How to prepare for that big move into your new home

By Todd Lewys

At long last you’ve done it: purchased a new home after months of searching.

Now comes the pay-off (or is it the hard part) – moving to your new residence.

As exciting as moving to a new home is, few people relish the thought of packing up and moving after being ensconced in one place for so long. It’s just human nature.

It’s also human nature to put off things we don’t look forward to, moving being one of those things.

Here are some tips that will help you tackle The Big Move with military-like precision.

Tip one: Start preparing early. Simply put, preparation is the key to keeping the moving process as stress-free as possible. Ideally, start planning the move two months from taking possession of your new home.

From here, your moving process should unfold in orderly, incremental fashion.

Two months out: Start sorting and purging; it’s a necessary evil. Research moving companies to get a handle on who’s reliable and who isn’t. If possible, get a recommendation from a friend or family member who’s been served well by a certain move. Also, create a moving binder. Doing that will help you keep track of bills, receipts, correspondence and key items.

Six weeks out: Order moving supplies such as boxes, tape, protective tarps, etc. If you can, try to get into your new home to measure, as you want to make sure your furniture will fit through doorways. Take stock of rooms to see how much they’ll hold, and how much storage space they afford. Familiarizing yourself with your new home will help you get organized quicker on moving day.

One month out: Secure the services of a reputable mover (or a truck if you’re the mover) – and then begin packing in earnest. Securely construct each box so that they’ll be able to easily handle the weight of what you’re loading them with. Then, clearly label each box, placing them in an out-of-the-way area. Also, do a change of address and alert banks and other institutions of your impending move, updating your address.

Two weeks out: Moving takes time, so arrange time off from work – perhaps a week, at the least two to three days – this is essential as the move will be all-consuming and fraught with details. Call the mover to confirm that they have a truck and moving team booked for your moving day. Keep packing up items as you go. If you’re in a condo, book an elevator for the move.

One week out: You’re now getting down to the final strokes! Pack your suitcases, finish general packing and start marshalling all boxes and items into staging areas to get them ready for the movers – or for friends who are going to help you move. Start cleaning the home to ready it for the arrival of the new owners.

Day before the big move: Verify with movers that a truck is book, or if you’re overseeing the move, ensure that you have a truck booked at U-Haul or another outlet. Contact friends and family to confirm they’ll be there to help on moving day. Ensure elevator is booked if in a condo. Continue tidying up your home and organizing all the fine details that will invariably crop up on moving day.

Moving day: You’re now (hopefully) ready to change addresses. Verify with movers that they’re coming or pick up your moving truck as early as possible. Have items in a spot that makes it easy to take them from the house/condo to the truck. If in a condo, have elevator positioned and ready. Finish cleaning.

Again, the secret to a successfully negotiating The Big Move is preparation.

Starting early and following a defined process won’t ensure the move will be problem-free, but it will give you the best chance to carry it off with as few problems as possible.

All that preparation will pay off when you’re sitting in the living room of your new home at day’s end feeling tired yet satisfied with a job well-done!