If you’re unsure of how to prepare for your upcoming move, don’t worry: you’re in the right place. This guide will show you how to plan and prepare for your upcoming move and still have a moment or two to relax before moving day.

Two months before moving day

Toss what you don’t need: Start by opening every drawer in every room of your home and decide what you’d like to keep and you no longer need. 

Get organized: Start a binder so you can keep track of estimates, receipts, and inventory lists.

Collect school records: If you’re moving to a new area, you’ll need to contact your child’s school to let them know you’re moving and to get copies of your child’s records. 

Six weeks before moving day

Buy packing supplies: Some moving companies like Rite Move (a full service moving company in Hamilton, NJ) offer customers the option to pay extra for them to pack and unpack your belongings. However, it’s cheaper if you pack your belongings yourself. To do it yourself, you’ll need to purchase moving supplies like boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and permanent markers. 

Transfer medical records: Contact your doctor’s office and have them send copies of

your medical records to your new doctor’s office.

One month before moving day

Pick a moving company: Decide on a moving company and schedule the move. Be sure to confirm their time of arrival and any other pertinent information.

Start packing: Begin by boxing up items that you don’t use that often. Label and number each box with its contents and the room it’s going to. For items that you’ll need right away, label the boxes “essentials”. 

Set aside valuables: Separate personal items like jewelry, passports, birth certificates, and other important papers and put them in a safe box that you’ll personally bring to your new home. Also, keep your mover’s estimate in your safe box; you’ll need it on moving day. 

Update your address: Fill out a change-of-address form with the post office and notify important parties like your insurance representatives, bank and credit card companies, and utility companies of your new address. Also, if you have any magazine subscriptions, be sure to update those with your new address. 

Two weeks before moving day

Schedule time off: Notify your employer of the day or days you’ll be moving and schedule time off. 

Finalize packing: Clear out all storage units, safe deposit boxes, and any other off-site storage locations. Finish up any household packing that needs to be done.

One week before moving day

Pack your suitcase: Your final bag should have at least one change of clothes and the basics like toilet paper and an extra phone charger. If your spare phone charger isn’t working, do a quick Google search like “iPhone repair near me” to quickly find a place to get repairs done.

Refill prescriptions: Visit your pharmacy and take care of any prescription refills you’ll need for the next few weeks. Also, if you’re moving to a new area, transfer your prescriptions to a new

pharmacy in your new community. 

A few days before moving day

Confirm your moving arrangements: Reach out to the moving company you hired and confirm the date and time of their arrival. 

Empty your refrigerator: Make sure to empty and clean your refrigerator 24 to 48 hours before your moving day. If your refrigerator is going with you, be sure to defrost it also. 

Moving day

Supervise: Keep an eye on the movers as they stack your belongings inside the track, watch out for any damage.

Do a final walk-through: Before the movers leave, make sure nothing has been left. Turn off lights and lock up before you leave your old home for the last time.