Ultimate Moving Checklist from DC’s Premier Moving Company

Tips for a Stress-Free Move

The last thing you want to do is have unnecessary stress when planning a move. With everything that goes into a move, you’ll want someone to help you with the details. Luckily, Georgetown Moving and Storage Company has a stellar track record of local and long-distance moves.

We have storage, moving, and packing services to ensure your move is handled smoothly. However, if you feel like you have everything handled, our experts have put together a timeline plan to help keep your move on track.

Eight Weeks Before You Move

You never want to put moving off to the last minute. Around eight weeks before the moving date, you’ll want to get the ball rolling. Start by taking inventory of your items, arranging the transfer of important records, and establishing a concrete filing system.

A few additional steps you’ll want to take around this time include:

• Obtain the floor plan of your new home so you can decide which items you’ll take with you.
• Building off the take-or-leave process, take a general inventory of your household to ensure you don’t leave anything behind on moving day.
• Start collecting estimates from moving companies, then choose one to complete your moving process.
• Connect with your insurance agent and review your homeowner’s policy to ensure your belongings are covered.

Six Weeks Before You Move

Your moving date is growing closer. At this point, you should start cleaning out the items that won’t be making a move with you. While you get rid of the extra items, you need to start getting familiar with where your new home is located.

Make sure to knock these items out at the six-week-ahead mark:

• Communicate your new address with anyone who needs it, including friends, family, the post office, and your insurance agent.
• Look into professionals near your moving destination, such as dentists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
• Donate your unwanted items to charity or hold a yard sale to clean out your inventory.

Four Weeks Before You Move

Now that you’re a month away, you’ve found yourself on one of two paths. You are either doing a self-move or hiring a company to manage the move. Either way, here are the steps to take at this point:

• If you’re doing a self-move, reserve a truck, gather the materials you’ll need, and start packing. If you’ve picked a moving company, communicate with them so they can have an accurate schedule of your move. The movers can pack one to two days before loading begins.
• If your current home will be sold before you move, make sure you have living accommodations for that time.
• Keep valuable papers you need handy, such as birth certificates, school records, and medical records.
• If you have furniture, drapes, or carpets that need repair, now is an excellent time to send them.
• Start to eat the overstocked food you have.

Three Weeks Before You Move

Shift the focus from your current home to your new home once you get to the three-week mark. Ensure you have notified your utility companies that you’ll soon be changing locations and inform the appropriate government agencies that you’ll be moving.

These are the following items that should be tackled at this time:

• Confirm a plan to have child- or pet-sitting for your moving day.
• Update your information with the state motor vehicle bureau and transfer your car registration and insurance records.
• Schedule the disconnection of your utilities in your current home.

Two Weeks Before You Move

At this point, the energy is on fine-tuning. Make sure all your vehicles are running without issues, your i’s are dotted, and your t’s are crossed:

• Service your vehicle to ensure there are no moving day malfunctions.
• Make sure you have removed all potentially dangerous items, such as flammable liquids, from your moving materials.
• Arrange to have your plants and pets moved, as some moving companies will not handle these items.

One Week Before You Move

Seven days now separate you and your new home. You have reached the final steps of the prep, and you need to make sure all the items are checked off your to-do list:

• Cancel any deliveries or subscriptions to your current house or transfer them to your new home.
• Make sure you have at least two weeks’ worth of your medications, as there could be delays in updating your records.
• Arrange for payment of your move.
• Purchase traveler’s checks and close safety deposit boxes.

Moving Day

The day has arrived! The crew is arriving at your home, and now you’ll walk them through what you need from them to ensure a smooth move:

• Be present to greet the moving team and answer any questions they might have. You should remain here until they’ve loaded the truck.
• Once the truck is loaded, go through your home once more to ensure nothing is left behind.
• Inform the truck driver of where your new home is and give the driver a means to reach you during the move.

Delivery Day

This is what you’ve been working toward. The hard part is over; now, you just need to get your belongings unloaded. Use this checklist to ensure everything goes smoothly:

• You should be present for the unloading of your items.
• Per federal requirements, you must pay your moving company before your items can be unloaded.
• Once the unloading is complete, check for any damaged or missing items and note them on the inventory before you sign the documents.

Happy Moving!

There’s no place for extra stress when moving. With GSA approval and a Superior Service Award, you can feel comfortable using Georgetown Moving and Storage Company for all your local and long-distance moves.

With a staff that prides itself on being reliable and professional, using Georgetown Moving and Storage for full moving services ensures you a stress-free move.

Don’t put all the stress of a move on yourself; trust the professionals. Call (703) 889-8899 today or contact us online for a free estimate.

This information is provided thanks to the American Moving and Storage Association © Copyright

Moving to Washington, DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia? Moving away from DC, MD, or VA? No matter your situation, Georgetown Moving and Storage Company can provide all the moving and storage solutions you need for a successful transition.

Contact us today at (703) 889-8899 for more information on our relocation services and receive a free quote.