The process of selling your current home and buying a new one is stressful, time-consuming, and full of important tasks and responsibilities. At times, it seems as if it’ll never end. But don’t worry, you’ll eventually get settled.
Moving day is the final stage of the home purchase process. And while you’re certainly looking forward to moving into your new place, don’t be discouraged if you have some nerves and uncertainty about the moving process.s
Though moving day can be stressful and demanding, it doesn’t have to be miserable. Here are some useful hacks, tips, and techniques that will help you master moving day and get on with your life:
1. Schedule Cleaning in Advance
It’s a good idea to go ahead and schedule a cleaning on your new house well in advance of moving day. If possible, try to get it on the calendar for the day before move-in. If this isn’t an option, scheduling a professional cleaning crew to come through first thing in the morning is your best bet. (While you can always clean after moving stuff in, it’s much easier to do with a blank slate.)
2. Call Ahead on Utilities
You’ll also want to call ahead on the utilities. If you’re moving in the same general vicinity, you’ll probably be able to transfer utilities from one house to the next. If you’re doing a longer distance move, you’ll need to close out one account and set up service to start on the new account on the day you move in. (Don’t forget to do this! If you fail to activate the utilities before the seller cuts them off, you’ll have to pay an expensive connection fee!)
3. Moving Day Box Handy
It’s easy for items to get lost in boxes, bins, and bags. And while everything will eventually get unpacked, it’s a good idea to keep a “moving day box” on hand so that you have access to all of the important items you may need within the first 24 to 72 hours. This includes things like:
- Important paperwork
- Box cutter
- Basic tools (hammer, nails, hanging hardware, etc.)
- Charging cords
- Medications
- Toiletries
- Etc.
This box will save you on multiple occasions. If you have professional movers coming, don’t give it to them. This is one box you’ll want to keep in your vehicle for quick, safe access.
4. Leave Clothing on the Hanger
There’s no sense in taking clothing off your hangers and boxing them up just to rehang them once you get to your new place. You’re much better off transporting them as-is.
The easiest way to transport hanging clothing is to separate them into piles and then put a thick trash bag over top (cut a hole for the hangers to go through). You can then use a rubber band to keep the hangers together at the top and tie off the bottom of the trash bag. This allows you to either hang them on a rod in the moving van or lay them in the backseat of a vehicle.
5. Color Code Your Boxes
Prior to loading all of your boxes up and moving on to the next house, use some color-coded stickers to mark each box. Each color will correspond with a room in the new house – like green for the kitchen and blue for bedrooms. This allows you to visually identify boxes and quickly place them in the correct space.
6. Do One Final Walkthrough
Prior to leaving your old house, do one detailed walkthrough in each room. You can involve the whole family in this, possibly even giving away “points” or prizes to the person who finds the most items left behind.
7. Keep a Running List on Your Phone
Moving day is hectic. You’ll remember important items, responsibilities, or tasks at the most random times. That’s why it’s helpful to keep a running task-list on your phone. Use the notepad function on your phone and share it with your spouse. This allows you both to edit and view the list in real time.
8. Have Cash on Hand
The last thing you have time to do on moving day is run to the ATM and grab some money. Make sure you keep enough cash on hand to tip movers. This is a nice gesture that goes a long way in establishing goodwill.
9. Schedule Childcare
There’s no nice way of putting it: If you have young children, they’re probably going to be in the way. It’ll be super helpful to schedule childcare so that you can focus on moving in, unpacking, organizing items, arranging furniture, and dealing with all of the other logistics that come with the process.
10. Order Food in Advance
You’re going to get hungry on moving day. But you might be so busy that you forget to eat. That’s not a good combo. Avoid this conundrum by ordering food in advance and picking a convenient time for delivery. This will also act as a built-in break that forces you to stop what you’re doing and relax for a few minutes.
11. Stagger Your Help
If you’re having friends and loved ones come help you move in, make sure they don’t all show up at the same time. While it might seem nice to have 10 people show up at once, this is a poor use of everyone’s time. You’re much better off having people show up in shifts of two or three people. This is much more practical and efficient for every person involved.
12. Take Plenty of Breaks
Be sure to take at least 10 minutes of rest every hour and a half. You need this time to rest and recharge – both physically and mentally. Nobody is giving out badges or awards for working straight through the day!
