After the inspections are completed, the mortgage is approved, and the closing date is set, there’s still one giant hurdle you’ve got to cross:
Moving Day.
This is consistently one of the most stressful days in the process – but being prepared is half the battle. Here’s our simple checklist to make your move a success.
[line]Two Weeks Before The Move
- Start accumulating as many boxes as possible – you can never have too many. Restaurants and liquor stores are great places to find them for free, but you can also buy them in bulk at your local Wal-Mart or home improvement store.
- Pack the things you don’t use often (photos, winter clothes, knick knacks, etc.) and clearly label the boxes you put things in with both the contents of the box – and also the room where it will go in the new house. This will save you tons of time down the road.
- Take everything you don’t plan to move with you and put it in one place. Having a garage sale or donating your old things is a great way to reduce clutter and make the overall job much easier.
1 Week Before The Move
- Arrange with the local utility companies to get services changed over to your name. These companies often require 72 hour notice or more before they can set up a new account, so it’s important to get things turned on.
- Pack everything but the bare essentials.
- Schedule your move with friends or a moving company to make sure you have the help you need.
1-5 Days Before The Move
- Place all your packed boxes in one room, close to where you’ll be loading the truck.
- Defrost the freezer and empty the ice cube maker.
- Clean the refrigerator, oven, and cooktop.
- Gather and clean outdoor furniture.
- Return leased equipment like your wireless router or cable box.
- Organize your keys and garage door openers. Make sure they’re all in one place, and know where they are.
- Dust the ceiling fans and vacuum the floors.
- Make sure everything is disassembled and ready to go, including stereo systems and computers.
- Confirm times and dates with your friends, family, or moving company.
Moving Day
- Get a really early start!
- Disassemble the beds before the help arrives.
- Check to make sure that all the cupboards, closets, dishwasher, and shelves are emptied and clean.
- When you’re finished moving, flip the main power breaker in your home’s electrical box.