Preparing to Move
Planning for a move bringing on a lot of extra tasks. Use this checklist to make sure that you do not forget some of these important pre-move items.
From scheduling various items to taking inventory of your belongings and organizing things for your new home, this list will help keep you straight as you prep for your moving day!
60 Days Out
KEEPING RECORDS create a folder or file for all your moving related records
LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD donate or sell excess items you don’t want to take along.
GET ESTIMATES schedule appointments to get estimates for moving services.
MANAGE RECORDS if you’re moving long-distance, make sure to transfer or collect any medical, school, or other records to take with you.
MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS if you are traveling overnight, need boarding for pets or other similar items, make sure to book these well in advance.
GET SUPPLIES if you’re packing yourself, start collecting supplies or contact your move coordinator to learn how to acquire them from A1 Bestway
KEEPING RECORDS create a folder or file for all your moving related records
30 Days Out
TRANSFER SERVICES begin making plans to transfer services, or cancel those services that do not transfer to your new location, prior to moving day.
INVENTORY CHECKLIST create a room-by-room inventory checklist for your items.
USE IT OR LOOSE IT start using the last of the items that won’t pack or travel well.
CHECK FOR FIT measure new spaces to make sure your existing furniture will fit.
START PACKING start packing lesser used items and prep them for moving day.
LABEL LABEL LABEL make sure you label all the boxes as you’re packing.
14 Days Out
CHANGE OF ADDRESS complete change of address and mail forwarding forms.
TUNE UP if you’re driving a long distance make sure your cars are prepped and ready.
CONFIRM DETAILS confirm the final details of your move including dates and times.
FINAL DAYS BEFORE MOVE
PREP APPLIANCES unplug fridge and freezer to defrost and dry, and prep appliances.
PACK SUITCASES pack your overnight bags for moving day(s).
PLAN FOR PAYMENT confirm payment schedule and accepted forms of payment.
GET SOME REST make sure to get some rest before moving day so you are energized and ready to work on the big day!
Packing Supplies
MOVING IS MORE EFFICIENT WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS!
The only way to be sure that your household goods will survive a move is to pack them properly, using the right supplies. Here is a list of recommended items for your upcoming move.
QUALITY MOVING BOXES
Boxes are key! Make sure you have quality boxes that are sturdy and free of any damage to ensure that your items will be well-protected. Ask your moving company for dish barrels and wardrobe boxes and other specialty boxes designed to stand up to the job.
UNPRINTED NEWS WRAP
This is an ideal and inexpensive way to protect your fragile items during a move. Unprinted paper means no ink smearing or fading on your items, so you can rest assured they will arrive protected and pristine.
BUBBLE WRAP
For those items that need a little extra protection, make sure you have some bubble wrap on hand. It’s great for wrapping your fragile items, filling space in boxes, and protecting framed photos or art.
Permanent Box Markers: Make sure to have a few of these on hand so you can label all your boxes with their room and a list of contents. This will make delivery and unpacking much easier!
BOX TAPE DISPENSERS AND REFILLS
Box tape is designed for moving! This sturdy tape will ensure your boxes stay closed during transit and all the loading and unloading of the truck. Make sure to have plenty on hand and a dispenser always comes in handy for quick sealing and cutting!
BOX CUTTER
When it’s time to unpack, you’ll want to make sure you have a sharp box cutter on hand. This will speed up the process of opening up all your boxes, and make sure you have plenty of refill blades, you never know when you’ll need them.
Tips for Packing
PACKING UP YOUR HOME CAN BE A TALL TASK. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED.
When it comes to packing up your items, whether you do-it-yourself or leave it to the pros, there are a few things you’ll want to make sure to do throughout the process. Use these tips to help make packing (and unpacking) a breeze!
LIKE WITH LIKE
It wouldn’t make sense to use your socks in the kitchen or your spatulas in the office, so make sure you keep things separated by room when you’re packing. This will make unpacking that much easier.
