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Today is the day! Surely you are feeling ALL of the feels - excitement, exhaustion, and maybe a little nervous. It is normal to experience such a range of emotions. I want to take this opportunity to commend you; you’ve done the work! Give yourself a pat on the back, you are well prepared.
In our last post, we discussed the Do's and Don'ts of moving day prep. We went over holding yourself accountable and making important decisions leading up to the big day. Now, at this point you should have a plan to get all of your items loaded into the truck in an organized manner and have the arrangements for your movers - whether professionals or friends & family. Following the previous steps from the guide should have you prepared for any circumstances that may come up.
72-24 Hours Before
As you begin the week of your move, take the time to collect your thoughts and finalize any outstanding tasks. Confirm the details with your movers and check that all notices have been posted (no parking and use of elevator), if necessary - check again the morning of.
After months of preparation, the day is here. It's moving day...let's do it!!
Morning Of
Here we are! It is the morning of your move. You've prepared and you're ready to take this day head on. The best way to ensure that you're going to have a productive start to your moving day is by rising early and getting a head start on the day. To help with this, make sure you have a plan to get a good night's sleep the night before. It's going to be a long day, so you need to start off being refreshed and alert.
6 am-7 am
Rise Early. Take this time to time to prepare yourself mentally and physically before the movers arrive. In addition, rising early, gives you the opportunity to finish any last-minute linger tasks.
Eat Breakfast. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Whether you're overseeing your move or actually moving boxes and furniture, it is going to be a laborious day. The pan is to make sure that your body has the fuel it needs to stay energized for the long haul.
Charge Phone. Fully charge your phone to make sure its battery lasts for the entirety of your move. While each home is unique, the average time it takes to pack and load a house can range from 6 to 10 hours. having a fully charged device will ensure that you will be able to remain in contact with your movers and others through the whole process.
Share Itinerary. It is always helpful for others to know the plan for moving day. Entrusting a loved one with your itinerary will give you extra support and keep you on track throughout the day.
7 am-9 am
Drop Off. You should have arrangements in place for child and/or pet care. Before the movers arrive, drop them off. If possible, delegate this task so that you don't have to leave the house.
Prep Gratuity. Write out envelopes for cash tips for your vendors. This will avoid the awkwardness of realizing that you don't have cash, or that you don't have enough cash for everyone.
Make Path. Make sure there is a clear path for the movers to get in and out of your home, give yourself more time if there’s inclement weather.
Place Labels. Use colors and text labels to categorize each room. This will help your items to be grouped like with like and make sure that items can be packed and unpacked in an organized manner.
Pro Tip: Don't push too many tasks to the morning of. You may feel as though you have a lot of time before the movers arrive, but this will only cause you stress. Only leave things for the morning of, that you really can't do beforehand.
Don't Forget
So, you have everything in place and the movers have just arrived. What's next? It is time to step into your role as the facilitator or team lead because a successful move hinges on clear communication. Unless you have a move-day coordinator, you will have to be ready to direct and instruct your moving crew. This doesn't mean micromanaging them, but it is helpful for everyone to understand the plan and expectations for the day. You also want to make sure that everyone is familiar with the layout of your home and the order that your items should be loaded into the truck so that the process can go smoothly.
9 AM
Store Go-Bag. Move your essential bag or go bag to the car or close to you and out of the way. Since it holds your daily necessities, you don't want it packed by mistake.
Greet Team. When your moving team arrives, even if it’s friends and family, complete a walk through and give them specific directions. During your walk through, be sure to take time to protect flooring and door frames. Also, disclose any known safety concerns.
Establish Timeline. If you have invested in a professional moving team, after completing the walk through ask for a tentative timeline from the crew leader. Going the DIY route? The same process can be followed, delegate task and create the "game day plan" with your crew. Suggest a realistic timeline of when you'd prefer to have certain tasks complete and be sure to factor in breaks, truck rental and etc.
Have Supplies. Keep out a few tools, just in case, for the crew to disassemble furniture. It is always beneficial to keep some trash bags, rope, and tape available as well.
Stay Nearby. If you're not actively moving items, stay out of the way but close enough to provide direction if the team needs your input.
Pro Tip: Once boxes and furniture are being loaded, you and your movers are going to start getting thirsty and hungry. It is a good gesture to have water and snacks available for your movers to enjoy during their breaks.
Afternoon Of
With all of the big stuff out of the way, now you can focus on preparing for your final walk through. there may be remaining miscellaneous tasks. If you are responsible for cleaning start now, closing off each room from top to bottom in a systematic order. Take pictures of any incidental damage that may have occurred, notify the moving crew ASAP. Keep going this is the official halfway mark, you are almost there!
Empty Pantry. Up till now hopefully you have been living (eating) out of your pantry and freezer. If you're relocating, today's task includes donating any unused items to a food pantry. If your move is local, pack a cooler to keep your food at a safe temperature.
Walk Through. Once everything is out, make sure to do one last walkthrough to make sure nothing is left behind. Check that all windows and doors are locked. Take note of your utility readings (meters). Leave your forwarding address in case your postal address update is delayed.
Reflect. Take a moment to think about some of the memories that you and your family have enjoyed in this home and get yourself excited for the new adventure ahead.
Pro Tip: Take pictures and videos during your walkthrough. Whether you're a homeowner or a renter, it is beneficial to have footage to confirm the condition of your home upon your moving out.
This is the fifth and final part of our "Moving - Do It the Right Way" guide. I hope that over the course of this series you were able to gain insight into moving best practices that will ease the stress of your relocation experience. If have any questions or if you're ready to hire a professional organizer to help you during your upcoming move, feel free to contact me. Stay tuned for future posts that will help you to get organized.
Kimberly