Moving involves a lot of work, organization and good planning. You have to take care of packing and make sure you have a reasonable price for movers if you decide to hire a company. Getting organized to move may be difficult especially if this is your first time moving out and this is why I have created this moving timeline checklist. It will take you through the moving process step by step week by week.
Timeline for Moving Home
So, where do you start your planning from? The best thing to do is make a moving timetable for yourself like the one below and stick to it. This article will provide you with exact pieces of advice so that you can have all information you need for your moving timeline available on one spot and you won’t loose time for additional searching.
8 Weeks Before Moving
Of course, when you know you are moving it is common that you may start to plan how to do it and search for information. However you have done this so far, the main part of your moving begins about 2 months before moving. This is the point at which you can begin to make your moving timeline schedule, arrange the exact steps to take and the exact time to execute them, and of course think about some ways in which you can save money as well.
Begin yout moving timeline preparation at least 8 weeks before moving so you have enough time to plan it well.
- 8 weeks before moving is the first moving week that is appropriate to start your preparation. To begin your planning you now have the chance to do it through your phone which will help you keep close track of the whole moving process. MyMove phone application is available for free – it lets you make moving lists on your phone, ask for a quote anywhere you are or find a mover in your state. It is made to be easy to work with so you can make your moving timeline list with practically no effort.
- Begin your moving timeline by making your schedule with your partner – what to do, when and who to contact.
- Let your landlord know you are leaving and start searching for a new place at the city you are moving to.
- Also start thinking about preparing the travel arrangements.
- Confirm with your current employer that you are moving and arrange your first day of work at your new job in the new area you are moving to.
7 Weeks Before Moving
- See if you can deduct any of your moving expenses from your taxes. You find out about that on the IRS website. In the meantime you could also contact your accountant to ask what you can expect to be reimbursed so you know which receipts are important to keep.
- When making your timeline think about when you want to sift through which items are to be taken to your new home. I would suggest that 7 weeks before moving is the right time for that. Go through every room in your house. You could consider for your moving house timetable organizing a moving sale, for example, donating some things, giving them away to friends, family, neighbors, or just throwing away some things. If you really want to add an extra value to your moving you can think about an eco-friendly move – and recycle the things you won’t need.
- Then, add to your moving timeline to make an inventory list with what you are going to move and start thinking about the packing when moving. Some of your items are going to need special attention like packing your computer or packing electronics for moving.
- There are many places where you can find boxes cheap or for free like supermarkets or online.
6 Weeks Before Moving
This is the moment when you have made your first arrangements from your moving checklist timeline.
6 weeks before moving start preparing the floor plan for your new living place.
- Now that you have your inventory list and packing materials the moment is appropriate to start packing – begin with things you use rarely and pack little by little every day.
- Labeling the boxes seems like a minor detail but it is important to include it in your moving out timeline – in this way when you arrive at your new home unpacking will be much faster. Right after moving day and traveling to your new living place most likely you will be tired so you will definitely appreciate such a time-saver.
- 6 weeks before moving house is the time to start thinking about a floor plan – now that you know what you will take to your new you should consider how to place it in your new future living place.
- If you can, measure your furniture and the walls at your new home, plus the doors and windows to make sure you can get everything in without a problem.
- Check if all the utilities are connected at your new home and that all the appliances are working properly.
5 Weeks Before Moving
- Think about how to ship your car.
- 5 weeks before moving begin collecting records – from doctor, dentist, vet, school and child care. Of course, you could also ask your doctor, dentist and vet to recommend an expert in the area where you are moving to.
- If you have any subscriptions like to newspapers, magazines, associations, etc. deal with them. Some of them you can transfer by giving them your new address and requesting to receive your newspaper or magazine there from a certain date on.
- 5 weeks before your move check which are the institutions you need to visit in order to change your address when moving click here – these are utility companies, post office, bank, insurance companies, etc.
4 Weeks Before Moving
- If you have chosen to move with a moving company or you are going to hire a mover for a limited number of services they offer you start reading some online reviews. Remember to put in your moving timeline to check if a moving company is licensed and make sure it is a reputable one before hiring it.
- In the meantime 4 weeks before you move check the average moving costs to plan your budget.
- When you choose your mover, set a date for moving day.
- An important step in your moving timeline a lot of people tend to forget about is to check if there are any parking restrictions in the area you are moving to.
3 Weeks Before Moving
- Think about how you can ship fragile or valuable items like paintings, antiques, statues – use appropriate packing and a lot of cushioning material like bubble wrap or packing paper. Alternatively, contact a mover and request on the procedure and price when packing valuables. Usually movers have a list of packing materials they offer and are trained to do quality packing.
