As anyone who’s ever moved would tell you, relocations are not easy. It’s not just about stuffing items in a box and heading to your new place. There are so many things to do before moving, and if you’re not careful, you could easily overlook some crucial tasks. But, you shouldn’t panic – we have your back. We’ve created the ultimate checklist that will help you organize your move in the best way possible.
The list of things to do before the relocation is quite long, but there’s no reason not to check off each task just in time to head to your new home. With excellent planning and proper organization, everything is possible. All you have to do is follow our list, and you’ll see that your move will go smoothly. So, shall we get started?
Things to Do Before Moving – The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
You have finally decided to move. You’ve researched where to live in Los Angeles and found your dream home. Apartment hunting has gone well thanks to your real estate agent, but now you’re starting to wonder – what do I need to do before I move? Sure, you have to pack. That much is obvious, but what else is there? If you want to know how to move efficiently, check out what we suggest you do before your professional movers in Los Angeles arrive to load items on the truck.
With an Excellent Checklist, Everything Will Be Easy
You’ll quickly realize that following a detailed to-do list is the easiest way not to overlook anything. You will handle all the necessary things to do before you move, and you’ll even have time to relax a bit before the relocation day. Besides your preliminary list, it would be good to have a relocation expenses checklist to help you keep track of your finances. Relocations are notoriously known for draining your budget, and it’s always good to see where you stand with the money. And lastly, one of the wisest relocation tips we can give you is to make an online folder where you can store every piece of information you come across that can be of use later in the process. Trust us, this is a genius trick.
You Need a Local Moving Company in Los Angeles
You will need reputable Los Angeles movers who won’t make you a part of some ridiculous scam, but that’s the easy part since you’ve already found us. The best movers in Los Angeles work in our company, and if you decide to hire us, you won’t have any problems with your move. But, let’s say you have yet to run across our website – in this case, you should compare estimates from at least three different companies and decide which one is for you.
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Start With Preparations Two Months Before Relocating to Your New Home
Two months is the optimal time you will need to tackle everything. If you have to pack to move in a hurry, the chances are that you’ll have less than that, but it’s still possible to pull off a successful move. You’ll just have to be a little faster and possibly feel a bit more relocation stress. Either way, the following steps are something you must take care of before you start to pack furniture and other household items.
Research Relocation Tips and Hacks That Could Come in Handy
It’s always good to know a few relocation hacks that can help you out, such as some innovative ways to pack fragile items or the easiest way to move large stuff. The fact is, the more you know about techniques that are used to pack various belongings, the faster you will pack yours, and you won’t have common problems people face, like not being able to pack dishes. This is a widespread issue! Pay extra attention to the dishes – check out how to pack plates in advance. You can thank us later.
Get Familiar With the New Neighborhood
You are going to the best suburb in Los Angeles, and you must be so excited. But we wouldn’t want you to get there unprepared. Try to learn as much as you can about the place. For sure, it can’t be enough only to know that it’s the safest neighborhood. You should research coffee shops, grocery stores, restaurants, or dog parks in the area (for those relocating with pets, this is very important). If you can, pay a visit to your new neighborhood – it will help you get used to the fact that this is your home now.
Talk to Your Kids and Choose a School for Them
Kids usually don’t accept the move immediately, and you might have to talk to them a lot before they understand it. But, you should be aware – it’s not enough to tell them they will be able to enjoy the best playgrounds in Los Angeles. Being honest and having an open, heart-to-heart conversation is a proper way to make relocation easier for you and your kids. Besides the emotional struggles, there might be some practical issues, such as choosing a school for your little ones. This is why we suggest you start the search now and not wait until the last minute. You wouldn’t want your child to fall behind because of the move, naturally. Once you’ve set your eyes on the perfect school, don’t forget to request transcripts from the old school – they should never be left behind.
Buy Boxes and Other Supplies and Make a Packing Plan
Buying supplies is unavoidable, and it’s going to affect your budget, but if you’re smart and know all the hacks, you can save a lot. Make sure you look for free boxes before you buy any – local stores are the place to start. But, in the end, you will have to buy some supplies – for example, you wouldn’t want to pack a TV without padding materials. When you gather everything you require, it would be wise to write a plan to tell you in which order you should pack. That can help you stay on track and work much faster.
What Should I Do 30 Days Before Moving?
One month before the move is when it gets serious. Yes, you guessed it – you should start to fill your boxes right about now. But, this task is not about thoughtlessly throwing random stuff in the box. There are some guidelines people usually follow to avoid complete chaos.
