#PREPARING FOR A MOVE CHECKLIST PROFESSIONAL#

Not only will this save you time and money, but it can also help make your current home more attractive to buyers if the clutter is removed. Give away, sell, or donate items you don’t need after you move. It's a good idea to do this as early in the moving process as possible. Also take measurements to see where items will fit in your new home. Make an itemized list of all the furniture and large items you need to move. Many of our Best Moving Companies of 2024 offer storage as an add-on.

You may need temporary storage if there's a gap between when you have to move out of your current home and when you can move into your new one. If you aren’t going to hire professionals to pack, load, and transport your household items, consider renting a container or truck and start recruiting some friends to help you with the heavy lifting.

#PREPARING FOR A MOVE CHECKLIST PROFESSIONAL#

Start by searching for a mover registered with the FMCSA, and read through consumer and professional reviews for any red flags. Only get estimates from moving companies that appear to be trustworthy. If you're moving through your company’s relocation program, it should provide the budget you have to work with. This will help you decide what type of moving company you might hire, what additional services you can afford, or if you need to consider making the move with more of a DIY approach to save money. “Plus, the earlier you start planning the better deals you will find,” Holbert says. The earlier you can begin your research, the better, as it will help ensure the moving company you choose is available on your timeline. Start with our rating of the Best Moving Companies of 2024. It’s better to have your boxes packed a few days early than rush to finish packing after your movers show up.

Start packing: Packing often takes more time than many people plan, so start early.

You can find these moving supplies online or in a local home improvement or big-box retailer. Consider wardrobe boxes and large-painting boxes for clothing, artwork, and TVs.

Buy supplies: You need boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and packing tape to get everything boxed up.

Learn more about comparing quotes in our guide to how much moving companies cost. Your final bill may vary somewhat, but these estimates can help give you an idea of where you’ll find the best deal and which preferred movers may not be the best fit.

Get quotes and compare: Call or email your preferred moving companies to ask questions and get cost estimates.

Compare these companies and create a list of your top choices to request quotes and ask questions.

Create a list of your top movers: Our rating of the Best Moving Companies of 2024 can help.

Also, remember that trucks may not be climate controlled, so you probably don’t want to transport in a moving truck anything that could get ruined by exposure to heat or cold. Even if you use a professional moving company, you may not want its movers to handle valuable and extremely fragile items like jewelry, electronics, and heirlooms. Everything you move on your own is money saved.

Decide how much you want to do yourself: The first step in getting ready to move is deciding what you want to move yourself and what you want to be moved by professionals.

Compare the costs, but don’t feel bad about doing it yourself, especially if friends or family can help. However, truck rentals and gas can be expensive, too.

Consider DIY: Paying someone else to pack your things, load the truck, and unpack on the other end is convenient but may be much more expensive than doing it yourself.

Visit our guides to the Best Long Distance Moving Companies and the Best Interstate Moving Companies for more options. For bigger moves, consider a well-known, national moving service with positive reviews. That could work if it has reasonable pricing and a good reputation.

Work with reputable moving companies: You may be tempted to pick a local, low-profile moving company.

It’s also critical when filing a claim for reimbursement.

Make a thorough inventory: Keeping an inventory is vital to ensuring every item from your home goes on the truck and leaves the truck as agreed.

Only work with insured moving companies that have clear policies to fix, replace, or pay for lost and damaged items. Check for insurance: Just because a company has fancy business cards doesn’t mean its movers are going to be careful with your home or items.Check out our ratings of the Best Moving Companies of 2024 to get started. Shop around for the right fit rather than going with the first name you find. Shop around for the best moving-company pricing: Every moving company has different scheduling and price structures.

Preparing for a move checklist