10 steps to comfortably move into a new apartment

Moving is not as scary as it is painted. The main thing is to approach the process responsibly and try not to miss anything. To help you with this, we have prepared a checklist of ten steps, with which you will be able to organize everything yourself and comfortably move to a new apartment. So, let’s get started.

Before hiring the out of state movers check moving company reviews and ask for a moving Quote. Be prepared to save your money and download and print a moving checklist.

Step 1. Warn about your move

First, the employer and colleagues. If possible, take a few days off to calmly resolve all organizational issues. If you can’t take a vacation, then let the management know in advance what days you will need to leave work. Plan important meetings and tasks so that they do not fall on the time of the move, or ask colleagues to replace you.

Secondly, tell your friends and family about your plans so that they know when and where you can be found. At the same time, you can ask them to sit with the children or look after the pets while you are busy.

Third, don’t forget to say goodbye to your neighbors. Just in case, leave them your contacts-suddenly someone will come and will not be able to find you at the old address.

Step 2. Gift or sell unwanted items

It is better to start preparing for the move in a few weeks. And first of all, get rid of unnecessary things. Disassemble the cabinets and divide the items into those that you will take with you, and those that you no longer need. The latter, if they are in good condition, can be sold, given to relatives or given to charity. If it is in bad condition, then it should be recycled or discarded.

Do the same with dishes, cosmetics, household items and small household appliances. If you do not use a thing for many months and do not remember how you got it and why you need it, then you do not need to drag it with you to a new home. You will not only save time when collecting, space in boxes and the car, but also psychologically tune in to a new stage in life.

For the record. When sorting things, keep a list of what you already have. As well as the fact that the first thing you will need to buy is a new apartment. It’ll come in handy when you move in.

Step 3. Measure furniture and large appliances

We’ve dealt with the small things, and we’re moving on to the big ones. It doesn’t matter if you bought a house or rented it, you need to decide which furniture is worth taking with you, and which is easier to leave.

If you are moving into a furnished apartment, then take only what you need.

If it is empty, then take measurements of all available furniture and appliances to assess whether it will pass through the doorways in the new apartment, whether it will fit into the interior, as well as what kind of transport will be needed for transportation.

Large-sized or unnecessary furniture and appliances can be sold, donated or left to future residents, and you can buy something more suitable for yourself.

Step 4. Find the car and movers

If you have your own car, and you have enough things for a couple of suitcases and boxes, then you can skip this item.

If there are a lot of things, and you need to move quickly, then it is better not to save on cargo transportation and hire professionals. You can find out the recommendations of friends and acquaintances who have already encountered this issue, or search on specialized sites. For example, in the “Services” section on the website.

When planning a budget for moving, consider the number and volume of things, the distance to the new home, the presence of an elevator and the need to lift things — all this affects the final cost.

Step 5. Take care of the packaging materials

If earlier everything was wrapped “in a newspaper”, now it’s time for modern packaging materials. And there are practically no newspapers at home right now.

Stock up on cardboard boxes. You can buy them at hardware stores or ask for them at the nearest grocery stores. Do not take too large ones — they are difficult to carry. And things inside will not be very good. It is better to stop at medium-sized boxes — so there is less load on the bottom and it is more convenient to collect them.

Prepare to move in advance

You will also need:

• Bubble wrap for fragile and valuable items
• High-quality tape (preferably multi-colored) and ropes
• Covers for clothing
• Garbage bags
• Scissors
• Markers or stickers to sign boxes with

IMPORTANT! Prepare a separate convenient bag with a secure zipper and a compartment for equipment. There, put your laptop and other gadgets together with chargers, cards, cash, jewelry, first aid kit and documents. This is your “hand luggage”, you do not give it to the movers.

You should always have a bag with your documents.

Step 6. Deal with emails and invoices

Pay all the receipts for the old apartment. Disable the services you no longer need. Internet and TV can be re-registered to a new address or to a new person. For example, the next tenant. Most providers provide these services.

To reissue the contract to another responsible person, you need to come to the office with a new user and sign the documents. You can cancel the services and terminate the contract remotely. The main thing is to do it in advance, so that in a year you will not find yourself in debt for services in an apartment where you no longer live.

And do not order parcels by mail a couple of months before moving. If they are delayed, you will have to come to the old post office to pick them up.

Step 7. Pack your things

It is best to start doing this in advance. First, collect things that are not essential: in summer — warm, in winter — summer.

A week before the move, you should have the following::

A set of things you’re wearing right now

Clean replacement set of clothes and shoes

Dishes that you need every day (for example, a frying pan, a kettle, as well as mugs, plates, spoons and forks according to the number of people in the family)

Two sets of bed linen — which you use and a replacement one

Several sets of children’s clothing and the most favorite toys

Food, dishes and items that are necessary for the pet

Cosmetics and household chemicals of the first necessity

Food for the week

All these things will be packed separately last, so that you can immediately get them in a new place.

During the collection, be sure to label and sign the boxes. Choose a convenient method for yourself and follow it. For example,

The color of the tape indicates the room: blue-bedroom, yellow-kitchen, etc.

And the colored stickers tell you what’s inside: red — fragile and breakable, green-clothes, pink-equipment…

Then you will find the mixer faster if you need it. Just take a box with yellow tape and a pink sticker.

Also put a marker on the top and bottom of the boxes, so that the movers understand how to put them.

Step 8. Prepare your new apartment for your arrival

First, get out. You can do it yourself or call the cleaning service. It’s always nice to move into a fresh and clean apartment. Especially without furniture and boxes to make cleaning much easier and faster.

Second, make sure everything is in order. The outlets are in their places, the switches are working, the light bulbs are on, the water is pouring, the pipes are not flowing. It will be a shame to find problems on the day of moving.

And finally, protect the repair. Close the door slopes so that the movers do not touch them when bringing in furniture. Cover the floors with plastic wrap. It is unlikely that anyone will take off their shoes while carrying heavy loads.

Step 9. Clean up your old apartment

Both the owners, if you rented an apartment, and the new tenants, if you sell your own, will be pleased to get it clean. Carry out cleaning, make minimal repairs: nail the fallen off, screw the unscrewed, glue the detached.

Check the contents of the refrigerator in advance and cook the last days from the remaining products. Take the non-perishable ones with you, carefully packed. And if you leave something, write a list of what is where and leave it in a prominent place. New residents will definitely not be happy to find sprouted potatoes on the balcony or cereals from three years ago.

Step 10. Check everything out and move in

So, Day X has arrived. Let’s check it out. You must have all your belongings collected and signed, as well as a bag with basic necessities: gadgets, documents, first aid kit. We have already written about it above.

Prepare the clothes and shoes in which you will move. They should be comfortable. Separately, collect a couple of containers with non-perishable snacks and water.

Take your children and pets to relatives or friends to keep them safe during the move. It will also be much more convenient for you.

Leave one spare box empty — in it you will put all the things that you will use on the day of moving. And what you find at the last moment, checking the shelves and cabinets.

Make sure you don’t forget anything and go ahead! To a new apartment and a new future 🙂