Preparing for a Big Move

I’ve done two massive moves, across many state lines, and have learned some valuable lessons in organizing and time frames. Here are several categories of issues to keep in mind.

1. Sort and Purge. I can’t overstate this step. Especially if you have a big house and are downsizing decades of your life into a small house or a condo, you will need to allow plenty of time. And I do mean plenty. It took us almost a year in both moves to get our ‘stuff’ organized, sorted, and purged. And it isn’t as easy as it might seem, so here are some suggestions.

Sell things that you can. This is time consuming, though, so be realistic about the value of doing so for certain items. A yard sale can be a good way to get rid of lots of stuff at once, but only if you have things that people want AND you advertise well, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craig’s List. Some things seem to do well at yard sales, like tools, things for kids…stuff that people need and use, and want a bargain. If all you have is your grandmother’s knick-knack and ceramic dog collection, you won’t attract much traffic.

Craig’s List and Facebook Marketplace are good too. Keep in mind the hassle of managing this if you list many things at once. It can get hectic with calls, messages, and people showing up at your house. But it’s worth it to clear out what don’t want to take.

Many things are hard to sell, as I’ve learned. We have many antiques and there just isn’t a good market for those, or at least when we sold it was difficult, and you certainly won’t get anywhere close to what you paid. You may decide to give the ‘good stuff’ to family, friends, and neighbors rather than go through the hassle of trying to sell. And if you think you can sell that old piano….good luck!

Charities are also good for donations. Check the websites for various charities in your area to see if they do pick up, drop off, and what items they accept. We had charity coming nearly every week during our last couple months. You can also claim it on your taxes (just keep track).

Throw away. Think about this when you go through your kitchen, for instance. Do you really need all those disposable plastic containers that are missing lids? Is your new house a lot smaller? Think it through carefully and maybe do it in stages so you have several passes to decide. This goes for your clothes, too. Are you going to a new climate? Are you retiring? No need for the suits and snow boots. Remember, you will be paying for everything you move, so make it worthwhile.

2. Pack. Obvious, of course, but this is also time consuming. Start with those things you rarely use but know you want to keep. Your grandmother’s favorite vase, the graduation gift from your mother… start with the least used things and get started well in advance. We used a small room downstairs and stacked tubs in there.

Another very important point: Make sure you pull out all important papers and valuables to keep with you. Also, keep in mind you can end up without your things right away in your new house, if the movers don’t arrive on time. We put together a tub of items we would want on the road and in the house right away so we wouldn’t have to go buy extra things. A set of silverware, a can opener, a couple coffee cups and plates, etc. We were living out of hotels for a couple weeks, so for us we had a very full vehicle to hold us for our ‘homeless’ period.

Never pack anything too valuable to send with movers, if you can help it. Keep jewelry and other small valuables with you. Also think about electronics that might have personal information. Label all your boxes so you can easily sort them, but DON’T make any boxes a target… it’s common sense, I know, but labels like “Valuables” or “Silver” or anything like that could encourage thievery! I just label by room, kitchen, bedroom1, bedroom2, and so forth.

Lastly, planning ahead will help you save money. You can get free boxes at liquor stores and other stores, but when and how many varies, so it’s an ongoing process. We held on to the multiple local newspapers thrown into our yard to help pack breakables. It saved on expensive bubble wrap and Styrofoam and better for recycling, anyhow.

3. Kids. If you have kids in school, you’ll need to coordinate the move with the schools. You probably checked out the new schools early on, but you will still need to make sure you know what is needed to get your child enrolled. Make sure you hand-carry your child’s immunization records with your important papers, you will need those. If your child has special needs, or is under an IEP, make sure you have those files handy, too. If your child has any health issues, such as asthma, it’s not a bad idea to keep his or her medical records available as well. After the movers drop off all your things it can be hard to locate specific items, so think carefully of things you know you will need to have available once you’re settled in the new home.

Also think about what might keep your child entertained if you will be in the car for an extended move! It will benefit you, too, when the time comes. That’s one good thing about electronics!

Moving is hard on pets, too!

4. Pets. It’s a good idea to get your pets to the vet before you move, especially if your pet may need medication for anxiety. Make sure their shots are current and you have documentation. You can get copies of their records to take with you, if you want, or they will send to your new vet. You don’t want to immediately have to find a vet once you land in your new home. Also plan for pets if you will be on a long drive or flight. Make sure you know what hotels or airlines, etc., will accommodate your fur babies.

5. Healthcare. If you have any prescriptions, get them all filled as much as possible before you hit the road. If you can get any dental or doctor visits done, even if just preventative, it will allow you more time to get settled with a new doctor. Physicians and pharmacies are usually very helpful about transferring prescriptions, but there are limitations on that depending on your medications. So be very careful and find out in advance. You don’t want any surprises at the last minute.

6. Moving Companies. Ugh, the worst part of my move. If you are able to pack a U-Haul it’s a lot more cost effective. You can always hire movers to help you on either end of the trip, too, if you can’t handle it yourself. But if you get a moving company…

Get several bids. Don’t get sucked in with high pressure, they will say things like ‘we will have a truck in your area that very day, but you need to reserve it now’. Don’t buy it, there are lots of options. Get quotes from several, and make sure that they are based on the actual amount of things you are moving. There will need to be an inventory, including the number of boxes and tubs. Otherwise you may find yourself with a much higher bill when the time comes, and then it’s too late to change. Read reviews, too. Make sure it’s a reputable company, many are not and nightmare stories abound.

Make sure the movers are licensed and insured, and if it’s an interstate move make sure they are insured for that. Also find out who is actually going to be the moving company. Our company brought in local subcontractors who were very unprofessional and caused me a lot of unnecessary stress. Make sure also that the delivery date for your things is crystal clear and documented in writing. Find out if they put your things in storage. My movers told me they didn’t do that, and they failed to document that our ‘arrival’ date in Florida was two weeks after we closed in Maryland (due to closing dates, etc). That created HUGE drama and stress for us at a time when we were already living in a hotel. So our fragile antiques got moved in and out multiple times in varying weather conditions. Plus they were put in a storage site where they got comingled with other people’s stuff. The movers, for instance, brought in a very valuable framed and signed sports jersey. Not mine. I told them so, of course. But somebody, somewhere, got a signed, limited edition piece of art of ours… the movers never did locate it.

Make sure you get the movers selected a couple months in advance. This is another reason to purge and pack ahead of time. It makes it easier to estimate how much stuff you are moving and what it will cost. It isn’t cheap, so my biggest piece of advice is to embrace the purge!

7. Utilities, etc. Don’t forget to have your mail forwarded and your utilities shut off/turned on. Make sure you know what to do with that cable box or other ‘rented’ item that will need to be returned in order to avoid a fine. This type of thing can be an added hassle if done at the last minute.

A big move can be an overwhelming process. As I said, it took me a year, on both occasions. Don’t hesitate to get guidance from your real estate agent and others involved in the process. That’s what they are there for! They can help you find local resources, identify the utility companies, and get you information on the schools and the neighborhood.

Lastly, try to give yourself a break and pace yourself. It’s a hard process, especially if you are moving long distance and/or downsizing. It isn’t possible to start too early with purging and organizing. No matter how good you are, there is always a last minute flurry of deadlines and packing. Just plan for it and roll with it; you’re on the way to your new life!