PACK PRACTICALLY
Start with your least used items and rooms and work to your most used. Jot down an ordered list of items and rooms to work through as you start packing. A great place to start is with out of season clothing, decor, and other seasonally used items.
MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE
All joking aside, having an inventory of your items is VERY important as you’re preparing for your move. The Inventory doesn’t have to include every single thing you own, but should definitely include big ticket items or those that are important to keep track of. Organize this by room and make sure you mark the items as they are loaded and unloaded on moving day.
LEARN TO LOVE LABELS
Label your boxes! This makes unloading and unpacking so much easier. Include the room and a brief list of contents so you are able to identify items as you begin to unpack.
KEEP THE KIDS IN MIND
Give your kids one box that they can decorate and fill with a few of their favorite things for moving day. This will ensure they have a few items to keep them occupied and help them feel like they are a part of the process!
PACK A “MUST-HAVES” BOX
Pack a box of all your must-have items and load it last on the truck, so it’s first to be unpacked. These would be things you might need for moving day or the first night in your new home. Items like:
- First-Aid Kit
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Trash bags
- Toiletries
- Change of Clothes
- Pajamas
- Sheets and Blankets
- Pillows
- Charging Cables
- Tools
- Paper Plates/Napkins
Making Donations / tips for sorting and organizing stuff
HAVE FOOD ITEMS YOU’RE NOT TAKING TO YOUR NEW LOCATION? LET US KNOW, WE’D BE HAPPY TO DONATE IT ON YOUR BEHALF!
We are a member of Move for Hunger, a national organization dedicated to providing aid to community food banks through donations collected as a part of the relocation process. Our local efforts benefit the Golden Harvest Food Bank.
WHAT ITEMS CAN BE DONATED?
While Golden Harvest can take perishable items, we ask that you make donations of “nonperishable” goods, as we only take donations into the food bank a few times a month. Items of increased need in our area include:
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Dried Beans
- Canned Soup
- Canned Tomatoes
- Dried Pasta
- Canned Soup
- Canned Beans
All non-perishable items are welcome for donation.
HOW CAN I MAKE A DONATION?
Speak with your move coordinator or sales contact about having a donation box delivered to your home. As you are cleaning out your pantry and cupboards, instead of tossing food items you do not want to take to your new home, load them into your donation box. Once you have filled your box, we will either pick it up from you prior to your move OR our crew members will pick it up from you on moving day.
OUR FOOD DONATION PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
Non-allowables checklist
WE CAN HELP YOU MOVE MANY ITEMS, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THAT WE CAN’T.
We are happy you selected A1 Bestway s to assist you in your move, however there are a few things we won’t be able to transport to your new location in our moving trucks. Please make note of these non-allowable items and be sure you remove them from your boxes prior to moving day.
WHY ARE SOME ITEMS NON-ALLOWABLES?
For the safety of you, our employees, our equipment, and our facility, by law we are unable to transport or store any items that are considered hazardous, flammable, or perishable. Those items include things like:
- Alcohols
- Sterno
- Matches
- Kerosene
- Gasoline
- Propane/Propane Tanks
- Fireworks
- Charcoal
- Charcoal Lighter
- Ammunition
- Lamp Oils
- Antifreeze Compounds
- Fire Extinguisher
- Aerosols
- Cleaning Solvents
- Ammonia
- Nail Polish
- Nail Polish Remover
- Liquid Bleach
- Paints (latex & oil-based)
- Paint Thinner
- Combustibles such as spot cleaners, office machine liquid cleaners, etc.
- Disinfectants
- Household Batteries
- Chemistry Sets
- Darkroom Chemicals
- Pool Chemicals
- Motor Oil
- Car Batteries
- Fertilizer
- Pesticides
- Poisons (ie. weed killer)
- Frozen Food
- Produce
- Plants
- Refrigerated Food
- Open/Used Foods
OTHER ITEMS TO BE AWARE OF
Personal Valuables and Documents: We suggest that irreplaceable items and\or sentimental items be carried with you instead of being packed with your other household belongings. This suggestion is especially important if your shipment must temporarily be placed in storage until final delivery. Note: These items are loaded at your own risk.
