The Complete Pre-Move Checklist – From Planning to Move Day

It’s never too early or too soon to start planning your move. Relocating and moving into a new home can be stressful. Whether you’re moving across the street or the state, you will eventually be surrounded by your furniture, packing tape, and cardboard boxes.

Regardless of where you’re moving, there’s no sugarcoating it—moving is hard. If you want things to go smoother, you’ll require a list of things that need to be done. Once you have a deadline for everything and accomplish various tasks, it will help minimize stress.

You can print out a checklist, check off every item once you’re done with it, and add deadlines to everything. The last thing remaining on your list when you move should be “reach the new home.”

We have compiled this guide to make your moving day as painless as possible. Our experts and professional movers have chimed in with their helpful tips. If you want to hire residential relocation services, visit Minorcan Moving & Storage today.

Two Months Before

Research Moving and Relocating Services

This is an essential step in planning for your move. If you want to do things by yourself, make sure you have the right equipment and workforce at your disposal. However, it’s always best to hire professionals. You can research the options available and find reliable residential movers in St. Augustine. Make sure the company is licensed and insured.

Budget Accordingly

Whether you’re DIY-ing this move or hiring movers, make sure you know your relocation budget. Be prepared so you can cover all the expenses. Your average moving costs can range between $800 to $2500.

Check Out Your New Neighborhood

Before the move, you can visit the neighborhood you’ll be residing in. Checking out the community and seeing the area for yourself will help you prepare for the move. You can understand more about the different amenities and facilities available there.

Create a Binder

A moving binder is a great way to keep track of everything. You can add everything we’ll mention in this guide and make a checklist. Add receipts and other details you’ve gathered through research. Organize your bills, school records, and your inventory details.

Research Schools

If you have children, research the top-rated schools in your new community. You can also talk to your neighbors and ask for their opinion. They can inform you about the best schools in the area and guide you about the school buses.

Tell Your Landlord

If you’re renting your current home, give your landlord your notice. A heads-up will help you get out of the lease agreement. Most agreements require a 30-60 days’ notice before moving out. Double-check everything before you move ahead with your relocating plans.

Seven Weeks Before

Get Estimates

If you’ve narrowed down your top moving companies in Saint Augustine, it’s time to get estimates. This will help you avoid surprises and ensure that the movers understand the job from before. You can also ask if the estimate is non-binding or not.

Ask Friends for Help

You will need some extra help if you do a DIY move. You can ask your family and friends for help. If you ask in advance, people might be able to clear out their schedules and assist you. Some of your friends and family members might even let you borrow their boxes, packing tape, and trucks.

Reserve Self-Storage Unit

When you’re moving, having temporary storage can help you immensely. Self-storage options are perfect solutions for storing your clutter, furniture, and even vehicles. You can look for companies offering 2-in-1 moving and storage in St. Augustine.

Six Weeks Before

Schedule the Movers

This is the perfect time to schedule the local movers in St. Augustine. Once you’ve finalized your moving date, you can book the moving services. However, the moving date will affect how much the moving company charges you. If it’s during the peak moving season (May-September), the services will cost you more. It’s the same for weekends.

Order Moving Supplies

If you want to start packing everything soon, you will need the necessary supplies. Each material, from bubble wrap and packing paper to tapes and boxes, will ensure that your belongings are perfectly safe for the move.

Make Moving Travel Arrangements

Whether you’ll be moving within your state or across the country, you will need relevant travel arrangements. Make sure you do your research and book everything in advance to get some discounts and save money.

Notify School

If you have children going to school, you would have to notify their principal and teachers about the move. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can enroll your children in the new school. You will need their report card and leaving certificate in advance.

Five Weeks Before

Use Pantry Items and Refrigerated Food

Unless you are taking your food along, you should start using the food stored in your pantry and refrigerator. You can also choose to donate or give away non-perishable food items. Look for nearby food banks that can help you out.

Declutter, Donate, and Discard

Start sorting out your items into things you want to use and things you want to lose. Decluttering is an important step in your pre-moving checklist. Discard, donate, sell, or give away unused or old clothes, shoes, jewelry, houseware, etc.

Make sure you’re only donating the things that can still be useful for someone. Donating something that’s not in good condition is not the best idea. If everything you have is valuable, you can host a garage sale.

Have a Packing Strategy

Packing and moving aren’t just about boxing up everything and loading it onto a truck. First, you need to figure out the timeline. Next, decide on a strategy for the entire packing process. Make sure you pack the non-essential items first. This includes seasonal clothes, home decor, antique items, electronics, books, and gym equipment.

You can pack your essential items last. This will be your daily toiletries, clothing, dinnerware, kitchen items, and anything else. Have a few boxes for the last days between the moving day so you can easily pack up the remaining items.

Canceling All Memberships

You might want to cancel your memberships or accounts before you move out. You can either end your membership or transfer it to someone. Most gyms, organizations, or clubs require a 30-day notice.

One Month Before

Service Your Car

If you’re using your car for the move, make sure it’s serviced for a long drive. You can call the nearby repair shops or local dealerships. They will check the tires, brakes, and fluids, so it’s in perfect condition for driving.

