Mel’s Ultimate Printable Moving Checklist

Moving is stressful. To add to this stress, it is also hard to remember everything you need to do to make your move as seamless as possible. This is why I have compiled a moving checklist of essential things to do before and after you move so that you can keep up with everything happening.

Are You Psychologically Ready to Move?

Have you prepared yourself mentally for the move? Moving starts in the mind. If you’re ready for it in your mind, you’ll be prepared for it in the physical. So, don’t overcomplicate it by overthinking it. Answer the questions I have on the downloadable checklist about psychological preparation to get a feel for your mental readiness.

Why are you moving?

Have you taken time to really discover why you’re moving? Is it because your company is initiating the move? Or do you want to move to Atlanta because it’s been your lifelong dream? Knowing your why is a good idea to get into a good mindset for moving.

Is everyone on board with the move?

You may be stoked about the move, but how do your spouse and children feel about it? If you’re a loner, you don’t have to consult with anyone regarding your move to Atlanta. However, if you are taking a whole squad, you may want to figure out how they feel. 

Keep in mind that your children will probably feel sad about leaving their friends and their current school behind. To address this issue, you will have to use your empathy skills, followed by your cheerleading skills. 

Let your children know that you understand how sad they will be moving from their current hometown, but encourage them by helping them get involved in the move. Show them images of the new place. If you can, take them somewhere fun in the town before you move. Do what you must to ensure your spouse and children are open to this big change. 

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Is Your Employer Helping You Move? 

What vested interest does your employer have in your move? Most people may not have the luxury of moving at an employer’s expense. However, those that do should dot their I’s and cross their T’s. In other words, don’t leave anything to chance when getting help from your employer.

Consult your HR department.

If you’re moving at the company’s expense, you may want to discuss the details with your HR department. They may have rules and regulations about how much the company will be helping you with moving costs. Don’t just assume that all your moving costs will be covered. 

Keep your receipts.

Although keeping receipts seems intuitive, you’ll be surprised how many people forget to do this. Keeping your receipts helps you justify moving expenses. If your employer wants to know what you spent on the move, have your receipts ready to hand over to them for reimbursement. 

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Things to Consider Prior to Moving

Before you move, there are so many things you’ll need to do to avoid forgetting things. Unfortunately, no matter how prepared you are to move, there may be something critical you fail to do. However, having a list of things you must do before moving can help minimize your forgetfulness.

Have you decided where you’ll live?

You should not only have a house or apartment picked out but also know about the neighborhood you’re moving into. 

Have you sold your current house or broken your current lease?

Besides having a new place to go, you should be ready to leave your previous residence. For some, breaking the lease for a few thousand dollars will be a matter of breaking it. For others, you may have to wait until your house sells, which could mean you may have to carry two mortgages until then. 

Will you be staying with friends or family briefly?

If you can’t handle carrying two mortgages, you may have to stay with family or friends in your new town until you can sell your previous home. If so, have you worked out these arrangements?

What are the local statistics in your neighborhood?

This may not be high on your priority list, but you may want to check out the statistics for your neighborhood. Is the crime high or low in your area? Are there sex offenders in the neighborhood?  How are the school districts? Don’t just rely on how beautiful the home or apartment you’re moving into. Do some investigating to ensure that your neighborhood is safe and thriving. 

Have you prepped your furniture and appliances for the move?

Unless you live in an apartment, you’ll probably take most of your furniture and appliances to the new home. If you’re moving, ensure they are cleaned and ready to transport. You may have to obtain packing supplies and bubble wrap so that they aren’t damaged during the move. It’s also a good idea to pick up some moving boxes for other items you need to move. After packing all your items, you can finish everything off by deep cleaning your home or apartment to prepare it for the next person and potentially get your deposit back.

Have you safeguarded important documents?

You may currently have a junk drawer full of items, including your passport, will, a social security card, a birth certificate, your children’s school records, medical records, or other critical documents. Be sure you don’t leave these crucial items behind when you move. It’s also a good idea to call your credit card companies to let them know you’re moving.

