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How to Organize, Plan, and Prepare for a Household Move

person preparing to move boxes

The Spruce / Daria Groza

Whether you're moving across the country or to a neighboring town, preparing for a move can be stressful and overwhelming. The details are endless between packing boxes, decluttering, finding reliable movers, and possibly getting your current home ready for sale. Learn how to prepare to move like a pro with our guide so you can stay stress-free, organized, and on track.

  • 01 of 07

    Make a Plan

    preparing a moving checklist

    The Spruce / Daria Groza

    As soon as you know you are moving, create a general and preliminary plan. Here's what to consider in this plan:

    • What needs to be done in your current home? Do you need to declutter, pack, or take care of small renovations if you are selling your home?
    • Think about a budget and estimate what your moving costs will be; consider the cost of everything from packing tape, bubble wrap, and moving boxes, to moving company fees.
    • What do you need to purchase or do for your new home for it to be move-in ready?
    • When will you receive the keys to your new home so you can start moving in?
  • 02 of 07

    Decide to Hire Movers or DIY

    a man opting to move by himself

    ​The Spruce / Daria Groza

    Do you need to hire movers or are you willing to DIY? Here's what to consider:

    • How far away is your new home?
    • How much stuff do you need to move?
    • Are there any heavy, family heirloom pieces that need to be moved or do you have mostly small, apartment-sized furniture?

    You have options when hiring movers, depending on your budget. Hybrid packages allow you to pack up your home yourself and the moving company will move everything for you. Or, you can go full-service and have a moving company pack, move, and unpack everything for you.

  • 03 of 07

    Create a Detailed Schedule

    a moving schedule and timeline

    The Spruce / Daria Groza

    There are many fast-moving parts during a move. Creating a detailed timeline with a day-by-day schedule will keep you from forgetting crucial steps and details. If possible, start eight weeks before your move. Here are some of the things you may want to include in your day-by-day schedule:

    • What rooms will you declutter and pack on which days? Figure out what you need to do to get that done, such as a babysitter, time off from work, or helping hands.
    • When do you need to book the movers or the moving truck that you'll drive?
    • What days do contractors need to come to your current home to do repairs?
    • When do you need to make travel arrangements for yourself, your family, and your pets if you are moving far away?
    • Schedule in time to take care of small things before moving like cleaning out the pantry, paying bills, transferring prescriptions, and returning library books, for example.
  • 04 of 07

    Sort Your Stuff

    creating piles of what to move

    The Spruce / Daria Groza

    After creating your schedule, get started on decluttering. There's no better time than a big move to go through all your stuff. Decluttering before moving also allows you to move fewer boxes filled with items you'll likely throw out anyway.

    Give yourself enough time to decide what you want to keep, what you want to give away to friends and family, what can be donated, and what no longer works and simply needs to be thrown out.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below
  • 05 of 07

    Sell Your Stuff

    person preparing to sell discarded items

    The Spruce / Daria Groza

    After decluttering, the next job is selling items you don't want to take with you, gift, donate, or throw out. Try setting aside a day to hold a garage sale to sell as much as possible so you don't have to lug things with you. Build in some time if you can to try selling items, such as clothing or furniture. Or, dedicate and label a box filled with smaller items, like clothing, accessories, and jewelry that you want to sell so you can start the process as soon as you settle in.

  • 06 of 07

    Gather Packing Supplies

    moving materials

    The Spruce / Daria Groza 

    If you're not exactly sure what you'll need for your move, don't worry, we have a checklist of all the moving supplies you'll need. This list includes all those things that are easy to forget, like bathroom essentials to quickly have on hand in your new home or a couple of simple all-purpose cleaning supplies and trash bags that will come in handy at the new place.

  • 07 of 07

    Pack and Label Boxes

    beginning to pack up dishes

    The Spruce / Daria Groza

    As you pack, label your boxes. Forgetting to label boxes will cause headaches when you're trying to unpack your kitchen dishes but can't seem to find them. This step will help you efficiently unpack once you arrive at your new home.

FAQ
  • How much does it cost to hire professional movers?

    Professional movers charge by labor (packing, moving, and other services), distance traveled, and insurance. Consider getting several quotes. If you need to hire a full-service moving company for a long-distance move, budget at least several thousand dollars.

  • How long does it take to declutter and pack a house?

    It's overwhelming to declutter and pack a house of any size and it will take longer than you anticipate. Schedule and start both processes as early as possible so you are not rushing through the process.

  • What do I need to do at my new home before I move in?

    You may want to clean a new home before you move in. If your new home is far away, hire a service. If possible, change the locks, set up services and utilities, and forward your mail before arriving, as well.