Be Sure You Do These 5 Things Before Moving Day

As moving day approaches, there are a lot of things to get ticked off the to-do list. From organizing and planning to packing, switching utilities, and prepping for travel arrangements, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Even if you’re using a full-service relocation company like ADSI Moving Systems, there are a few often-overlooked, but oh-so-important, tasks that you will want to make sure are completed prior to your moving date. We’re sharing some of the top checklist items you might have overlooked in preparation for your move.

5 Tasks to Tackle Before Your Move

Prep Your Large Appliances 

If you’re planning to move your refrigerator or freezer, make sure to prep them fCheor moving day ahead of time. About 48 hours before your move, empty the contents, unplug, and leave the doors open to thaw and dry out. This prevents leaks during transit and keeps items from mildewing during storage or long-distance travel.

Before your driver arrives, make sure to prep your other large appliances as well, like your washer, dryer, and icemakers. Disconnect and service them in advance, unless you’ve made other arrangements with your dedicated move coordinator.

Update Your Address and Transfer Your Utilities

Begin making preparations for your new home as early as you can to ensure a smooth transition! At least 14 days out, start the address change process and begin filling out mail forwarding forms. You may need to update your address with more services than you thought, so it’s best to start early! 

Some of the most important places to update your address at include:

• USPS
• DMV
• IRS
• Social Security Administration, if you are receiving benefits
• Voter registration
• Banks
• Credit card companies
• Health, dental, and life insurance providers
• Doctors and vets
• And more

And don’t forget to check your utility services (water, internet, power, gas, heat, etc.) at your new place so that you’re not stuck paying for these services at your old home. Maintain a list of all of your current utilities to help you keep track of which services you need to sign up for. Make sure everything’s up and running so you’ll have everything you need when you arrive. 

Clear Out Storage Areas

For safety and liability reasons, our full-service relocation does not cover moving items from crawl spaces or attics on the day of the move. Ensure that you have relocated these items to an easily accessible area, such as a bonus room or garage, so that they can be swiftly loaded onto the moving van once your movers arrive.

Don’t forget, if you have items in temporary storage that need to come with you, make sure they are picked up and brought to your home prior to moving day. Consider enlisting help from friends or family, or working with your ADSI relocation consultant to determine the best course of action.

Take Inventory and Keep Track of Important Documents

Before your move, you’ll want to take inventory of the items most valuable to you, as well as any documents that you may need to set up your life at your new home.

Keep these important docs close at hand:

• Social Security card or other proof of identity
• Proof of residency in current state
• Driver’s license or other government-issued identification
• Birth certificates
• Marriage and/or divorce certificates
• School transcripts for children, if applicable
• Medical records for you and your family members
• Vehicle registration information
• Insurance policies for health, auto, home, and life

For any items of extraordinary value, like jewelry, fine china, or antiques, you’ll want to declare them on your high-value inventory sheet and let your coordinator know to take extra precautions.

Prepare Machinery and Non-Allowables

Small machinery items include lawn mowers, blowers, weed eaters, and other gas-operated equipment. Before loading them onto the truck, make sure that batteries have been removed and these items have been safely drained of fuel and oil. Transporting items with gas and oil can be hazardous.

Pro tip: Remember to check ADSI’s full non-allowables list. This list outlines what items can be hauled in the moving truck and which items will need to be packed and transported separately. 

Some common household non-allowables include:

• Alcohols
• Matches
• Batteries
• Gasoline
• Cleaning solvents and ammonia
• Charcoal
• Antifreeze

Leave Your Move to the Professionals at ADSI

Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, a full-service relocation helps to alleviate some of the stress of planning and preparing for a move. For over 50 years, ADSI has been providing quality moving and storage services to customers across the CSRA. If you are preparing for an upcoming move, get your free quote today to see how we can make your relocation a breeze.