How will you be transporting your stuff?

Have you talked your uncle Claude, who owns a moving company, into helping you with your move? If not, you’ll probably have to rely on traditional options such as renting a moving truck, hiring professional movers, or using a company like PODs. Know how you will transport your stuff and how long it will take. Remember, these services charge by the hour. So you don’t want to waste unnecessary time or money renting these items. 

Have you forwarded your mail to the new location?

Don’t forget to forward your mail to your new house or apartment. You can set the date to start receiving your mail at the new address using the USPS mail forwarding option. This option will forward most of your mail to your new residence for up to a year. Although you have this option for about a year, updating all addresses on all accounts is a good idea once you move. 

Did you fill your prescriptions and return library books?

Unless you already know a pharmacist in your new town can fill your description, you may want to get your prescription filled before you leave. This way, you can have plenty of medicine until you can get another refill in your new town. Also, don’t forget to return those library books you may have checked out. 

Have you informed your friends and family of your move?

You may have already let your friends or family you’re moving with know you’re on the way. However, have you informed those in your hometown that you will no longer be at your current residence? Make sure that everyone in your family knows that you’re moving away – unless, of course, you intentionally don’t want those friends or family to know where you are. 

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Things to Think About After Moving 

You may be only concerned with getting to your destination and figuring out the rest later. However, this is a bad approach to moving. Familiarizing yourself with what to expect once you settle in is a good idea. Even if you have to wait until you arrive in the city to figure out some of these things, using this checklist is a good idea to start figuring out important things about your town. 

Have you found a local hairstylist or barber?

Before you move to your new town, you may want to scope out a new hairstylist or barber. After all, you want to have someone who can keep you well-groomed like your current stylist. 

Are you familiar with local grocery stores and restaurants?

If you’re moving from one area of the country to another, they may not have the same types of grocery chains or restaurants. Research ahead of time to find out which grocery chain your new town has that is equivalent to your current grocery store. Also, if you can’t live without certain restaurant chains, you may want to see if your new town has one. Or prepare to visit your current town frequently just for the food. 

Have you scheduled your utilities, cable, and internet to be cut on?

So, you closed on your house or the first month’s rent for your apartment. However, did you remember to contact your local utility companies and other places to your name and have them on when you arrive? It’s not a good idea to be moving in the dark. Once you settle in, you may want to watch television, and you’ll likely need cable or internet. Also, don’t forget to activate your security system.

Is your bank in your new town?

This may not seem significant, but you can incur substantial losses once you have to keep paying fees because your bank isn’t in your new town. Check to see if your bank is in the local area. Otherwise, you may have to switch banks or at least open up an account with the local bank and perform transfers as needed. 

Have you found a church home or other religious facility to worship in?

Don’t forget to find a place to worship when you’re moving. Check around to see if your new neighborhood has your denomination nearby. If not, you may have to prepare to travel across town for worship services. 

Have you transferred your car-related items, such as tags and driver’s licenses?

Addressing car-related issues as soon as possible after you move is a good idea. Every state has regulations regarding updating these items. Failure to do so could result in fines or penalties. Make sure you convert these items within a few days after moving so you don’t run into trouble with the law. 

Are you registered to vote?

Just as important as addressing car-related issues is voter registration. You can mostly do this while you’re at the DMV. Another way to handle this is to register through your local library. Don’t forget to get a library card too. You’ll be surprised how many free resources the library can offer you and your family. 

Have you located veterinarians for your pets?

Pet moms and dads need to know where the local vet is in case your pet gets sick. So, check around town for the best care for your fur babies. 

If you’re an entrepreneur, have you done all the proper filings and transfers for your business?

It’s one thing to get your house for the move. However, if you’re a business owner, you must also make arrangements for this. Rules differ from state to state concerning running a business. Ensure you’re ready to make the proper transfers and have the appropriate documentation to smooth this process.

Click the image below to download a copy of the moving checklist. 

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