There’s so much to think about when you are preparing for a move that it’s natural to worry you’ll forget something. You’ll have to put a lot of thought into your unique moving needs before you select a moving company. Boston is a great place to move to with plenty of history and fun. However, before you can enjoy any of it, you’ve got to ensure your belongings make it to your new home.
Whether you come from out of town or not, moving in Boston during harsher seasons can be stressful since the city is known for its snowy conditions. You’ll need to consider how to move your belongings safely in inclement weather while avoiding moving accidents.
In order to ease your mind a bit, we’ve prepared this moving and storage checklist to give you a better idea of what to expect leading up to moving day. At the end of this blog, we’ll shed some light on how our unique storage solutions can help movers.
8 Weeks Before Your Move-In Date
You’re about two months away from moving – if you start preparing now, you’ll have fewer headaches later. Here are some things you can do eight weeks before the move.
Find the organizational system that works best for you. Whether you want to use a Google Doc or create a binder to keep your moving checklist in, you’ll need a way to efficiently organize your things and keep track of everything.
Think about what documentation you need to save. You’ll need a space for all your important papers, including:
- Receipts
- Moving company estimates
- Contact information
- Utility information
- Home sale documents
Keep track of what to do and when. There are tasks that should be done according to a specific timeline, which is why we’ve divided this checklist the way we have. Although the paragraph below is focused more on what to do immediately before and after moving, you can also add the tasks from this checklist to your calendar to keep track.
Add important tasks to your calendar. There’s a lot that goes into making a house a home. To stay on top of your tasks, add the following activities to your calendar:
- Enrolling kids in school
- Connecting utilities
- Choosing a pharmacy
- Scheduling home inspection
- Establishing care with local doctors, dentists, optometrists
- Checking in with a handyman if you have minor repairs to make
Begin packing. If you’ve got valuables or important items to pack, you can do it now (or at least start the process). Take photos of them before you pack them away so you’ll have a visual inventory. Another great idea is to begin packing away items that you rarely use.
Measure your furniture. Knowing the dimensions of your large furniture will help you mitigate potential moving-day issues. There’s nothing worse than finding out that your appliances or furniture aren’t compatible with the door size of your new home while you move.
Back up files and photos. Your important files should be saved to an external hard drive or to the cloud. Take care of this important step so you won’t have any regrets as you move into your new house.
Think about how you want the move to go. Do you plan to go the less expensive route by packing all the belongings yourself, or would you prefer to pay a little more for a full-service solution? Consider which moving companies will best meet your needs, get quotes, and request information about the services they offer.
Get rid of extra stuff now. If you’ve got things that you’ve been planning to get rid of for years, now is the time to do it. Here are some of the ways you can get rid of unwanted things:
- Have a garage sale
- Donate to charity (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.)
- Hire a junk removal specialist
Create an inventory of what you have. Visit each room and document what you own. Take special note of large, breakable, or oddly-shaped items that could require extra attention during the moving process. Take time on this simple step to protect yourself if you have to file a claim later.
Get time off work. Depending on how involved you plan to be with the move (and perhaps, even if you’re choosing a hands-off route), you’ll want to request time off work. Give them plenty of notice so they can cover for you.
Deep clean your house. If you’ve already sold your home, this step can be a special way to show your appreciation for new buyers. If not, you’ll be ahead of the game by deep cleaning. If you’re a renter, doing this will increase your chances of getting the security deposit back.
6 Weeks Before Your Move-In Date
Here’s what to do six weeks before your move.
Start collecting and labeling boxes. Ask around to see if your family or friends have free boxes for you. You can also contact local grocery stores or furniture stores. Once you’ve begun packing things away, be sure to label your boxes.
Make small repairs to your home. As we said earlier in the “deep clean” paragraph, doing this can get your security deposit back if you’re renting or make it easier to sell if you own the home.
Consider buying a storage unit. In some cases, you may have to wait for people to move out of your new home. If that’s the case, you can reserve a storage unit now to avoid a lengthy moving process later. If you choose OnDemand Storage, we can pick up belongings from your old house and deliver them to your new one!
4 Weeks Before Your Move-In Date
Your move is just a month away. Take these precautions to ensure it’s a smooth transition.
Choose a moving company. Once you’ve had a chance to look over your budget and moving needs, choose a moving company. Be sure to keep any receipts and schedule important events in your calendar. Don’t forget moving coverage in case anything goes wrong during the move!
Arrange the move. If you’re planning to drive the moving truck to your new home, you’ll want to plan out the route. If not, you should make travel arrangements to the new location and determine when the moving company will arrive with your things.
Get packing supplies. If you’re not opting for a full-service moving solution, you may need to purchase extra boxes, packaging tape, markers to label your boxes, etc. If you’re moving in winter, plan to protect belongings from weather by double-wrapping them in thick blankets.