Heat Sensitive Items: We suggest that heat sensitive items not be packed with your household belongings. This suggestion is especially important if your shipment must temporarily be placed in storage until final delivery. Note: These items are loaded at your own risk.
Move out checklist
USE THIS LIST TO PLAN AHEAD FOR A STRESS-FREE MOVING DAY
If your move is coming up and you’re not sure where to start when it comes to preparing for moving day, here are a few items to make sure you get done before the moving crew arrives to begin loading the truck.
PREP APPLIANCES
If you’re relocating large appliances to your new home make sure they are ready for transport. We recommend servicing washers and dryers prior to moving.
CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR
Moving the fridge? Make sure to clean it out and unplug it 24-48 hours before the movers arrive to give it time to defrost and dry before it is loaded.
PACK NON-ALLOWABLE ITEMS SEPARATELY
Certain items are not allowed to be packed into a moving truck including chemicals, cleaning products, propane tanks, etc. Review the full list of non-allowable items and make sure none of those items are packed into boxes to load on the truck.
PACK AND PREPARE
If you are packing your own belongings, make sure that all items are safely and securely packed in boxes, sealed, and labeled with contents and room destination BEFORE movers arrive at your home on moving day.
PACK UP THE ESSENTIALS
Make sure to pack a box of essential items that will be LAST to go on the truck. This should include items like toilet paper, paper towels, soap, phone chargers, a first-aid kit, tools, and any other items you might need on moving day before unpacking is complete.
COMPLETE THE HIGH VALUE INVENTORY FORM
This form should include any items that are worth more than $100/lb.
PACK AN OVERNIGHT BAG
Pack an overnight bag, just in case, with a change of clothes, toiletries, sheets, and other essential items for the first night in your new home, so you aren’t scrambling to find them.
KIDS BOX
If you aren’t planning to hire a sitter or don’t have a local family to keep your kids, make sure to pack a box of their toys and items to keep them entertained and carry it with you in the car on moving day.
Before Move in
Check out these resources before moving in!
Move in checklist
USE THIS LIST TO PLAN AHEAD FOR A STRESS-FREE MOVING DAY
If you’re preparing for an upcoming move, having a plan in place will go a long way to make moving day and the days following easier to handle. Use this list as a guide to make sure you have all the necessary items completed before arriving at your new home.
TRANSFER UTILITIES
Make sure that your utilities are all transferred to your new location and that they are turned off at your old home shortly after moving. You would hate to show up with no electricity or running water your first day in your new home!
KNOW YOUR FLOOR PLAN
If you’re moving multiple rooms of furniture, make sure you have a plan for where it all should go when it comes into the house. The movers will help you place furniture, so being prepared ahead of time helps avoid having to move it on your own later.
TIDY UP
Take time to tidy up your NEW space prior to move in day. If you are able to gain access before the movers arrive and can clean the space, it will be much easier before rooms are full of boxes and furniture.
HAVE A MOVE-IN TAG TEAM
If possible, have two people in the new home on moving day, one to confirm the inventory is correct and all your items made it, and another to direct movers where to place your items in your new home.
INVENTORY CHECKLIST
Make sure you are crossing items off of your inventory as they come off the truck to ensure that everything arrived and that there was no damage. This will be much easier than trying to sort through items once they are dispersed throughout the home.
HIRE A SITTER
If you have young children or pets, consider hiring a sitter or having another family member watch the kids or pets on moving day, this will ensure you can focus all your attention on the move and help avoid any accidents.
CONSIDER ADDITIONAL SERVICES
A1 Bestway offers additional services including unpacking, furniture setup and more. Consult with your move-coordinator if you are interested in these services.