Household Shifting: The Modern Approach to Moving Your Home

How Do You Plan a Household Shift?

A good house move plan starts about two months out from your move date. By giving yourself ample time to plan, you are less stressed and can address unplanned issues as they come up.

There are a few essential steps to planning. These include:

• Make a moving checklist: This list can be as detailed as you want and organized into a weekly plan.
• Sort and declutter: This step is essential to help you identify things you don't need or want to take to your new space and can reduce your moving load and costs.
• Make an inventory list: This can be as simple as numbering your boxes.
• Label boxes: Be sure to mark the destination room and the box contents on each box. Use color-coded labels to aid in sorting. This tip is useful for you and your movers.
• Fragile Items: Items should be individually wrapped in bubble wrap or packing paper. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom of the box and lighter items on top.
• Essentials Kit: You should pack a box with the items that you will need for the first night in your new home (toiletries, changes of clothes, tools, etc.)
• Large or Oddly Shaped Items: There are special ways to prepare large or oddly shaped items for a move.

  • Furniture: Should be disassembled if it can be. Be sure to photograph how it is put together for reference and put screws in a labeled bag.
  • Electronics: Should be cleaned and packed in the original boxes if they are available. TVs and Computer monitors should be transported upright and not stacked.
  • Artwork and Mirrors: Should be wrapped in bubble wrap and glassine paper and put in a flat-picture box.
  • Pianos and Antiques: Should be moved by specialty movers or crated for the move.
• Hiring Movers: Professional packers and movers are a good idea if you have a large household, limited time or valuable items that require special care. Movers are also insured for liability and have special equipment to prevent injury and damage.
• What to look for in a Moving Company: Read reviews and get at least 3 estimates to compare. Make sure your Movers have insurance to cover your high-value items. Also have a pre-move meeting to review special handling if needed.

What Do You Need to do on your Moving Day?

Do a final walk-through. Make sure you have all your stuff and that you have unplugged all the appliances. Write down the readings on the utility meters. You will need to do this for the water, gas and electricity. Carefully transport pets and plants. You should put your pets in a transport carrier and provide them with some of their stuff to make them more comfortable. Plants are also living things, and extreme temperatures can be detrimental to them, so you should also transport them with you and not in the moving vehicle. Leases, insurance papers and passports are things you should also carry on your person instead of moving in the vehicle.

What do you do after you move into a new House?

To get fully settled in, you should make the essential rooms in the house functional first. You can also make a bigger impact by updating your address first.

• Get the essentials first. The kitchen and bedrooms are good places to start. You can restore your daily routine quicker this way.
• Let people know about your move. You should notify your employer, school, bank and post office.
• Discover your neighborhood: Get to know your new community. Find the hospitals, grocery stores, parks, etc. near your house. Meet your neighbors.