How to organize a move

by Ethan Greenfieldon Jul 20, 2023.

Moving is so difficult that it may seem like you need superpowers in order to perform a safe and successful relocation.

Don’t despair though – while you may not have any supernatural abilities, you can still easily make the hectic and stressful moving process go like clockwork. All you need to do is organize your move well – and you don’t need any superpowers to achieve that, only a good plan.

So, how to organize a move? How to bring order to the relocation chaos and ensure that every aspect of the complex moving process is properly planned and taken care of?

Here are some expert tips for organizing a move to help you plan your perfect relocation:

Start as early as possible

The earlier you start planning your move, the more time you will have to gather information and think things through – conduct thorough researches, explore different options, look for advice and recommendations, compare and analyze… As a result, you will be able to make informed decisions – that is, correct decisions. And making the right decisions is exactly what will ensure the success of your relocation endeavor.

Besides, when you start organizing your move well in advance, you will have time to carefully consider all aspects of the relocation process. You will be able to plan for everything, so you won’t miss a single moving task, overlook a single relevant factor, or let a single detail fall through the cracks.

Last but not least, scheduling your move early will give you a better chance of securing the services of a top-rated moving company for a convenient moving date and at a good price.

See also: When to start planning a move

Create a moving calendar

When wondering how to organize a move to a new home, first you need to decide on the best time to perform your relocation and figure out how much time you have left until moving day. Then, you’re advised to create a detailed moving calendar with all the tasks that need to be taken care of prior to your relocation and the deadlines for their completion.

A personalized moving calendar is a great organizational tool – it will not only help you keep track of things and organize your time in the best possible manner, but will also allow you to break every major relocation task into achievable mini-goals and focus on the ones at hand. This way, you won’t forget anything important and will be able to finish all the necessary moving preparations on time.

See also: How to make a moving timeline

Set up a moving budget

In order to organize a successful move, you need a good financial plan – so you need to make a realistic and efficient moving budget. (Be sure to plan not only for the cost of hiring a moving company or renting a moving truck, but also for packing expenses, travel expenses, insurance costs, post-relocation expenses, and contingency expenses.)

Your moving budget will give you an accurate idea of how much money you’re going to need at each step of the relocation process and will allow you to keep track of your moving expenses, so you can avoid financial surprises and financial problems during your move.

Must-read: How to make a moving budget

Decide which of your items to take to your new home and get rid of unneeded stuff

One of your first tasks when organizing for a move is to organize your belongings – sort out your items and decide which of them are worth taking to your new home.

Remember that the more things you decide to relocate, the more difficult and more expensive your move is going to be – so, be sure to get rid of everything you don’t really need or like (damaged items, worn-out items, outdated items, outgrown items, duplicate items, items you won’t be able to use in your new surroundings, items you’re not interested in or don’t like anymore, etc.). Throw away damaged items and sell or donate those that are still in good condition.

Make a moving inventory

Once you’ve decided which of your items to relocate, make a moving inventory – note down the type of the item, its distinctive features and estimated value, the room it belongs to, and, most importantly, a statement of its current condition together with sufficient evidence (photos, warranties, quality certificates, appraisal statements, etc.).

Your inventory list will help you organize your items and keep track of them during the move. It will also help you get an accurate idea of your moving costs, determine what kind of packing materials and how many of them you’re going to need, and estimate how long it will take you to pack your belongings.

See also: How to make a moving inventory

Book trustworthy movers

Without a doubt, the best way to organize a move is to hire experienced and reliable movers who will take proper care of your items and will ensure your safe and successful relocation experience. Just make sure you choose good movers (ask for recommendations, read moving reviews, research different companies, get on-site binding estimates, compare the offers, and pick the best moving partners for you) and book their services well in advance.

Good to remember: Be sure to schedule your move and book your chosen movers at least 4-6 weeks in advance (8 weeks when moving in peak season), so you have a greater choice of movers available for your preferred moving date – and so you get a better deal for your move (many movers offer discounts for early bookings).

Take care of the paperwork

Having followed the above tips, you will have already organized your time, your finances, and your belongings and scheduled your move – what remains is to organize the paperwork.

Moving involves a lot of paperwork:

You need to collect your documents (personal documents, financial papers, medical records, school records, etc.) and organize them for moving (See also: How to organize documents when moving)
You need to change your address with the USPS so you can have your mail forwarded to your new address (See also: How to change address when moving)
You need to contact your service providers and arrange to have the utilities in your old home disconnected on the day after move-out day and the utilities in your new home running on move-in day (See also: How to transfer utilities when moving)

After the move, you will need to update your home insurance and change your voter registration. If you’ve moved out of state, you will also have to update your driver’s license and car registration.

Organize the packing process

Packing is the most laborious and time-consuming task you will need to take care of when preparing for your move, so you should give it due attention.

Here is how to organize packing for a move:

1) Get appropriate packing supplies – Refer to your moving inventory list to estimate how many and what type of packing materials you’re going to need to safely pack your items for moving and get the necessary supplies as early as possible:

Buy quality packing materials (brand new moving boxes, specialty packing boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, etc.) for your more delicate and more valuable items;
Look for used moving boxes and other packing materials you can get for free (See also: Where to get free moving boxes);
Use alternative packing materials you already have at home – suitcases, bags, baskets, buckets, and other containers that can be used to hold your items, old clothes, towels, and linens that can be used for wrapping and cushioning your belongings, etc.

2) Create a packing timeline – Decide what to pack when so you can pack all your belongings in time but still have access to everything you may need until moving day. (See also: Packing timeline for moving)

3) Find out what items not to pack for moving – Ask your movers for a list of the items they won’t move for safety, legal, or ethical reasons and don’t waste time and effort packing these items for moving. (See also: Non-allowable items)

4) Pack your belongings with utmost care – Use the safest and most efficient packing techniques for packing different kinds of items. (See also: Packing tips for moving)

5) Label your packed boxes and items to ensure better organization and make unpacking easier. (See also: How to label boxes for moving)

6) Pack an “Open-first” box with all the essentials you need to survive for a couple of days without the rest of your belongings. (See also: How to prepare an essentials box for moving)

Bonus tip: Take lots of pictures -to keep vivid memories of your old life, to have evidence about the pre-move condition of your items, to have visual aid when reassembling furniture and reconnecting cords and wires, to be able to recreate your home decor if you wish so, etc. Taking pictures takes organization to the next level during a house move. (See also: What to photograph when moving and why)

Organize a safe and smooth moving day

Moving day is the culmination of the moving process, so you need to organize it really well in order to make things go smoothly and efficiently:

Reserve a convenient parking space for the moving truck as close to the entrance of your home as possible;
Remove obstacles from the corridors and entryway of your home and keep the path between the front door and the moving truck free of debris and potential hazards;
Take measures to protect your property from damage;
Keep children and pets away from the moving chaos;
Set aside the items that should not be loaded on the moving truck ;
Make sure everything is fully packed and ready by the time the movers arrive;
Meet your movers and keep the communication open;
Stay calm and positive;
Triple-check everything.

See also: Tips for a successful moving day

So, how to organize for a move? Make plans, lists, and schedules and stick to them – your relocation is guaranteed to be a success!