- 3 weeks before moving consider beginning to use what you can’t take with you like frozen food.
- Also, one of the packing tips you should be aware of is the no allowance list – some tings are forbidden to move like flammables, corrosives and explosives and movers will not take them either.
2 Weeks Before Moving
2 weeks before moving – your moving is coming to its end. There are just a few final arrangements to be made and your moving timetable will be complete.
2 weeks before moving visit the area you are about to live - check where the most important institutions are located like school, child care, post office, nearby supermarket, etc.
- Check for information about the place you are moving to 2 weeks before moving at least.
- If it is possible for you go to the city you are moving to and check where all important places are – school, daycare, supermarket, utility company offices, post office, etc.
- If you have chosen a school or day care visit them at this point of your moving timeline and inquire on admission documents and deadlines to be met.
- Get to know the neighborhood you are planning to move in to during the last 2 moving weeks.
- 2 weeks before moving arrange with a member of your family, a neighbor or close friend to be with you on moving day to help you, especially if your moving is a bigger one.
- Reach to your religious leader and ask for places of your religion in the area you are moving to.
- Check the banks at your future living area and open an account there.
- Also consider which company to contact for the insurance of your home and your car.
10 days before moving
Your moving arrangements are almost ready and your moving timeline is almost complete.
- Check your moving schedule again to make sure everything is going as planned and if you have missed to do something don’t beat yourself up – go for it and move on as arranged in your moving timeline.
- If you are moving with kids, prepare them as well. They could participate in the packing process or if they are too small you can take them to spend more time with their grandparents or close friends of yours while you are working on the moving process. In this way you know that your children are safe while you can tick off the tasks in your moving timeline. Think about where to leave your kids on moving day or hire a babysitter to take care of them
- 10 days before moving confirm travel arrangements for you and your family, confirm the parking permit and the date for moving with your moving company.
- If you are moving with a dog or another pet arrange the travel for it, too.
- Make sure that the movers have your new address and the floor plan you had prepared some weeks before.
- Also, this is the appropriate moment to as for all moving information from your mover to be sent to you by e-mail.
1 Week Before Moving
1 week before moving make a move in - move out cleaning checklist and supply yourself with the materials you will need.
1 week before the moving your preparation is almost ready. It is time to arrange a few last steps and you are ready to go. You are probably excited about the new start that is coming ahead of you but still try to stay focused in order to complete your moving easily and the list of steps at your moving timeline.
- 7 days before moving schedule the cleaning that you are going to have to do. Make a move in – move out cleaning checklist and prepare your cleaning materials and a plan on when to do what.
- Confirm the person/ people who are going to be with you to help you on your moving day.
- 1 week before moving return your books to the library, pick things that you have left to be repaired and take your clothes from the dry cleaners.
- If you are moving with plants plan on how to do it because they are items movers are forbidden to take for shipping.
- Set aside everything that you will take which will not be handed over to the moving company for transportation and place it in one corner of your home ready to go.
4 Days Before Moving
- 4 days before moving plan in your moving timeline what you will need for the rest of your time at your current home and begin packing the rest of your things to be shipped – pack up your bedroom, kitchen and other rooms.
- Think about how to protect your floor and carpet when moving.
- Collect all the lists and documentation of your move and keep them together in one file for your convenience. You will need that for the deduction of taxes later on.
- Check to make sure you have all documents and information with you – maps, addresses and phones, passport and visa (if needed), money, rental agreement (if you are renting your next home) and etc.
- Prepare a cooler in which you can put some drinks for the moving day. When the movers arrive you will have no time to go shopping to the supermarket.
2 Days Before Moving
Pull yourself together! There is just a little bit more to go and your moving is going to be almost over!
- 2 days before moving finalize the pack of your items start disassembling your last pieces of furniture if you are making your move by yourself and not using a moving company.
- Leave unpacked only the most important basic things that you will use in the last couple of days at your old home.
- Make an “unload first” box with the most important things you will need for your first day at your new home like toiletries, some coffee, cups, dishes, cutlery and towels.
- Check every room and premise at your home to make sure everything is packed and ready to go.
- Have the money to pay to the movers. Remember that most moving companies require a 10 to 15% deposit and the rest of the amount – to be paid before unloading your things at your new home.
Moving Timeline Tips – Wrap Up
The offered here moving timeline advice and help is meant to make your moving easier. If you follow this checklist made week by week it will guide you through your moving even if you are moving out of state on a long distance. If there is anything else you think is important to be added to the moving home timeline you can share what you think in the comments below.
