How to Prepare for Moving: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Are you due to move out of your space in the foreseeable future? Whether you’re relocating to a new home or moving your office to a new commercial space, the logistics of moving can be quite overwhelming. From coordinating with several utility providers to packing and unpacking items of different sizes, the relocation process is indisputably one of the most stress-inducing and time-consuming activities one can face.

Regardless of that fact, moving is an inevitable response for people facing life’s dynamic and shifting circumstances. Whether it’s a new job or a need to downsize, relocating is a necessary step to improving one’s circumstances, and it can be fulfilling when done the right way. Then comes the questions: what is the right way to move? How do you prepare to efficiently move in the first place?

If you’re worried and overwhelmed by the process, fret no longer! We’ll answer all of that for you in this comprehensive step-by-step checklist. Let’s jump into the intricacies and reveal the best way to prepare before moving day.

Plan Your Strategies Ahead (16–8 Weeks Before Moving Day)

So, the deadline is set and you’ve gotten word that it’s time to move. Now what?

Well, as early as four to three months before, you should start internalising the fact that the place you’re currently calling home won’t be “home” by the next season. 

Once you’ve set aside sentimental attachments, it’s time to approach the moving process with a clear, practical mindset. Ask yourself the right questions prior to the move. 

Are you planning to conduct the move independently, with the help of friends and family, or with the help of a removalist company you can find on Muval? Do you have enough financial capacity to facilitate the move? Are you moving down the street or interstate? Is the move final and unchangeable?

Get the answers to these questions as early as you can. If there are hiccups along the way, like a lack of funds or uncertainty surrounding the timing or location, then you’ll have enough time to resolve the issue by planning way ahead of time.

Furthermore, around this time, it’s a good idea to gather all the essential moving supplies you’ll need to initiate the move. Things like boxes, markers, and duct tapes are all must-haves. 

Also, as early as this time, you should create a moving timeline and outline key tasks to keep your move organised each week. This way, you can plan out the rest of your move and keep track of inventory and various tasks within the move with ease.

Declutter and Dispose (12–8 Weeks Before Moving Day)

Three months before the move, you should start cutting down on unnecessary purchases. Furthermore, avoid buying new materialistic possessions—this can add up to the pile of things you’ll eventually have to bring to your new location.

On top of that, start slowly using up your perishables. For instance, you may no longer need to stock up on a stack of toilet paper or new dishwashing liquid if you still have enough supply of them to last for a few weeks.

It’s also necessary to sort through your belongings and categorise them in one of four buckets: keep, donate, sell, or discard. Don’t put every belonging you have in here just yet—just the items that you won’t intend to use in the next two months or so.

Prepare four boxes per room and approach the decluttering phase one room at a time. Work your way from the least important space in your house to the one with the heaviest foot traffic—the kitchen and bedrooms.

Once you’ve finished filling your boxes, then you can proceed to fulfil the label’s orders. 

Sell unwanted items in a garage sale or online in marketplaces. Donate usable items to charities or to friends and family. And for the non-essentials with little use, dispose of them in the right manner. Keep what you want and store them somewhere unobstructed for now.

By packing all your things and slowly removing unnecessary supplies from your home, you’ll have an easier time coordinating the move when the big day finally approaches.

Pack and Organise (8–4 Weeks Before Moving Day)

Remember the packing supplies you gathered a while back? You’ll need them now more than ever. Be sure to also secure bubble wrap and protective covers for fragile items if you don’t have them at home. You may use towels or crumpled paper as a substitute.

To start the packing process, start with seasonal items first—or the things you won’t use for the next months. Label each box with the general contents found within them (i.g. Kitchenware, Christmas decor, and so on). You can also colour code the boxes for an easier time organising the boxes.

For fragile items, be especially careful when packing them. Install padding and towels all over the interior of the box and between the items. For physical furniture, disassemble them and put them in boxes at this time if you don’t have a removalist professional helping you out.

If you have some items left unsold from the past weeks, consider donating or disposing them now. You can also give a hefty discount to encourage buyers to snag the deal, giving you some money to help you with your eventual home.

Notify Relevant Parties (4–2 Weeks Before Moving Day)

At this stage, you may still be doing some physical aspects of the move—so keep at it until everything is packed inside boxes.

A month before your moving date, you should also notify relevant parties about your upcoming move. 

If you’re renting, confirm your move-out date with your landlord and follow the necessary procedures for a smooth relocation. If you own the home, then contact utility providers to schedule disconnections for your gas, Internet, water, and electricity.

Moreover, update your address with your kid’s school, your bank, insurance providers, retail accounts, and government agencies accordingly. Contact your healthcare provider and have them transfer medical documents and reassign you to another doctor from out of state if necessary.

If you’re working with the same employer, give them a heads up of your moving day so that they can allocate their task load during your absence. And, of course, confirm with your chosen removalist your moving day and hash out any final details with them. 

Make Final Preparations (<1 Week Before Moving Day)

Less than a week out, you should be making all the final preparations. Your home should ideally be fully disassembled a few days before the move-out date.

Pack everything that needs to be packed that hasn’t been packed yet—such as clothing and hygiene products. Clean your appliances and dry them if they’re wet. Sanitise furniture and appliances if they haven’t been cleaned in some time or are emitting a foul odour.

Furthermore, prepare a day bag to help you and your family make it through the first days in your new home. This should include toiletries, medication, clothing, important documents, and chargers. This day bag should be with you at all times during the move-out process—not in the transit truck.

Any hazardous items you own must be disposed of appropriately. If you want to minimise stress, get a babysitter for your child (or pet) to minimise the stress during the move. 

Make a last round of calls to your utility companies to disconnect, connect, or transfer to your new location. Clear up space in the garage or front yard for the removalists to park without disrupting traffic. 

Moving Day

The big moving day has arrived, and if you’ve done everything right so far, then you’re more than ready to tackle it head-on.

After an early wake-up, meet with your partnered removalists and talk about the game plan. Ideally, you should’ve picked a non-peak day like a Tuesday or Thursday when moving to a new home.

Supervise the loading process and ensure that the furniture is handled carefully when being loaded onto the truck. Following that, have one last look through your house—ensure that you’ve turned off all the utility lines and that there’s nothing left behind.

Step out of the house with your day bag in tow and proceed to move to your next place. Bring your family with you. Have your phone by your side to ensure that you can quickly answer or communicate with the removalist company in real time.
Unpack and Settle In (1 Week After Moving Day)
You’re finally in your new place. Unpack your day bag and slowly set up key areas around the house. Have your removalists position the appliances and utilities the way you want them to, and dispose of any excess packing materials.

Slowly unpack throughout the week and get your bearings. You don’t have to do it all at once. Be open to making any changes to your layout on the fly too.

Once you’ve finally settled in, then you can take it easy. Maybe a celebratory housewarming party would do just the trick.

We hope this checklist will help serve you in your next move. Best of luck!