Moving can be a stressful event, especially for first-time movers who haven’t been through the process before. There’s sorting and packing and taping– oh my! Luckily, we created a guide to give you a week-by-week breakdown of how to prepare for your move. This guide should give you an easy checklist of ways to prepare you and your home for the new journey that lies ahead.
Table of Contents
6-8 Weeks Before: Clean and sort before starting the moving process
For obvious reasons, the sooner you start packing for your move, the better. Giving yourself more time will allow you to break down the moving process into more manageable chunks, as well as make the whole event less stressful for yourself and your loved ones.
It is recommended that you start the packing process for your move at least three weeks before your move-in date. However, the actual moving preparation process should begin about two months before you are expected to move. This will allow you plenty of time to plan, prep, and sort.
Do a Quick Clean of Your House
Starting with a clean house will give you a good foundation to continue forward with the moving process. It will also help you get a head start on the packing and sorting steps since your items will already be in great condition to pack or donate if you choose to do so.
Collect Items That You Will Not be Taking With You
Go through all of your rooms and collect items that you no longer want. These items will be skipping the packing process. This can be done simultaneously with the cleaning process, or afterward. Having fewer items to pack will make preparing for your move easier.
It will also give you the chance to make sure that you are happy with all of the items that you are beginning in your new life. This is a great time to put aside that chipped mug, or that pair of pants you think will be your style someday. Maybe take a tip from Marie Kondo and see if the item sparks joy.
Separate the Keepers and Non-Keepers
Place all of the items you will not be taking with you together. Separate these items from all of the things that you will be keeping. This may give you a better visual as to how many things you will be moving with you to your new home now that unwanted items are out of the way. This may help in the home moving estimation costs.
5 Weeks Before: Sell and Donate
Now that you have items that you hope to get rid of, it’s time to officially downsize by donating and selling them.
Sell
A garage sale is a great way to help you get rid of some unwanted items. It will also put a little extra cash in your pockets and lighten your moving load. These can take a bit of time to plan. You may want to make signs advertising your sale or ask the neighbors on your block if they would be interested in having sales the same weekend to attract more people.
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Donate
After you sell some of your items, you may still have others left over. This is a great opportunity to donate these items to places in your community. There are several different places and groups that would benefit from your donations, so be sure to check out places near you to get some ideas. Many places accept all kinds of donations, from cups to couches to clothing.
4 Weeks Before: Choose a Moving Option
To DIY move or to not DIY move, that is the question.
Look for Professional Movers
This is a great time to talk to your friends and family about your moving process. Ask them for referrals for moving companies they have used to see if they are a good fit for you. Check professional moving services available in your area and compare services and pricing options.
It is recommended that you get at least three quotes from moving companies. This step will ensure that the moving company you choose is a good fit for you in both price points and services. If you have a larger home, requesting an in-home estimate may be helpful in getting a more accurate price estimate, as many moving companies charge by the hour.
Plan to Move Yourself
If you are planning a DIY move, you may need some additional supplies.
Small Supplies for the DIY Packing Process
It’s important to have plenty of boxes, tape, and packing materials when planning a DIY move. Planning an estimated number of materials and purchasing them prior to starting the moving process is ideal.
If you have larger, or more delicate items, you may also need to purchase moving blankets. Many of these items can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes, or Walmart. Explore our moving checklist and make sure you have all of the appropriate items for your move.
Larger Supplies for the DIY Moving Process
You may need to rent some equipment for your DIY move.
Dollies
Dollies can be very helpful when moving large and heavy items. They can be used to move bookshelves, pianos, and several stacks of boxes. If you don’t own a dolly and aren’t able to borrow one for your move, don’t sweat it.
Dollies and hand trucks can be rented from places like Home Depot, U-Haul, and Lowes. Prices range from $7 hourly rates to $20 for a whole day. Exploring these different renting options will help you decide which is the best deal for you in terms of the size of your move.
DIY Moving Tip: Measure, Measure, Measure
If you are planning a DIY move, it’s important to measure all of the large items that you will need to maneuver throughout your home. Measure the items that you need to move, as well as the doorframes and hallways that you will need to move the items through.
This will help you get a better idea of how much muscle you may need to recruit for your move, as well as if you need to disassemble any items to fit them through narrow doorways. This will also be beneficial information when seeking transportation for your items to your new home.
Transportation
There are a few ways to move your items to your new home. These would include renting a moving truck, or a mobile storage pod.
Renting a Moving Truck
U-Haul has a wide variety of moving trucks that can be rented to help get you to your new home. Their moving trucks range from 10 to 26 feet and are perfect for moving anything from a one-bedroom apartment to a four-bedroom home.
You can also rent a moving truck from Enterprise, or Penske, among other places. Rental rates vary in terms of location, duration of use, and size of the truck rental. Check out our guide on how to pack a moving truck for some further DIY moving tips.
Renting a Mobile Storage Pod
Mobile storage pods allow you the option to pack up your moving items well before your move-in date. The pods can be delivered to your house and used to store your items until it’s time for your move. On the other hand, this may be a good option if you are on a time crunch.
All you would need to worry about is loading and unloading your storage pod, and the moving services would do the rest. Rental companies then transport the pods themselves to your new home and can ship them anywhere you need them to be. These pods can be rented from Uhaul, Pods, and other companies. Rates vary depending on location, transportation distance, and size/number of pods.
