Shifting houses is not easy. It takes a lot of time and preparation, and a lot of energy. It could be within the city, across the country, or even across continents – it does not make it any easier even if you were moving two lanes. It would be best if you prepared to pack everything weeks in advance. Creating a moving houses checklist will help you go a long way in making this happen.
If you’re wondering how to pack when moving houses, we have made a moving houses checklist – something that you should keep in handy, especially if you are not working with movers and packers. You can get a printable copy here but make sure you read through this article to make full use of the checklist.
The Moving Houses Checklist: Prepare for Your Big Move
The first step to making a checklist when you’re shifting houses is to start preparing for your move weeks in advance. It would help if you ideally made the checklist 2 to 3 months before your move, so you end up taking care of every single aspect of your move without forgetting anything.
So how do you make a checklist when you’re moving houses? How do you pack when you’re moving houses? We have created an elaborate plan for you to follow based on timelines before your shift.
Eight weeks before the move (Week 1 – Week 2)
Create a list of your belongings
Your list can be a digital or a physical copy of all your belongings. This is your guide and your moving houses checklist. Use a binder if you’re creating a physical copy because you must segregate all your belongings into categories.
First, note down what categories of belongings you have. This usually includes perishables, toiletries, furniture, and even “Gifts from Grandma” that you never seem to use but will never dispose of. Then, list down the items under the categories and include their quantities. When you’re done, you have yet to start packing or disposing but you have a pretty good idea of how you want to pack and what you want to dispose.
Create a budget
Shifting houses is not cheap. It requires some amount of financial planning, which is why you need to create a budget and allocate your finances to help you move. If you’re choosing movers and packers, you will have to make a separate budget for them and finalise the best options for you within your budget. The cheapest options range between S$350 and S$500.
With the list of belongings that you have created, you can make a pretty good guess of the number of movers and packers you need and how much money you can expect to spend. If it’s too much money, you can look through your list to decide what you can dispose to reduce your budget accordingly.
Administrative Matters
This part is usually overlooked but creeps up on us when we have to start our move and have tons of stuff to worry about. So why not take care of it now?
If you are renting your current space, make sure you check your lease agreement for the notice period and inform your landlord of your move. If you are the homeowner of your current space, make sure all paperwork has been finalised and cleared for renting out or for selling of your home. Don’t forget the administration work for your new place, too. Please do not leave these matters until the last minute because it can cause you a mountain of issues with your move, resulting in delays and you could potentially be paying more money.
Hire movers and packers
If you would like to DIY your move, make sure to factor in the time you might take to pack, the price of boxes and protective packaging for fragile items, and also your ability to get the items from your door to your vehicle, and from your vehicle to your new place. Also, if you have a vehicle, consider its ability to fit all your items. If it is unable to move all your items at one go, is making multiple trips a viable option? Perhaps renting a larger vehicle would be better option if your budget permits. But are you able to operate a larger vehicle with the driver’s license you hold?
Yes, logistics of transportation and moving can be a nightmare, especially if you have many or large items to pack and move. But this is where you should consider professional moving and packing companies.
Working with movers and packers when you’re shifting houses will make your life a lot easier. You won’t have to arrange for your own transportation, packaging, timelines, moving insurance, and more. A good moving company will be experienced and well-equipped to handle most, if not all, of your moving and packing requirements. Generally, all you have to do is to administrate the process and they will get things done for you. So, start looking for moving companies and schedule your move before moving on to the next part.
Six weeks before the move (Week 3 – Week 4)
Start labelling your packing boxes and belongings
This is when you actually start the packing process. Since you have segregated all your belongings into a list of categories, now you can easily create a second list with all your items segregated according to the places they will go. This step will make unpacking a whole lot easier.
Invest in a label maker (or just use pen, paper, and tape) and label your boxes and every item you possibly can after you’re done segregating. Label them based on where the items will go in the new place, so that you have an easier time unpacking.
Gather all excess luggage and segregate
Whatever you don’t need in the next few weeks – segregate it. It may look like your house is a mess, but when you’re packing your things, it will help. If you have an extra room where you can store all excess belongings, this is where all of these things can go. Use your labelled boxes and get a head start on your packing.
Four weeks before the move (Week 5 – Week 6)
Start decluttering
Decluttering and organising your house will help you move faster and easier. If you have items and belongings in your list that you are planning to dispose of, now is the time to get it done. This step helps you maintain a cleaner and more organised list as well as a less cluttered house to pack.
For all you hoarders out there (yes, you!), here are 2 mantras to live by:
- If you are wondering whether you should dispose of something, the answer is always “Yes”
- Keep all the things you need and all the things close to your heart – get rid of everything else.
Instead of dumping the disposals into a garbage bag and throwing them away, you can donate them or recycle them. Simply place them in a recycling bin or drop them off at charitable organisations such as The Salvation Army or gift it to a friend and be more environmentally conscious with your belongings. You don’t have to throw everything in the dumpster; you can choose a more eco-friendly way of managing your things when shifting houses. Pay it forward and be kind so that the things you would typically be throwing out could get a new life in a home that needs it.
Pack all your essential documents
Pack all the documents you don’t need well in advance. You don’t want to lose your essential belongings such as transcripts from your university, your birth certificate, and more when you’re shifting. Packing them last minute could lead to confusion and increase the chances of you losing them.