Begin Packing

It’s finally the right time to start packing. Box up everything, making sure you’re starting with seasonal items and non-essentials first. You can pack your books, decor items, winter coats, and sports gear.

Pack the fragile items properly, with extra care. Labeling boxes is a must so you can unpack easily when you arrive at your new home. Have your documents and other valuables packed safely in a separate box.

Scrap the Hazardous Items

Get rid of all the flammable and hazardous items. You can’t throw them with your regular trash or take them with you. Paint, fertilizers, fire extinguishers, fireworks, gasoline, aerosols, loaded guns, pool chemicals, and propane tanks must be disposed of properly.

Confirm with the Moving Company

Call the movers in St. Augustine you’ve booked one month before your move. You can confirm the date and time for their services and arrival. Let them know about any changes in the plan, including the important logistics. Things like elevator and parking use are little details you shouldn’t miss out on.

Schedule Car Storage and Shipping Service

Many moving companies in St. Augustine also offer storage spaces for cars. You can ask them for car storage and shipping services one month in advance. This will help you make the necessary arrangements.

Notify Family and Friends

If you have been holding off on telling your family and friends about the move, now is the right time. You don’t have to tell everybody in-person, but it’s good to keep everyone in the loop. Just shoot them a text or email. A quick phone call would also do.

Three Weeks Before

Alert Service Providers

Let your local service providers know about your impending move. This will include regulars like housekeeping, landscaping, newspaper guy, pool maintenance, and internet or cable provider. This is also a great time to research service providers for your new home. Make sure you change your PO Box and mailing address to continue receiving your snail mail.

Babysitters for Moving Day

Moving with babies or children is not an easy task. Our experts recommend that you arrange a babysitter for the moving day. You can even ask friends or family to take care of the children as you’re packing and working with the local movers in St. Augustine.

Two Weeks Before

Forward Your Medical Records

Reach out to your current physicians and dentists and let them know about your move. You can ask them for referrals for your new place. Do your research and select when to transfer the medical records and family medical history.

Order Furniture and Decor

Go over your new home’s blueprint and start ordering the new furniture you’ll need. It takes at least two weeks for new furniture and decor items to arrive. Once you’ve ordered the bed, couches, and tables, you can rest assured that everything will arrive in your new home within the first few weeks.

Schedule Painters and Landscapers

You can paint your new home all by yourself, but hire professionals if you don’t want to exhaust yourself. Look for painters and landscapers, so your new house is prepared in time for the move.

Request Leaves From Work

Let your employers know about the move and ask for a few days off before and after the move. If you’re switching jobs, you can skip this step. If you’re not getting any days off, ask your friends or family members for extra help on moving day.

Gather Manuals and Warranty Information

Make sure you have the necessary warranty information, receipts, and instruction manuals for the things you’re leaving behind. The future residents of your current home might use the electrical devices and appliances and would need all the help they can get.

One Week Before

Clean Current Home

Start cleaning everything. You don’t want to leave behind a dirty and messy house for the people who move in next. Thoroughly clean the floors and cabinets, so you’re not leaving behind anything.

Pack Kitchenware and Essentials

Now is the time to finish packing kitchenware, clothes, and essentials. Label all your boxes, so you don’t lose them when the moving process begins.

Recycling and Trash Removal

Dump your trash at the local dump or recycling center. You can also ask your neighbors to dispose of the things you leave behind on the last day. They can make sure everything is picked up by trash truck.

One Day Before

Pack Essentials

Take out your suitcase and pack your toiletries, shoes, medications, clothing, pet or baby necessities, documents, valuables, and pajamas in your suitcase the night before the move. Leave out your toothbrush, toilet paper, and paper towels for the moving day.

Notify Your Neighbors

Since it’s your last day, let your neighbors know you’ll be moving tomorrow. Giving them a heads-up isn’t just respectful and will alert them so they move their vehicles.

Take Out Cash for Tip

Give all the movers in St. Augustine you’ve hired a nice tip. It’s a great gesture and will show them they did their job well.

Moving Day

Keep Water Bottles

Moving is exhausting. Throughout this strenuous process, you need to stay hydrated. The last thing you want is to be dehydrated, lose focus, and feel light-headed. Keep extra water bottles for the movers and people helping you out.

Take Inventory

Keep track of your belongings. Check everything and make a note of fragile items like lamps and appliances.

Final Sweep

Do a final sweep of your old home before you close the doors and move out. Make sure you aren’t leaving behind anything. Have one last look inside the cabinets, drawers, cupboards, bathtubs, sinks, washers, and dryers.

Minorcan Moving & Storage

If you’re looking for reliable relocation services, check out Minorcan Moving & Storage in St. Augustine, FL. We offer residential moving and relocation services, and you can reach out to us to prepare for your move. We’ll make sure that your move is stress-free.

If you’re also looking for storage solutions, we offer 2-in-1 moving and storage in St. Augustine, Florida. Our team of local movers makes sure that your items are safely handled. We pack, load, and unload everything with caution. Our storage units are insured and have proper security.

Reach out to us today to learn more.