It can be hard to to stay prepared when you’re in the middle of a move. We should know: in the past 3 years, we’ve moved houses a total of 3 times, and we’re currently nearing the end of one more move. Needless to say, staying prepared while moving has been a big part of our lives. It can be pretty frustrating, especially when the moving process takes longer than just a few days.
Below are 10 tips we’ve compiled that we find help us stay prepared before, during, and after a move. If you have any more that you’ve found helped you, let us know in the comments. We could definitely use them!
Ways to Stay Prepared Before, During, and After a Move into a New Home
Before You Move
1. Plan early.
Have a freezer jammed full of food? Need to dwindle down that stockpile of jars and canned goods? Once you know you’re going to move, start planning ahead for your move by using up resources you won’t want to take with you: because barbecuing all that meat the day before the moving truck arrives is probably not going to work out so well.
2. Inform neighbours and relatives.
Letting other people know about your move in advance is especially helpful when you think you might need help moving, or when you have plenty of items to give away.
3. Change your mailing address, or go fully paperless.
Don’t trust that the people who will be living in your home after you will be kind enough to save you your mail – chances are, if they get anything from a name they don’t recognize, they’re going to throw it out. So save yourself the headache and change your address as soon as you have the new place, especially for bills and bank statements. Or, do one better and switch to digital: that way if you ever have to move again, you won’t have to worry about your mail getting sent to the wrong address.
4. If you decide to use professional movers, double check to make sure they’re insured.
If your movers aren’t insured for accidental damage to your items and property damage from moving furniture, you may find yourself with a hefty bill at the end of your move. Save yourself the cost upfront by making sure your movers have insurance. If you can’t afford to go with an insured mover, it’s probably not wise to deal with the potential costs. Rent a truck and do the moving yourself.
While You’re Moving
5. Using your car to move? Keep an emergency bag in it.
On top of some easy-to-eat power bars and water, it’s always a good idea to keep an extra pair of scissors, moving tape, a pocket knife, some extra bags/boxes and maybe even a blanket or some bubble wrap on you just in case.
6. Keep resources at both locations until you’ve fully moved into the second one.
Of course this isn’t much of a problem if you’re moving all in one day, but if your moves are anything like ours, it could take days or even weeks to be completely done. Do yourself a favour and leave some easy-to-make meals at both locations: sandwich bread and spreads should suffice. Keep extra bags, duct tape, and other similar resources at both locations as well.
7. Make sure you always have your tools on you.
You never know when you’re going to need that screw driver, and you definitely don’t want to be left without it when you really need it. Save yourself the trouble of rummaging through your moving boxes to look for your tool kit: keep all your tools unpacked and in a specific spot for an easier time moving.
After You’ve Moved
8. Double check to make sure you’ve left nothing behind.
If you’ve been living in a furnished rental apartment or home, make sure you don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you. Do a full sweep around your old place to make sure you’ve taken everything you want, and if you have left something behind, make sure it’s because you meant to leave it.
9. Change the locks on your new home.
This one’s pretty self-evident. Changing your locks is a great idea if you have even a remote worry about your safety or the security of your personal possessions. Please note, if you aren’t the landlord at your new place, you’ll definitely want to ask permission before doing this. Your landlord will likely want a copy of the new key if you do end up changing the locks on your new home.
10. Do a quick security perimeter check of your new home.
Make sure the windows lock properly, doors to the outside are strong and sturdy, and that there aren’t any blatant security issues that need quick fixing. If you spot any problem areas, take steps to remedy these security issues for your own safety.
Moving Cats?
We’ve moved with our cat, Avery, far too many times for me to count, and it’s not quite the easiest thing to do – especially considering how stressed most cats get during and after a move.
If you’re moving and have the added difficulty of having to move one or more cats with you, check out this step-by-step guide to making moves with cats as smooth as possible on my cat blog, Kittyclysm.
Your Advice for Those Seeking to Stay Prepared While Moving?
I’m sure there are plenty of excellent tips I’ve left out – let me know what advice you have for those hoping to stay prepared before, during, and after a move by leaving a comment down below!
Great Article.
Thank you very much for this post .
Thanks for stopping by, Sean!