The DIY Mover’s Checklist

This is a hot time in the real estate market.  If you’re in a desirable neighbourhood, the sign can go up, and your house can be sold within a week. Then you’ll have 30 – 90 days to move out. If you’re not ready, the whole experience can be overwhelming.

So, how can moving be easier? Here are a few ideas to keep you on track.

OHIO (Only Handle it Once). Before you list your home, it’s best to depersonalize the space.  When you take up all those family photos and quirky caricatures, wrap and pack them for the move.  There’s no point stashing them in a bin or drawer, only to have to pack them later. 

Purge before you pack. Whenever possible, try to eliminate anything you no longer want before you move. So often, people throw belongings into a box saying, “I’ll sort it out in the new place.” Here are two things to consider: If you’re already thinking that you’ll make a final decision after the move, you’re already half way to admitting you don’t want the item.  Besides, putting off all those decisions until after you move prolongs the stress and frustration that often accompanies a move. Until you open and unpack every box, you won’t be truly settled. Why wait and hang on to those feelings of being in flux?

Pack an organized box. Don’t succumb to the pressure to throw whatever you touch into a box, regardless of what will be packed with it.  If you find a valid passport at the back of a kitchen drawer, don’t pack it with your knives and forks; pack it with other vital documents.

Forward your change of address. Once you know your move date, start notifying all necessary parties of your new address. I strongly recommend completing a mail redirect at your local postal outlet.
 

 Contact your utility and service providers. While you’re processing that address change, don’t forget to notify providers of services and utilities of your upcoming move. Find out what can be moved with you and what has to be cancelled. You don’t want to get caught paying for the next guy’s water consumption, and you do want to make sure you can watch TV at the end of a long day of unpacking in your new home.

Label and colour code. Remember to identify which room in the new house each box should be placed in. Some people like to assign a colour to each room in their new house and affix a label of the same colour onto all boxes or furniture to go in that room.  For example, in the new house, hang a piece of red paper on the bathroom door; when you pack anything that should go into the bathroom, put a red sticker/label on the box. And don’t forget to list some of the contents on each box.  You likely won’t get everything unpacked in one day.  When you have to find something in a hurry, you’ll be glad to have a list of each box’s contents to refer to.

Pack a Last day/First day box. When you’ve been packing for days and weeks leading up to your move date, you’ll start to pare down your frequent go-to items. When you only have a day left in your old house, you’ll want to put together a collection of the toiletries and clothes you will need on move day, as well as a box of the cleaning supplies and must-haves for your first few hours in your new home.  Some things to include would be toilet paper, paper towel, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, a mop and pail, hand soap, dish soap and a few hand towels.

Ask about exceptions. When you’re booking your moving company, be sure to ask if they have any exceptions.  Movers generally won’t move hazardous materials, (this can include your household cleaning products), overweight items or even alcohol.  Likewise, be sure that the company you move with can meet any special needs you may have, such as moving a piano or appliances.

 

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your move, it will go more smoothly if you take the steps to be prepared. Good luck!