Run diagnostics on your car. Double check your vehicle to ensure that the tires are good and make sure your insurance and oil changes are up to date. If you need to, schedule a tune-up before the move.
Plan a shopping spree. A new home is a new opportunity to spruce up your living space. If you’ve been wanting new furniture, decorations, or bedding, now is a great time to buy them!
Contact utility companies to schedule services. Here are some types of companies to contact to start service:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Phone
- Internet
- TV
- Water
- Trash disposal
- Sewage services
Fill prescriptions. Ahead of the move, ensure that your prescriptions are all filled. Begin thinking of which doctors you’ll choose at your new location, and which pharmacy you want to send prescriptions to.
2 Weeks Before Your Move-In Date
It’s crunch time. This is the week to update contact info and ensure you take care of any undone business.
Update your address. Go to the post office and complete “Change of Address” forms. You’ll also want to update businesses (banks, insurance companies), family, and friends about what your new address will be.
Update your important documentation. You’ll want to make sure your license, car registration, and auto insurance has your new address on file.
Find childcare or pet care. The moving process is just as stressful for children and pets as it is for you – so find someone who can keep your children and/or pets safe and secure while you handle the moving process.
Make sure the moving dates are scheduled properly. Confirm with your moving company that they will be there the date and time you need them.
Cancel or update subscriptions and memberships. If you’ve got a delivery service (like pet food delivery), you’ll need to update your address. If you have a local membership, you’ll likely want to cancel it (unless your new home is close to where your old one was).
Start packing and plan the move. If you haven’t already started, begin packing your boxes. Use your inventory and label the boxes to ensure it goes off without a hitch. Contact family and friends for extra help moving.
Plan out your meals in advance. Once you’ve packed up all your food, there aren’t many options left. Plan takeout or get frozen meals from the store that you can pop in the microwave.
1 Week Before Your Move-In Date
You’re nearly there! Here’s what you can do a week before moving day.
Take your large furniture apart. This will make it much easier to move your bed, couches, etc. through doorways.
Pack up. Get suitcases packed for everyone in the family. Include socks, underwear, PJ’s, clothing, phone chargers, snacks, flashlights, and any other essentials.
Clean the empty rooms. Inevitably, as soon as you move furniture, you unearth the mess underneath. Clean up and then photograph the empty rooms. Doing this will ensure that you have proof the home was left in good condition.
Schedule a final walkthrough of the new house. Pay careful attention to where the water heater, circuit breaker, gas shut off valve and water shut off valve are located.
Collect “pass-off” items. The new owners will need house keys, garage door openers, and/or gate keys, so be sure you know where they are so you can pass them off to the agent, etc.
A Couple Days Before Moving Day
Just a few last steps before the day you arrive in your new home!
Clean/paint your new home. If you do it now, you’ll avoid the headache of navigating around furniture and moving boxes later.
Finish packing. If you don’t have a hunger for chaos, you should definitely finish packing before moving day.
Prioritize the unpacking process. Decide which boxes are most important to unpack first, and be sure to plan the unpacking process that way.
Take money out of the bank. You’ll need cash to tip your movers or deal with emergencies on the day of the move (Who knows? You may want to order pizza that night).
Clear a path. Make the move as easy as possible by having a path for movers to navigate. If you’re moving in snow, you should shovel the old house, the new one, and put de-icer on your steps, sidewalk, or driveway. If it’s rainy or snowy, create a shelter from tarps or party tents. Lay down plastic sheeting inside each home to protect your floors from mud, dirt, etc.
What to do on Moving Day
Moving day is finally here. To make the process as seamless as possible, follow these tips.
Ask for the paperwork. If you’ve hired professional movers, check the paperwork before you let them start moving your things. Don’t be a victim of a moving scam.
Be available and treat your movers. Supervise the moving process and help answer questions. Order food or provide refreshments for your moving crew while they’re taking care of your belongings.
Check and sign the inventory list. Ask for a copy of the movers’ inventory and keep it on file in case you need to make a claim later.
Double check the home. Make sure you didn’t leave anything behind – check closets, drawers, etc. This is your last time in your old house!
Tip the movers. You should be ready to tip 5%-10% of your total bill for small moves and 15%-20% of your bill for large moves. You can pay via cash, check, or credit card. Movers prefer cash, but you can only claim a tax deduction if you pay by check or credit card.
OnDemand Storage Helps with Storage Logistics
If you’re planning a move but need storage solutions in the meantime, we’d be happy to help! We offer residential storage, student storage, climate-controlled commercial storage, junk removal, and long-term storage solutions throughout Massachusetts, including:
- Boston
- Quincy
- Charlestown
- Cambridge
- Lexington
- And more
Curious about how OnDemand storage can help with your Boston-area storage needs? Contact us today to learn more!
