Deciding to move to a new home or a new city isn’t a decision you make lightly: you need to weigh the pros and cons, think about all the potential costs and ponder how the move will affect your everyday life.
Once you make the decision to move, you should think about the actual process of moving in the same way.
But, it’s important to make a moving plan .
Moving doesn’t have to be hard and stressful, especially with the help of professional moving companies like Highland Worldwide.
Here’s an ideal moving plan timeline that you can use and adapt to your own needs, so that on the day of your move, you know exactly where everything is and you won’t have to stress about anything.
Moving Plan: Three Months Out
About two to three months before the big move, start going through your items. Decide what you want to donate and what you want to trash. Anything that you don’t use or love should be put in the donate or garbage pile.
- If you live in a neighborhood that allows it, think about having a garage sale, this is especially great if you’re downsizing and looking to get rid of several pieces of furniture.
Becoming Minimalist recommends having a friend or colleague over to help you see your home in a new light: what décor items can you live without? What tired kitchen appliances had you been meaning to replace, but never got around to it? What items in your closet are you hanging on to that you can probably donate?
Getting rid of your home’s clutter will make packing, moving, and unpacking ten times easier. After all, you don’t want to be going through these items once you arrive at your new home.
- You’ll want to unpack, settle in, and relax.
Moving Plan: Two Months Out
When the move starts approaching, make a plan. Write down a list of all of the items you’re not 100% sure where to put in your new home.
- Making game-day decisions about items like heavy furniture can cause a bit of drama on moving-in day, but if you have a plan for everything, you’ll know exactly where each item goes.
If you’re still mulling things over and not sure where to go from here, make a diagram of your new home and scale it. Cut out pieces of paper in the relative size and shape of your furniture, and play with different layouts until you’re satisfied.
- Your movers will thank you for knowing precisely where to put that antique coffee table or china cabinet.
Moving Plan: One Month Out
Start to pack. You might be thinking, that’s way too early! But packing is time-consuming work, so getting some of it done ahead of time will save you a headache when you’re approaching the finish line.
Pack your seasonal items, like winter coats or summer sporting equipment that you know you won’t need until after the move.
Remember to leave the essentials, like cups and plates, since you’ll need those for the next 30 days before the move!
- Around this time, you should notify your utilities service providers, like the cable company and your gas company.
- Do this for your old place, and the new.
Moving Plan: Two Weeks Out
Now it’s time to really pack things up.
Labels are your friend! Number all of your boxes so that you know exactly how many will be going on the truck. Talk to your moving company about insurance and make sure your valuables are protected and safely wrapped.
Begin to pack by room and label the boxes with what went in them.
- If you have 9 kitchen boxes, you don’t want to open all 9 of them before you’re able to find the coffee pot.
BuzzFeed recommends taking snapshots of the back of your electronics so that you’ll be able to set them up quickly when you arrive at your new place.
Moving Plan: One Week Out
Put the finishing touches on your boxes and bring the last of the donation items to the local shelter or charity. Take another inventory of your boxes and pack up the remaining essential items.
If time allows, wash things like bedding, rugs, and tablecloths that you plan to bring with you, that way when you arrive, you’ll have fresh linens and carpeting.
The Day Of Moving
You may not get very far unpacking when you arrive at your new home so pack an overnight bag with a change of clothes, any medications you may need and toiletries.
This way, you can easily access the essentials without having to unpack the whole house the first night.
The key to a successful, stress-free move is to make a plan and hire a great moving company.
If you’re in the Vancouver area, call Highland Worldwide Vancouver today at 604-581-2300. Our reps are standing by and would be happy to send you a quote.
