit so you can hook everything back up the same way. If removing screws, tape them to the objects they were removed from.
- Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box.
- Label each box and indicate the following: a) Which room it should go into, b) Whether it is fragile, c) If it should be loaded last so it can be unloaded first.
- Cushion contents with packing materials such as bubble wrap, newspapers or tissue. Save room by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items.
- Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle talcum powers between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave stored for a couple months to eliminate the smell.
- Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving. You can leave them in the wrappings for the move.
- Pack medicines in a plastic zip lock bag or leak-proof container.
- Check the weather forecast for your move day. If it’s going to be hot, be sure to have a cooler on hand with lots of bottles water and sports drinks on ice.
- Call you moving company the day before your move to get a contact number for the crew doing your move, in case you need to contact them on route. Give your movers your cell phone number and be sure to fully charge your cell phone the night before your move day.