Moving Day Tips for a Smooth, On-Time Move

All About Time

If you want a smooth, on-time move, you’ll need to start preparing early, because a home or office move is all about time. How early you need to prepare will depend on whether you’re moving to a new home or office and whether you’re doing a local move or a long distance relocation. While some moving companies recommend planning three or more months ahead, in this blog, we’ll share some tips to get it done in two.

Eight Weeks to Moving Day

If you’re moving to a new home, apartment, or small office, an eight-week (two-month) head start should give you enough time to plan and prepare. You can take your time here; don’t let the dread or anxiety of moving force you to start packing now. At the same time, don’t be tempted to stall for a day or two, because those days can suddenly turn to weeks, and you’ll be left scrambling to prepare your move in less than a week.

Plan Ahead

Start by creating a to-do list for your move, so you’ll know where to start. Include actions like ‘update addresses’, ‘buy packing materials’, and ‘hire movers’, and don’t worry about putting them in some kind of order.

Start Decluttering

Decluttering will help you in two ways. First, it will help you take stock of what you have and determine what to keep. And second, it will help you reduce what you need to pack.

Find a San Antonio Moving Company

Finding a moving company now is necessary, especially if you’re planning to move on a weekend or during a holiday. When looking for one, always check if they’re licensed, ask for detailed moving quotes, and see what people say about their experience.

Six Weeks to Moving Day

Two weeks have gone by, you’ve managed to declutter a few things, and you’ve found the best moving company to handle your relocation—what’s next? Now, it’s time to start preparing for your move.

Gather Moving Supplies

Start preparing by getting durable boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and label stickers. Make sure you have enough for your belongings, or else you’ll find yourself wasting time running back and forth to the store for more supplies.

Pack Non-Essentials

Begin packing all (or most) non-essential items, such as books, seasonal wear, and seldom-used electronics or appliances. The sooner you pack the non-essentials, the sooner you can get started on the rest.

Update Important Groups

Now would be the perfect time to change the address on anything you’re paying for, from utilities to your auto insurance. Also, be sure to update your ID or license to reflect your new address. Yes, doing these will feel tedious, but it is necessary.

Four Weeks to Moving Day

With moving day a month away, it’s time to shift gears and move faster. We’re not saying you need to rush, but we’re saying you’ll need to use your time wisely now as you prepare for your local move or long distance relocation.

Pack Some Essential Items

Start by packing clothing you don’t need every day, along with some frequently used items and specialty items. We suggest doing short, frequent packing sessions to keep it neat and organized and avoid disrupting your daily routine.

Update Your Utilities

To make your move even smoother and stress-free, schedule the transfer (or disconnection) of utilities early. Updating your utility services will ensure they are available at your new place the moment you arrive.

Confirm Details with the Moving Company

During packing, take a moment to confirm certain details of your move with the moving company, such as arrival time, crew size, parking instructions, and inventory for moving day. Confirming these details will ensure both you and the movers are on the same page.

Two Weeks to Moving Day

It’s time to pick up the pace. With only two weeks to go, now’s the time to finish packing (or at least most of it) and ensure everything will be ready for moving day.

Finalize Packing and Labeling

Ensure that you’ve sealed your boxes with quality packing tape and labeled them clearly with room designations. Also, take the time to create a quick inventory list, photograph high-value items, and put all your important documents in a personal bag.

Write a Moving Day Checklist

When moving day comes, a moving day checklist will help you make things slightly less chaotic. The list will help remind you what to do before, during, and after the relocation.

Pack a ‘First Night’ Bag or Box

Be sure to pack some essentials in a separate bag or box for the first night of your move. Include items such as a spare change of clothes, chargers for your gadgets, food, water, and trash bags. 

It’s Moving Day!

Moving day is finally here, and that means the fun (or stressful) part is about to begin! Whether you’re feeling excited or anxious to move, do take your time so nothing gets overlooked.

Start Early

Kick things off by getting some boxes ready for loading. Even if the movers haven't arrived yet, preparing some of your belongings will help reduce the time spent loading them into the truck.

Clear Space

As you move some boxes to improve access and loading, take a moment to clear a path for your movers so they can more easily carry larger items, such as furniture. It may be a simple thing to do, but your moving crew will appreciate you for it.

Supervise the Move

While it’s okay to leave the lifting and loading to the professionals, do take a few moments to supervise them. Let them know which items are fragile, tell them about tight corners, or check if they have questions about disassembling furniture.

Before You Leave

Now, with everything loaded up and everyone ready to leave, do one last walkthrough of the house to ensure you didn’t leave anything (or anyone) behind. Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to say goodbye to your old home or office.

Once You Arrive

Once you're at your new place, but before you start unloading, do a quick walkthrough with your moving team to let them know where to put what. And once everything has been unloaded and placed in the right rooms, thank your moving company and settle the bill.

Final Thoughts: Earlier the Better

Prepping early is the key to a smooth, on-time move. While you can try to plan and prepare your move in a month or less, having a bit of extra time will help maintain your peace of mind, especially for long-distance or large office moves. If you can, always plan your move at least 3 months in advance.