Moving homes is a significant event in any family’s life. It signifies a fresh start, new opportunities, and exciting changes. However, it can also be an overwhelming task filled with logistical challenges. But fear not! Armed with the right strategies and organizational tools, you can turn your move into a seamless, even enjoyable, endeavor. Let’s unpack some top tips for moving to help you navigate this process.

1. Plan and Organize Early

The golden rule for any successful move is starting early with a detailed plan. Consider creating a comprehensive moving timeline to help you stay on track. An early plan can help you visualize the tasks ahead, distribute them over time, and prevent last-minute scrambles.

Here’s a robust timeline that outlines each step in the moving process:

• 8 weeks before the move: Identify items you need to keep, sell, donate, or discard. Decluttering is a perfect way to ensure that only the necessary items make it to your new home.
• 7 weeks before the move: Begin researching moving companies. Look at reviews, get multiple quotes, and make sure to book your movers well in advance.
• 6 weeks before the move: Start packing non-essential items. Things like off-season clothing, rarely used kitchenware, and decorative pieces can be packed ahead of time.
• 5 weeks before the move: Notify important institutions about your upcoming move. This list should include your kids’ schools, your bank, insurance companies, and any subscriptions or regular deliveries you receive.
• 4 weeks before the move: Get packing supplies. Boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and markers should be on your list.
• 3 weeks before the move: Pack up most of your home, leaving out only essentials for the next few weeks.
• 2 weeks before the move: Confirm details with your movers. Make sure they have the correct address, date, and time.
• 1 week before the move: Prepare an essentials box for moving day. Pack clothing, toiletries, important documents, and any other items you’ll need immediate access to.
• Moving day: Do a final walkthrough of your old home, supervise the movers, and embark on your new adventure!

A family management tool like Sortifyd can be a useful asset in these planning stages. Its calendar and task management features allow you to easily create and delegate tasks, set reminders for critical deadlines, and keep the whole family on the same page. For example, you can create a pre-defined moving timeline checklist that keeps you on top of the whole process.

2. Take Inventory and Declutter

Before you start packing, conducting a thorough home inventory is a crucial step. A home inventory involves cataloging your belongings, either room by room or by categories like furniture, clothing, kitchen items, books, and documents.

As you take inventory, you’ll also have the chance to declutter. This is a great tip for moving! Sell or donate items that won’t fit or won’t be needed in your new space. Consider digitizing important documents and safely storing them online for easy access and to save physical space.

The Assets folder in the Home & Money box of Sortifyd can be used to keep track of your home inventory during the move. You can add photos, receipts, and purchase details, which can be especially useful for insurance purposes. The Taxes folder allows you to take photos of receipts related to the move and any charitable donations made to declutter before the move.

3. Get Packing

The key to successful packing is efficiency. Here are some tips to pack like a pro:

• Start early: Pack non-essential items first, such as off-season clothes, books, and rarely used kitchen appliances. Save everyday items until the end.
• Pack room-by-room: To avoid confusion when unpacking, pack items room by room.
• Label your boxes: Clearly label boxes with their contents and the room they belong to. This will make unpacking in your new home much easier.
• Pack an essentials box: Include items you’ll need right away at your new home, like clothes, toiletries, bedding, snacks, kitchen essentials, and cleaning supplies.
• Protect valuables: Secure artwork, electronics, and jewelry appropriately. Consider taking photos of valuable items for insurance purposes.
• Pack smart: Don’t overpack boxes. Distribute weight evenly to make them easier to carry.

Digital tools like Sortifyd can help here too, particularly with its list and task management features. For example, you can create a packing checklist for each room or each family member, track progress, and check tasks off as they are completed.

4. Manage Your Finances

One of the stressors during a move is managing the finances. Transparency in your moving costs can ease this stress. Here’s what to consider:

• Moving expenses: Get detailed quotes from several moving companies, consider costs for packing supplies, and factor in any additional charges for handling large items.
• Living costs: Research the cost of living in your new area. This includes utilities, groceries, transport, and other routine expenses.
• New home expenses: Set a budget for any necessary home repairs, upgrades, or furniture for your new home.

Sortifyd can be a valuable tool in helping you keep track of all your expenses both during and after the move. You can save your shopping receipts in the Recent Purchases folder in the Shopping box, and receipts for any tax deductible expenses in the Taxes folder of the Home & Money box.

5. Handle Utilities and Services

One of the best tips tips for moving would be to think ahead when it comes to your home admin tasks. About two weeks before you move, you’ll want to handle your utilities and services. Notify utility companies, post offices, banks, and insurance providers of your upcoming change of address. Don’t forget about any online shopping sites, subscription services, or magazines you regularly receive.

Sortifyd’s Contacts feature can help keep track of all these contacts, storing information for real estate agents, movers, utility companies, and other service providers needed during the move. This is an excellent resource for families as the shared contacts ensure everyone has the necessary information at their fingertips. Additionally, you can create a checklist for utilities and services to ensure nothing is missed when turning them off or on at your old and new homes.

6. Settling Into Your New Home

Moving doesn’t end once the boxes are off the truck. Settling into your new home and making it feel comfortable and familiar is the next important step. Here are some suggestions:

• Unpack strategically: Start with the kitchen and bathrooms, then move onto bedrooms and living areas.
• Familiarize yourself with your new area: Explore local parks, shops, and restaurants. Introduce your family to your new neighbors.
• Create a maintenance schedule: Regular upkeep of your home can help prevent expensive repairs in the future.

The Sortifyd app can continue to assist during this settling-in period. You can create to-do lists for unpacking, a maintenance schedule for your new home, store warranty and repair information in the Home & Money box, and save local contacts in the Contacts box.