Anyone who has moved at least once knows that good organization is the key, whether it is moving to another city or another country. Of course, you have to hire a professional moving company to get things right. But, if you’re moving in a short period of time, things can get messy. And for those who are moving for the first time, last minute relocation can be a real nightmare, which is why we have decided to make your life easier and save your nerves with this last minute moving checklist.
How your last minute moving checklist should look like
There’s no ultimate rule on how your last minute moving checklist should look like, but you should definitely have one. Start by contacting last minute movers who will know what to do in this kind of situation. You can always say how much time do you have and what is your exact relocation schedule (if you have one). Once you find a reliable moving partner, you can move to step two.
Thinking of moving on your own?
Before you start thinking about packaging, you may want to decide how you will move. Are you the type of person who wants to move independently or would you rather hire a moving company? It will depend on a number of factors, such as budget, timeline, and how much you have to move. If you decide to hire professionals, remember that not all moving companies are the same. Also remember, that paying less doesn’t mean you’ll get true moving professionals. Give yourself enough time to find a reputable moving company so you can trust that your property is in good hands.
You need to start packing asap
Until you start packing you never know how many things you have, so one of the first steps should be to throw away what you don’t need. People usually own things in the house that they never use or not even know that they are there, so the advice is to get rid of these things first of all. Then, learn how to pack like a pro and get started. The sooner you start packing, the sooner you can move. It doesn’t matter if you are moving across the country or to a street and a building across the street – it takes a lot of time and energy to pack.
Packing things for moving
Once you have determined what you will actually transfer to the new apartment, you need to estimate how many boxes and what dimensions you will need to pack all the things. Marking boxes with things can make your job much easier, both in transport and when unpacking. Match the numbers on the boxes and the labels on the furniture. In this way, you can make a list that you will use to know that everything has been transferred to a new location. Besides, this is how you’ll know where everything is when it arrives, and you can contact the movers if something is missing.
Loading things on a truck or moving van
When moving, pay attention to how you will pack things in the truck or van. First because of the safety of the things themselves, but also because of the order in which you will bring things into the new home. That’s why loading and unloading services can be of great help. You certainly do not want to bring in all the boxes with the little things that will bother you once you bring in bulky furniture later. This may all sound like a serious operation, but if you have a good moving plan, everything can go very easily and without breaking things.
List your items – again
Just because you ate moving last minute, doesn’t mean you cannot be organized. And no matter if you move your residence locally or long-distance, you should make a list of things that you moved in with you. When unloading things, keep records of what was unloaded and brought into the new apartment. Relocation, among other things, requires excellent organizational skills, so you should devise a plan for unloading and first bring in big things, furniture, electricity, and only then other small things. You can easily create a checklist that you can also use on your phone.
Here are things to keep in mind when moving:
- Donate or give away items you no longer need and save packing time in the long run.
- Determine the number and size of boxes you need for packaging
- Pack important documents, small valuables and sentimental things such as photos in suitcases that you carry with you while moving.
- Create a numbered blank inventory list and per-match the numbered labels. Have numbers on the hand and stick them to the furniture.
- Make a list of all the things you are moving
- Also, make sure heavy items are packed at the bottom of the box and toward the bottom of the moving truck.
- Make a plan for loading things into the truck in the opposite order to unloading (pack larger items, furniture, etc. first)
- Find original bills for expensive items and carry them with you when you move.
- Review items from the moving inventory list once they have been unloaded.
- Inspect your items for damage. Take photos of the relevant items before signing the contract of the moving company
Moving from one place to another
When you have things ready, it’s time to set a date for the big day of your move. If possible, try to access your new location a few days before you are outside the old one. This will give you a mental advantage so you won’t be under stress if you can’t finish your move in one day. Moving last minute can be tricky, but schedule your move so you have time to clean your old home and pick up all the things you left behind.