Make travel arrangements for yourself
You won’t be travelling with a hundred boxes filled with your things now, will you?
If you are travelling across the city, your car or a taxi will be enough, but if you’re travelling long distances for your move, then you should ideally book your flight at least a month in advance and time it with the move of all your belongings. But no matter the distance, book and schedule your transport now. It will help you sleep at night knowing that you have already checked off this item in your (very long) to-do list.
Make arrangements for your pets (if any)
Pets could get extremely anxious during a move. The drastic and constant change in moving environments may cause their anxiety or excitement, but it could be a lot more stressful for them if they are not travelling with their owners.
If you are moving across the city, it may be wise to pay your vet a visit, so that you and your pet are well-prepared for the move. If you do not own a car, keep in mind to source for pet taxi services for your pet, ideally one that transports you together.
If you are moving further away and need to take a flight, speak to your vet and get all the pet’s vaccinations or treatments done in advance, so you are prepared for your move. Also, find a vet in the area you are moving in to and set an appointment for when you are there. You will have to make sure your pets are in good hands when you move because they will also take some time to get acclimatised to the new living environment. For the move itself, you can check if your airline is pet friendly. Smaller pets can usually fly in-cabin, but larger pets have to remain in the cargo-hold which is supervised by an on-board veterinarian. Alternatively, you can engage pet relocation services to help with your pet’s moving arrangements.
Two weeks before the move (Week 7)
Start packing
Remember the labels you have placed on your belongings and boxes? Now it’s finally time to start packing them. Simply match the items and the boxes. How easy is that?
A few tips to take note of while packing:
- Do not pack any perishables (e.g., food items). You do not want them to go bad and ruin the boxes. Moving companies may even have clauses against this so read the fine lines carefully.
- Liquids and creams (e.g., moisturizers, essential oils, paint) can leak during the move. Make sure you wrap them up in pieces of fabric or newspaper, and place them in plastic bags, just in case there are any spillages or leaks.
- For fragile items (e.g., glass, ceramic), make sure that they are individually wrapped with protective wrapping that is shock-absorbent. Otherwise, they are most probably going to break somewhere along the journey.
If you have hired packers for your move, almost all of your packing woes will be taken care of. So there really isn’t anything to worry about. Just remember to keep a suitcase of items you will need for the next two weeks and start packing everything else.
Clear all your bills
This is the ideal time to clear all your bills. Water, electricity, WiFi, all pending dues should be paid, and you should be prepared to close up shop at your current house. Another thing you could do to be proactive about your move is work with the suppliers in the new home you are moving to and get all your utility-based billing started.
Finish all pending bank work
If you’re moving across cities or countries, this is very important. You will not be able to visit your bank’s physical branch, so whatever you need to do – close accounts, transfer them to a branch nearest to you, etc., should be done at least two weeks in advance.
You can try exploring your bank’s website to see if everything can be done online. But in some cases, they will only provide certain services at their branch due to security reasons.
Update all billing addresses
Your magazine subscriptions, mail, credit card bills, etc., need to be updated to your new address. So, make sure this is done well in advance of your move, so you don’t lose out on any deliveries. In certain cases, they may request a proof of address for verification purposes before updating their database. Your paperwork such as the housing agreement or lease agreement for your new place should suffice.
One week before the move (Week 8)
Coordinate and finalise arrangements with the movers and packers
This is the final leg of your moving houses checklist. Start working with the movers and packers and coordinate the exact dates and times of the entire shifting process. This will help avoid any unnecessary delay or last-minute cancellations and cause you less stress on moving day.
Clean your home
This is often the least favourite part of shifting houses. Clean every nook and cranny of your home before you move out because it is a nice thing to do and not because your agreement may or may not have said so. No one wants to enter the house in a mess – not your previous landlord, and not your house buyers.
You can opt to hire cleaning services to do the job for you if it fits your budget, which will make your life a lot easier.
Make an emergency kit
This will include all the things you need for travelling and your move. Keep your license, passport, keys, clothes in a tiny bag, and only use that till you move into your new home. Keep an extra change of clothes for a day when you move because you probably won’t have time to unpack immediately after you shift in.
Pack everything else!
And by that, we mean everything else from your 2-week luggage. Everything else should already be in the boxes. Clean out your bathroom, living room, every part of your house – it is time to pack.
On the day of the move, things may get hectic and move really fast. The packers will arrive to pack, followed by the movers. If you have arranged for pet relocation services, you have to sign some papers and do a proper handover to ensure that you beloved pet will get ample care during its travel. When the house is empty, it is time for you to bid it farewell and handover the keys.
Why Movers and Packers are the Best Options When You’re Shifting Houses
Even though you’ve made a detailed moving checklist and you have managed to put in weeks of planning and organising in your schedule, it can still be challenging to execute the move. Logistics can be a nightmare to work for shifting houses, which is why choosing to go for a logistics packing and transportation company would be in your best benefit.
When selecting your movers and packers, you check out Sabisuu which gives you options within your budget. Sabisuu can help you with this process because all the service providers are vetted and verified, and it makes the entire process a lot safer for you and your belongings. If you require other services, such as pet services or house cleaning services, do check out the Sabisuu marketplace for an easy and convenient booking experience.
Remember to get a copy of the moving checklist here.
