Moving Company: You should plan to get professional moving quotes 8-12 weeks in advance. This will give you enough time to compare prices and check references. This is also the time you can create a sketch showing the rooms and floor plan of your new home. Now you can determine which pieces of furniture will take the trip with you and which can be sold, given away or donated to charity.
6 weeks before moving in
Starting about 6 weeks before your moving day, you may want to create an inventory list of all the items in your home. Take photos of all the furniture and accessories and then download them to a computer.
Check your homeowners insurance policy and see if there is anything you need to change or discuss with your agent. Fill out the change of address forms you got from the post office.
Find out if there are any income tax deductions for this move and record them appropriately. Request copies of any relevant records from doctors, accountants and schools.
1 month before moving
A month before the moving day arrives, you can organize the cleaning of your furniture. You may also want to clean the carpets and window treatments at the same time if your old house is still on the market.
This is a great time to have that garage sale to help clear out the amount of clothing and home accessories you’ll need to pack. Buy any moving and packing materials you need. If you need a storage unit for household items, this is the best time to handle those arrangements. Check to see if there are any medical records, shots, or other health care needs your pets should have before you move.
2 weeks before moving in
At the 2-week mark, time is short and you need to review all the moving preparations you’ve made so far. You can stop home delivery of groceries and newspapers. Check and make sure you have taken steps to move major appliances if necessary. Let a mechanic prepare your car for any long road trip.
7 days before moving out
During the last 7 days before your move, you can verify that you have accounted for all your valuables. All your important records and documents should be in your hand or in a safe deposit box. Make sure you have your GPS, cell phones, and chargers ready to go. A small cooler with snacks and drinks can also be a welcome convenience and can be easily packed in the back seat or trunk of your car.
Remember that the right moving boxes are very important because they are strong enough to withstand the bumps and bruises of a long trip. Don’t overfill any boxes if you’re packing them yourself, and use an adequate amount of bubble wrap or other padding to protect your most delicate household items.
Sheets and blankets can be useful for packing between picture frames and mirrors. You can also use pillows to keep these items separate once they’re inside the moving boxes. Instead of packing most of your glass and china in a box, try placing them vertically which gives them more protection.
Always check each box so you can see at a glance what each one contains. This will save you time and frustration when you’re settling in for your first night in your new home.
Color coding boxes will also help you stay organized. You can mark the kitchen boxes in red and blue for the boxes that contain bathroom items. Other colors can be used to help separate the boxes for other individual rooms.
If you are moving to a smaller apartment or a semi-detached house, you can store some of your furniture by making use of storage facilities that are available throughout South Africa.