Don’t Forget to Declutter
It’s a commonly known fact that you can’t take everything with you. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you must say goodbye to some old stuff you haven’t even seen in years. You should have three piles: throw away, donate, recycle. Try to give as much as you can for those less fortunate. You can donate your stuff to some of the following charities:
- The Union Rescue Mission on 545 S. San Pedro St.
- The Good Shepherd Center, located at 1671 Beverly Blvd.
- Pick Up Please (they come to you and take clothes, books, shoes, and various household stuff you wish to donate)
- Los Angeles Mission Donation Drop Off on 316 East Winston Street
Start to Pack on Time
Don’t put yourself in the position where you have to pack the whole house in two days. Start packing now, so you don’t have to rush later. When in a hurry, people often forget the most commonly forgotten stuff to pack, and there’s no reason for that to happen to you. Four weeks before the move is the best period to start with filling your boxes with the non-essentials, such as books and decorations. Pack first what you don’t use daily, and leave the kitchen and bathroom for last. If the process becomes too tedious, you have two options. First, call our company and request packing assistance. Second, you can call your friends to help you out and turn this into a packing party – it’s one of the most common themes for a going-away party. If you wish to learn more tips to help you pack, check this video.
What Should I Do 3 Weeks Before Moving?
You’ve already packed some boxes, maybe you’re even done with packing books or clothes, and now you’re trying to figure out how to pack shoes. But, we must remind you that you should take care of the documents laying around the house. Everybody has them – passports, birth certificates, financial documents, and so on. You should organize essential documents so you don’t lose something vital. How to avoid misplacing anything? A relocation binder is a sure way to keep every critical piece of paper in one place.
What Should I Do 2 Weeks Before Moving?
The pressure is high – you must be exhausted by now, but there’s a lot more to do. If you’re up to speed with all the work, you can let yourself have a little break – head down to one of the lovely botanical gardens in the city that’ll relax you. One of many beaches in Los Angeles could be a great idea, too. After the pause, continue with the preparations.
Transfer Utilities and Change Your Address
This won’t be an issue. The change of address with the USPS is a quick process and can be handled on their website. It’s crucial to remember to do this – otherwise, your mail will keep arriving at the old address. The resident of your old house will be annoyed and wondering how to stop getting mail for previous residents. And for the utilities, it won’t be the end of the world if you overlook this task, but keep in mind that you would spend the first couple of nights in your house without water or electricity (and not to mention the internet), so it will be an inconvenience. It’s better to address this before you move.
Get Rid of Stuff That Can’t be Moved
Stuff movers won’t move for safety reasons must be thrown out or given to somebody. These include hazardous, flammable, toxic, or in any way dangerous materials. Even cleaning or pool chemicals aren’t allowed on the truck. Plant lovers will have to find a way to safely transport their greens since most companies don’t move them.
Make a Plan for Kids and Pets for a Moving Day
We wouldn’t suggest letting little kids or family pets run around while the relocation team loads the truck. They might get hurt while workers move a piano and carry heavy pieces of furniture, or they will simply be bored. So, to prevent that, you should plan ahead and organize something fun for them. They can stay with family or some friends – it’s a much better solution.
Only One More Week Left – Let’s Finish Up With Preparations
By now, you should have most of your belongings packed, maybe you still have to pack glasses or other dishware, but the end is near. Since you’re in the kitchen, don’t forget to clean out your fridge and freezer. Donate what you can’t eat before the relocation, and eat the rest. When the whole house is packed, you should clean it thoroughly to leave it in perfect condition. The last item on your checklist is preparing a bag of essentials you’ll take with you. These include medicine, water, snacks, documents, a laptop, cash to tip your Los Angeles movers, and a charger for your phone. Before you close the front door of your former home for the last time, you should do a final walkthrough and check if there’s anything left.
For the Perfect Relocation Day, Hire Our Local Movers in Los Angeles
There are so many moving companies in Los Angeles, but nobody can offer you such an exquisite service as ours. When it comes to residential relocation, we are the champions of all the companies in this area. Our business is the most reliable one, and you won’t find workers who are so dedicated anywhere else. So, whether you wish to have a commercial relocation or simply hire a crew to help with a labor-only service, we have your back. Whatever you require, we are here to provide that for our customers. We also offer storage relocation services, and we can promise you there won’t be a single scratch on your belongings. Our company knows how to take care of its clients, and not many companies are skilled at that. We believe that everyone deserves exceptional service, which is exactly what we do daily. If you are looking for an experienced company you can trust, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately.
