Before Moving

For the convenience of our clients, to provide a clear step-by-step moving process, we have compiled a Before Moving Checklist based on expert recommendations and real-life moving experience.

12 Weeks Before the Move

1. Set your official move date: If possible, avoid the first and last days of the month as these are considered peak periods, when movers are mostly fully booked and the rates are higher.
2. Research your new neighborhood: Gather all the relevant and useful information about schools, commute, local laws, and parking restrictions to avoid delays, fines, and logistical surprises on relocation day.
3. Review your lease or purchase agreement: This involves checking for penalties for early lease termination, move-out notice requirements or rules, and noting the possession date so you don’t face legal issues and fees for not following the property agreements.
4. Create a digital moving binder: Dropbox and Google Drive are ideal tools to help you save or store receipts, floor plans, inventory lists, and mover contracts, allowing you to centralize all important documents for easy access and sharing.
5. Start searching moving companies: Look for companies that are licensed, insured, and with good reviews from previous customers, and steer clear of movers with hidden fee complaints so you don’t experience the same.

8 Weeks Before the Move

1. Request and compare quotes from at least 3 moving companies: Ensure you ask for binding estimates and get itemized quotes, ideally based on a virtual or in-person walk-through, and compare pricing to ensure you don’t overpay.
2. Check moving contracts carefully: Look for hidden fees, policies around cancelation and delays, and how claims are handled in case of damage to prevent getting caught off guard by unexpected surprises on the moving day.
3. Ask about services: Inquiring about the solutions offered, such as packing, disassembly, and storage, early on will help you prepare and plan adequately for tasks that are not covered.
4. Begin decluttering: You can either donate, sell, or even recycle the items you don’t need to save space and cost, and also benefit others.
5. Schedule minor repairs if you are a renter: This can include addressing chipped paint, nail holes, broken blinds, or other damages in advance for your unit to pass the final inspection or avoid withheld security deposits.

6 Weeks Before the Move

1. Measure large furniture and entryways in both apartments: Measuring ahead helps in confirming whether your furniture will fit through doors, elevators, and stairwells and deciding which pieces need to be disassembled or left behind.
2. Arrange pet care or transport: It can be a friend’s home, pet daycare, or crate travel, which are all essential ways of preventing anxiety and accidental escapes, as pets can be stressed by the activity of moving
3. Create a floor plan for furniture placement: Use free apps or graph paper to map out in advance where each furniture goes in the new space, to avoid multiple heavy rearrangements later and save time during unloading.
4. Start address changes: File a change of address with USPS and notify your employer, bank, insurance, and streaming services providers to ensure you continue receiving important communications, bills, and packages even after moving.
5. Research utility providers in the new location: Researching reliable providers for gas, water, garbage, electricity, and internet in advance ensures you can transfer and set up services in time, avoiding gaps in utilities.

4 Weeks Before the Move

1. Pack non-essential items like books and off-season clothes: Starting with the items you don’t use daily reduces packing stress later and allows you to identify if you need extra supplies or moving boxes.
2. Label boxes clearly: You can color code by room (e.g., Red for Kitchen) if possible for extra efficiency and easy identification when unpacking, while ensuring each box is marked with its destination and contents.
3. Secure valuables: Securing high-value items (like jewelry) yourself, packing them in a separate bag that you keep with you, or entirely moving them yourself ensures they are safe throughout the move.
4. Confirm moving company details: Verify arrival window, payment terms, and team size, and if possible, get this in writing to prevent misunderstanding, confusion, and to ensure the team is fully prepared for the move.
5. Dispose of prohibited items: Disposing of certain items like flammables and aerosol cans now will prevent refusal of moving services or delays on the relocation day.

2 Weeks Before the Move

1. Transfer or set up utilities: Reach out to your new utility providers to transfer or activate water, gas, internet, and electricity services at least 24 hours before your move-in day to avoid service gaps.
2. Book cleaning services or plan to clean yourself: A deep clean is at times a requirement in rental agreements, and you can do it yourself or arrange for cleaning help from family and friends. Otherwise, hire a cleaning service with move-out experience to handle the work.
3. Pack essentials for the first night: Put your chargers, toiletries, clothes, and medication in a small suitcase to make your first night manageable without needing to dig through sealed boxes.
4. Download your moving company’s contact info and share with your household: This is to ensure that in the case movers delay or there’s a question on site, there will be quick access to contacts, ensuring communication flows smoothly.
5. Confirm insurance coverage: Check renters’ insurance to see what’s covered during transit, or buy moving insurance for high-value items like artwork to ensure they are protected.

1 Week Before the Move

1. Disassemble furniture and bag hardware: Taking apart your furniture including beds in advance saves time on the moving day while packing hardware prevents lost screws or assembly issues after moving in.
2. Clean the apartment or do a final walk-through: Clean the cabinets, floors, bathrooms, and the entire apartment to meet lease or sale requirements, or do a final check to help spot overlooked areas and items.
3. Take photos of your current apartment for your security deposit claim: Photograph every room, closet, appliance, and damage, to support your security deposit claim or defend against charges for pre-existing issues.
4. Reconfirm with the movers: Early re-confirmation helps align everyone on timing, address, expectations, parking, and the number of crew, hence avoiding miscommunications on relocation day.

Please contact us at (888) 454-5107 for additional free consultation or to schedule a moving date with A Plus Moving.