This explains my current life right now!

Back to work and I am NOT upset about it… I actually need a break from the mess and chaos that is consuming our house. I underestimated the exhaustion and use of energy when moving into our first home! We are officially homeowners and that feels great but we literally moved the same day we closed so talk about not wasting time! It took us four days to move everything. I was pretty prepared ahead of time as far as packing and cleaning out old stuff from our old house. I started packing a couple weeks ago but it would be small stuff here and there. Our kitchen took me 5 hours to pack up… WHAT!?!?! I also threw away lots of stuff. We have A LOT of stuff and I didn’t realize how much it really was until it all had to fit in boxes.

How to Move: The Details

Moving just seems to come naturally for certain people. They seem to have every detail perfectly planned, memorize the exact contents of every box with ease, and have all their belongings unpacked within hours. However, I am not a “natural” at moving and I am like a lost puppy trying to figure out what to start with. There were things I did that I knew I had to get done in order to have a successful move. Planning was key.

I did plan ahead of time with lists, calling for quotes for movers, researching the new area we live for house utility companies, cancelling our current ones etc. These things were super helpful being done ahead of time. What I learned from this was the physical energy it takes out of you…. We did our move in 4 days. There are still boxes and just stuff everywhere but we did it and I could not be happier. Overall, it was a successful move! So with that being said, here are some tips to make your next move successful.

1.  Plan your move using a moving checklist

Moving is an exercise in managing a large number of details in a short period of time. You need a powerful tool to help you in that process. Fortunately, there are several free moving checklists available to fill that role. There are several online and this is the one I used to help with our move.

2. Decide whether you will be moving yourself or hiring professional movers

Initially, we thought we would be able to move everything ourselves and just tough it out. Well a week before the move, we were rearranging furniture from one room to the other and I was like Ross from friends yelling at my husband lol – This is when we decided to hire professionals. Professional movers offer an enormous amount of convenience. However, they are often fairly expensive. Here are some factors to consider:

• If money isn’t a consideration, professional movers are the way to go.
• If you have a smaller place currently, such as a studio apartment, you’re much less likely to need professional movers.
• Many heavy pieces of furniture should point you toward using a moving company.
• Having lots of friends and family willing to help limits your need for professional movers.
• If you’ve lived in your current location for more than 3 years, you’re more likely to have accumulated more boxes that might require movers.
• If you have a medical condition such as a bad back or heart condition, moving is NOT the time to test your recovery- let the professionals handle it.

 3. Eliminate items from your move.

This was one thing I told myself I was going to do early on but slightly forgot. We have accumulated so much over the years that half of it gets put away and forgotten. This will also take up some time so start this process early enough that you are not rushing around during the move. In fact, it is recommended that you eliminate 1/3 of your possessions as a goal. Have a charity donation truck come and take away any items that you no longer need or donate them to Goodwill. A moving sale is a great way to eliminate unwanted items and pick up some spare cash in the process.

4. Start packing early!


• Pack a suitcase for each family member as if you were going on a 3-day trip, and keep the suitcases with you instead of on the moving truck.
• Create one or two “Open Me First” boxes for each room, containing the items you’ll need immediately on arrival at your new home. This will save you a lot of time and stress.
• Label each box and all 4 sides and the top with an abbreviation for the room and a box number for that room. You’ll avoid lots of frustration constantly answering the question of, “Where do you want this box?”
• Focus on just one room at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed.
• Hold a “packing party” with friends, family, and anyone else you can recruit. Have lots of free food and music to entice the party-goers.
• Keep all boxes to under 30 pounds where possible and always less than 50 pounds.

TIP!!! Move your clothing straight on the hangers – I didn’t purchase garment boxes, as I found they could get quite heavy, so instead I bundled about 10 or so hangers together with an elastic band and slid them directly into a makeshift garment bag right over top.

5. Change over important services

 • Notify utilities: Start the process of closing out utility service at your current place and getting utilities set up at your new residence.

• Transfer insurance: If your current home is covered, check with your agent to transfer the policy to your new home.

 •Notify schools: If you have kids, tell the staff at their schools of the impending move. Get copies of their school records and check into the enrollment process at the schools near your new residence.

Manage “Moving Day”

• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged. One thing you definitely don’t want to be on your Moving Day is “unreachable.”
• Start your day early. This avoids having to move things in the dark.
• Recruit as much help as you can stand.
• Use sitters- Kids and pets are your treasures, and they deserve to have full attention, but on moving day you’ll have other priorities.

I took my dogs to the groomers for baths. This is what they looked like when I picked them up…. LOL


• Food is your friend- Whether you have professional movers or friends and family, having coffee, orange juice, and bagels or donuts available will make it easier for everyone to get started on Moving Day.
• Keep cell phone numbers ready and programmed into your phone. Be certain you have the cell phone number of the driver of the truck entered into your cell phone, and that the driver has yours.
• Have correct payment ready and waiting. Tips are always a necessity for the hard work you have hired so always have cash.
• Directions- You need to have directions and a map ready for anyone will be driving between your old place and your new place.
• Label the rooms at your new place.

File your change of address

It’s important to let everyone know when and where you’re moving. You also will need to have your mail forward’ to your new address:
• Confirm you new address.
• File your change of address with the post office.
• Set up your phone number for your new place.
• Start notifying your contact list.
• Notify anyone whose mail arrives at your new address with a yellow address correction sticker.
This should get your change of address process running quickly and smoothly.

Start settling in.

Once you’ve completed your move it’s time to begin the settling in process. One of the best ways to feel more settled is knowing where key locations in your new neighborhood are. Here’s a list of 12 key places to locate near your new home:

• Shopping center/ mall
• Hospital/ emergency care center
• School
• Day care center
• Library
• Post office
• Grocery store
• Pharmacy
• Convenience store
• Hardware store
• Dry cleaner
• Car repair center

Some of the myths about moving day simply aren’t true. There will be bumps along the way. That’s why it’s very important to plan out your move as far in advance as you reasonably can. You’ll have an easy time and a lower stress level. With something as large and sometimes complicated as a move, that’s all you can really hope for.

We are so excited to be new residents of Wylie, TX!! Our very first home that we now own!! 🙂

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Have you recently had to move and what are some things you found that helped your move?

Brittany 🙂

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