Renter 101: Moving Checklist
Moving: this one idea manages to keep many people up at night in stress and fear. Whether you’re moving across the street, across town or to a new province altogether, you want the experience to go as smoothly as possible. Here are just some of the things you should keep in mind as you prepare for the big day.
Pick Your Moving Day Carefully
Moving is already a strenuous task to begin with, but other factors might make it even harder. It is more difficult to book movers on the first of the month as that is the common end date for leases. As well, people move in the warmer months to be more productive and take advantage of the sunlight and longer days. This results in the price for movers being much higher. If you can, move in the middle-to-later half of the month in the fall or winter to take advantage of the savings and flexibility.
Things To Plan Ahead of Time
When you first prepare for the moving process, start budgeting for moving costs. Not only does this include moving companies – if you choose to go this direction– but also for packing supplies, like boxes and bubble wrap, along with any costs that may appear unexpectedly. If you are hiring movers or a moving truck, they need to be booked at least 8 weeks in advance. Ensure they have all your contact information and print up something for them to have the day of.
If you have early access to the new space and plan on taking some of your current furniture, make sure to measure these fixtures so you know they will fit in the space. You can even use tape and map out the floor plan in the new space to make moving day even easier.
Prepare To Move
Before you even begin packing, prepare a moving binder. This will contain all your important documents and information that you will want to have available while you’re moving. Alternatively, you can digitize them and back them up – along with all your other devices – on a hard drive. This will ensure you have what you need and it will be easier to carry with you. Also, create a belongings list that you will update while you pack. This will be useful for when you are settling in to confirm you have all your stuff. It will also help you notice if anything has gone missing.
Start decluttering your space as soon as possible. Sort through what you own and determine what you want to bring with you. These should be things you use or actively seek out. Anything you decide you don’t want can be donated, thrown out or sold online.
> Looking to master decluttering? Read more here.
Once you finish decluttering, you can start packing progressively. Start with your seasonal items or things you rarely use. From here, you will work your way up through your belongings, leaving your essentials until the very last day. While you’re packing, make sure to label all the boxes with what is in them and what room they will go into in the new place. Also, put any valuables – like artwork and jewellery – in a secure location.
There are two kits that you should prepare and keep readily available on moving day: emergency essentials and your moving bag. In your emergency essentials, keep things like a first aid kit, medications, extra funds, copies of important documents and more. In your moving bag, pack everything you may need for your first night. This includes clothing, toiletries, snacks, water and any other necessities. After moving all day, you will be exhausted and having this bag will encourage you to relax.
Make Sure to Change Your Address
There are a lot of legal documents that require your address to be updated, so be sure to prioritize that once you are settled in your new space. Some of the most important ones include driver's licence, credit cards, insurance, voter registration documents and all your bills. Also make sure to change your address for subscriptions, school records if you have children and other relevant institutions. Set up mail forwarding to your new address for a couple of months to help catch anything you might have missed.
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