Many also offer packing and loading assistance for an additional cost or you can hire a labor-only moving company to keep your costs low.
DIY Moving Tip: Recruiting Helpers
It’s always a good idea to ask friends and family for help when you are planning a move. This will give your DIY moving team more hands on deck and more muscle during the constant moving process throughout the day.
Asking friends and family several weeks in advance will help you get a better idea of how much help you will have on your moving day. It will also allow you more time to ask others for help in case life happens and some people have changes in their schedules.
2-3 Weeks Before: Start the Packing Process
Giving yourself additional time in the packing process will help reduce the stress of moving.
Check Your Packing Materials
If you haven’t started to plan and purchase your small moving supplies as we talked about earlier, now is the time. Here is a small checklist of items you will need.
- Boxes
- Tape
- Packaging materials
- Markers/labels
- Moving blankets (optional)
Pack Up Non-Essential Items First
This is a great opportunity to clear your shelves and cabinets of all of their knickknacks. Be sure to handle delicate items with extra care when packaging and placing them in boxes.
Loading up items from the garage, storage rooms, and closets is also a good place to start. It is often recommended to leave the kitchen for last, as it will still be in constant use to keep you fueled during the moving process.
Pack Room By Room
Packing up each room individually will help ensure that all of your valuables in each specific room actually make it into your boxes. Additionally, it will help reduce the number of items that are misplaced and keep things organized easily and efficiently.
Label Your Boxes
Be sure to label the boxes in each room to best keep track of where things belong. And don’t just label them anywhere! Make sure you place your label on the side of the box so you can still see which box is which even when you have your boxes stacked to the ceiling.
This will help you recognize where boxes belong during the unpacking process. In addition, it will save you time when you don’t have to look through piles of unmarked boxes for your favorite sweater.
Move All Items to a Staging or Loading Area
Once all of your rooms have been packed up and properly labeled, moving them to a central location will make things easier on the official day of your move.
The garage is often used as a staging area as it is not a heavily trafficked area, and most likely has many boxes already being stored there. This will save you time on moving day, as you will not have to constantly travel into the different rooms of your house to retrieve boxes for loading.
1 Week Before: The Homestretch
You’re almost there!
Start Packing the Kitchen
Now that you are only a week away from your move-in date, it’s time to tackle the kitchen. Be sure to utilize your packing materials when getting ready. This will keep all of your glasses and plates safe during the move.
Box Up Clothing and Bedding
You probably saved a few boxes worth of clothing that you have been wearing leading up to your move-in day. Now is the time to pack up the majority of these items. You can also start to pack up your bedding and blankets that have kept you well-rested during the moving process.
Final Check-In’s
Once you are only a few days away from your moving day, do a round of final checks. This may include checking the time that movers are coming to drop off your storage pod, or looking to see when your rental truck is ready for you to pick it up.
For a DIY move, you may want to call the friends and family who offered to lend a hand and make sure that they are still a go for helping. Making sure that you and your moving team have access to water, snacks, and shade during your move would also be helpful.
Finally, breathe. Packing up your life into hundreds of boxes is no easy task, but you’ve done it! Make sure to try to get a good night’s sleep the day before your big move. This will help you have more energy on the day of, which will make your final packing and lifting all the easier. Once your moving day has arrived, you’re only one truck ride away from embracing your new home.
Packing and Moving Tips
Pack a First-Night Box
Include a new pair of clothes for the next day when you start to unpack your boxes, as well as a pair of pajamas so that you have something to sleep in case clothing isn’t immediately unpacked when you get to your new home.
Include any toiletries you may need (toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo, conditioner, etc.) so that you will know you have easy access to these items. Check out our first-night box recommendations.
Remember to Take Breaks
Packing is no easy task. Take breaks whenever you need to, whether it be to take a walk, get a snack, or simply unwind from focusing on one task for so long. Also, take breaks when packing up storage pods, moving trucks, etc. on your moving day.
Make sure you and your team stay hydrated while you are working, and take turns resting or carrying heavier items throughout the moving process.
Strategically Label Your Boxes
Paying attention to labeling details will help make your move easier. When you are packing up your items room by room, give a brief description of what is inside the boxes, as well as the room in which the items are going to be moved to in your new home. This will make unpacking your moving truck easier.
Call Your Utility Providers
This is a behind-the-scenes hack to the moving process. Well before your move-in date, make sure to call your utility provider to ensure that your new home will have water and electricity up and running when you arrive. This will save you from the stress and struggles of showing up to a house without lighting and running water while you are trying to unpack.
Kitchen Packing Hacks
Kitchens are filled with breakables. Place paper plates between your glass ones. This will help to avoid breaks during packing and transportation. Socks and other articles of clothing can also be used to pack your kitchen glassware.
Aubrey graduated from UCLA in 2019 with dual degrees in English and Psychology, as well as receiving a concentration in Fiction Creative Writing. Her writing can be found at Locale Magazine, UCLA's MindWell pod, HerCampus, Westwind, and Bloody Donuts. Aubrey currently lives in Los Angeles with her orange tabby cat, Bowie, and spends her free time reading anything she can get her hands on and soaking up the golden California sun. You can find her hiking the Laguna trails, making jewelry, or exploring the local library.
