Don’t overlook these tasks as you prepare for your move

With the hustle and bustle of finding a new place to live, getting moving supplies, taking time off work, packing up your belongings, and arranging for them to be moved, it’s possible to forget to take care of a few steps as you prepare for an upcoming move. A thorough move involves ensuring that you are leaving behind the location you’re vacating in good shape and taking care of your family and other details in the process.

The good news? As moving experts, we’re happy to share a few tips on what you can add to your moving checklist so that you leave no detail unaddressed — so keep reading!

Though it may seem obvious to some, making sure you’ve added — and later crossed off — these on your moving prep list will be key:

• Wash any dirty dishes and unload the dishwasher (if you have one). You’re likely going to need to pack up those dishes, too! Having them clean before you start packing all your kitchen items up will help you pack them all together. That way, they’ll be easier to unpack when you get to your destination.
• Clear out the fridge and kitchen pantry. Even if you’re preparing meals at home right up until the move, it’s possible that forgetting this step may be an oversight. You’ll want to make sure you grab all the shelf-stable items from your pantry that you want to take with you. You could plan ahead to pack up what you don’t plan to use a week ahead of your move. With your refrigerator, you may need to wait until closer to your move to clear it out. Consider having a cooler on hand to take any perishables straight to your new destination, if possible. Otherwise, you may need to throw out what will be going bad soon. Wiping out and cleaning the refrigerator and pantry after they are empty are key parts of this step as well. Don’t forget to defrost the freezer too if you’re taking it with you!
• Finish any loads of laundry that are in progress. If items are in your washing machine or dryer, it could be easy to have them be “out of sight, out of mind” and forget to unload them before your move. Pick a date before your move that will be the last load you finish before you pack up items. Separate any unwashed items from the clean ones so that you can pick up right where you left off with laundry once you’ve settled into your new place.
• Arrange for care of your children and pets. Packing and moving while children and pets are in the house may be disruptive at best, and dangerous at worst. Make sure you have those in your care taken care of by arranging for child care or pet care when you can’t be available to ensure that they are safe during the move yourself.
• Take out the garbage. You’ll likely be tired of sorting through items you no longer want or need during your move. Remembering to take the last load(s) of refuse out to the curb or to your designated trash area may be one of the last things on your mind.
• Return any items you’ve borrowed. Set aside any library books or lawn care items you’ve borrowed from your neighbors so that they don’t get packed up with your belongings. Make a plan to return them to their owners/location prior to the date you plan to vacate your current address. Doing so will likely keep you from getting a bill from the library and staying in good standing with your local pals.
• Clear out storage areas. If you’ve got a room, basement, or attic you use for storage, but don’t get into often, this one may be for you. Keep track of these storage spaces in your home and make sure you empty them out as you decide what you’ll keep and what you’ll be taking with you before your move.
• Read up on any moving day restrictions. Live in a city with specific parking regulations? Need to make arrangements with your landlord for use of a freight elevator for your move? Add this research task to your moving checklist so that you’re not caught unprepared for the day off with unanticipated barriers.
• Prep easy-to-access items for your first night after the move. It’s great to pack up boxes according to where they will go when you reach your destination. However, you don’t want to go from room to room to find what you need on your first night. Set aside your most frequently used items and some clothes to change into so that you don’t spend your first night/day in your new place frantically searching for what you need ASAP.

Another thing you won’t want to overlook is working with professional movers like Piece of Cake Moving and Storage! Keeping track of all the details of a move is quite a task in and of itself. Trusting seasoned professionals to assist you and take over many of the steps of your move can save you time, money, and a whole lotta stress. Our extensive services, like delivering moving materials to your door, packing, unpacking, furniture assembly, custom crating, and even storage, will cover all your bases and ensure no detail of your relocation is left unchecked. Give us a call 24/7/365 and you can cross “a smooth move” off your checklist.