Move Day Checklist: A guide to your other responsibilities
When moving houses, it’s easy to think primarily of moving your furniture and belongings. However, a lot more comes with moving than just transporting furniture. Our team has put together a checklist for you and your family to ensure a smooth transition of not only your furniture and belongings, but also your life.
Notify important parties.
If you currently work in person or in a hybrid work environment (i.e., partially in person), you will need to have a conversation with your employer. Many employers are willing to negotiate virtual work arrangements in the case of relocation if you move out of the area or your commute becomes difficult. Regardless of whether you’re moving far or not, our team highly recommends taking a day or two of paid time off with your employer to unpack and settle in.
It is also important to have a discussion with your friends, co-workers and family members in the area when moving. The best practice is to inform them of your relocation and encourage regular communication to maintain a strong relationship. Be sure to say your goodbyes and see you laters before you depart!
Donate and dispose of unwanted items.
Donating and disposing of unwanted items is a great way to make your move run smoother. Not only will you save time on your move, but you will also save money. Using a moving company’s junk removal service to donate or dispose of items is typically less expensive than moving the items. In addition to saving money on the move itself, you can use your donation receipt for a tax write off if your items are eligible.
Our team always attempts to donate and recycle eligible items before resorting to disposal. We also offer a discount on junk removal when you move with us!
Make a packing materials shopping list and plan to transport the materials prior to packing.
The worst situation to find yourself in as you pack up your items is realizing you don’t have everything you need. The best way to avoid this is to do an inventory of the packing materials you will need to purchase prior to visiting the store. We recommend purchasing materials from Home Depot, U-Haul, a hardware store, or a storage facility. Ace Hardware tends to sell moving supplies around the area in Bethesda, Arlington, and Kensington. Additionally, American Self Storage in Kensington sells moving materials.
You should also plan to transport the materials back to your home for packing. If you don’t have a large vehicle and you have a lot of materials, the odds are that they won’t fit in your car. Some boxes needed for your move may even be too large to fit into your car alone.
In order to avoid this issue, our team recommends renting a van or small box truck to transport the materials. If you are purchasing materials from U-haul or Home Depot, you can typically rent a truck from the location as well. Alternatively, you can purchase materials from amazon or another source online and have them shipped to your door.
If you don’t want to worry about packing, purchasing, or transporting materials at all, hire your selected mover to pack! Our team is highly experienced in packing and would be glad to assist.
Organize and begin packing well in advance.
If you decide to pack yourself, it is essential to get started as soon as possible. With all of us being busy, D.C. area professionals, we all know how crazy life can get. When life gets crazy, it becomes increasingly difficult to save time for tasks like packing. Preparing well in advance will ensure that you’re ready to go on the day of the move and not panicking at the last minute.
In addition to being well prepared, take the time to organize your items while packing. Labeled, organized boxes will not only save you time on the back end unpacking, but also save you from moving boxes by ensuring your movers put them in the right spot on your move date.
Set up USPS Change of Address and update your other subscriptions & accounts.
One very important step in the moving process is updating your address used by any essential parties. You should set up USPS Change of Address, in addition to changing your address listed with the following parties:
Your employer
Your banks
Your credit card companies
Your subscriptions and memberships (e.g., gym memberships, Netflix, Hulu - you may even need to end your gym membership and join a new gym if moving out of the area)
Your insurance companies
Any other service you use
Prioritize your pets.
Leading up to the move, our team recommends you pack an essentials box for each one of your pets. This box should contain any food, medication, favorite toys, leashes, or immediate needs for your pet while being transported and when you arrive at your new home. Similarly to the essentials box for you recommended in our other blogs, this box should be stored in your car or passed off to your movers and held in a safe, easily accessible spot.
Similarly to humans, pets get stressed out and can begin to feel overwhelmed easily. Throughout the load up and packing phase of the move, our team highly recommends finding a safe spot for your pets. This will keep them away from the madness and reduce their anxiety throughout the duration of the move. The best spot for dogs tends to be the backyard, while indoor pets can be placed in a quiet room and moved around throughout the day if necessary.
When transporting your pet on your move date, always use a car if possible. Be sure to supply your pet with food, water, heat, a litter box, or anything else it may need during transport. When transporting your dog, make stops as frequent possible for exercise and bathroom breaks.
Looking for assistance with moving, packing, or junk removal? Contact our highly experienced team today!
