Organizing the Move to Your New Home

MOVING TO A NEW HOME

So you thought the hard work of purchasing a home was over? During the moving process, you'll face a slew of tasks in order to get settled into your new place of residence. Within a short window, you'll have to organize your life, utilities and all of your belongings. While the moving process can be quite stressful, following certain steps will enable you to make the process more manageable.

PICK A MOVE DATE AND HIRE MOVERS OR A TRUCK

The key to a smooth move is organization. Start by picking the moving date. If you plan to use a professional moving company, interview several as often times their rates will be significantly different and it's possible they may not be available on your moving date. Starting online with moving sites that compare services is a good place to gather information. If your plan is to move on your own, secure a truck for pickup the evening before or the morning of your move. Be sure to book as soon as you know the date as trucks may not be available near the end of the month/year.

ELIMINATE UNWANTED ITEMS

Once your date and moving option are secured, the next step in completing a move is to gather all of the items you no longer want. As you eliminate them all from your possession, take the time to find a worth wild place for them. A quick search for local charities and resell stores will take nearly everything including clothes, furniture,kitchenware and more. Go room by room sorting what to keep and what to pass on, boxing the keepers and the charitable contributions.

START PACKING BELONGINGS

As you begin your room by room assault, prioritize items by those for the movers and those you don't want out of your possession such as valuable documents, jewelry and family heirlooms.  Clearly mark each box or bag with they type of belonging and the room they should be placed in at your new home. Whether you have a team of professionals, friends or family helping you move, this will allow for greater efficiency during the move.

SET UP UTILITIES & TELEVISION PROGRAMMING

Just prior to your move, begin reaching out to your utility companies to have your services transferred. Most will have an online option for cancelling your service on one end and setting up a start date at your new location. If you're moving a long distance try one of the online "moving assist" sites that will steer you to the correct utility. Don't hesitate to ask your real estate agent for an assist as well.

MOVING DAY

Be sure to have a plan for you and those helping. Organize tasks for each person and manage the move to keep on track. If moving using family and friends, start by unplugging and securing lights and electronics that you've held off on. Pack up your refrigerator and freezer using a cooler and ice if available. Make sure to have blankets and padding ready for the delicate large items that will need bundled.

CONCLUSION

The process of completing a move is usually quite demanding and time consuming. While this can be an overwhelming task at times, you can make the process easier. Break the move into a series of small tasks so they become manageable and follow the simple steps outlined above and you'll be able to make your move more efficient and less stressful.