Last Updated on August 27, 2023 by Corynn
This blog post is about how to prepare yourself to move in 30 days or less.
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After deciding to move for the first time, or you are moving to a different location, it’s time for you to plan how you’re going to move. Only have 30 days to move? Here is a full guide on how to move in 30 days or less.
This blog post will be broken down by weeks. Here is a table of contents that you can follow:
“What Should I Do 30 Days Before Moving?”
It’s super simple to move your entire apartment and house all within 30 days, but it does take some planning. Firstly, I would start purchasing some packing supplies.
What kind of packing supplies you need? Here is a detailed list that will help you prepare to move in 30 days;
- Moving boxes (range from small to large)
- Moving tape (more sturdier than normal tape)
- Sharpies (to label the moving boxes)
- Color coding stickers (I talk about it more in detail how these are CRUCIAL for moving day further on in the blog post)
- Bubble wrap
- Tissue paper (to place within glasses and plates)
- Scissors
- Box Cutters
- Heavy duty trash bags
Now that we have our packing supplies, now it’s time to go over our moving checklist!
Four Weeks Before Moving Day
1. Declutter Everything!
Take moment to go through each room in your house and see what you don’t use anymore. This could be clothing, books, electronics, or even containers.
They are multiple ways you can give away any items you do not use anymore. Such as giving it to family members who need it, giving it away to a local donation center, or reselling it.
Not sure how to start decluttering your living space? Read our blog post about decluttering tips for your apartment.
2. Start Collecting Moving Supplies
Start collecting moving supplies within 30 days of moving. This will motivate you to start packing slowly as the weeks go on.
Keep any amazon boxes you get or ask any family members to keep some aside for you. Before going straight to a packing supply company, check other stores to compare prices.
TIP: Use colored labels to color-code each moving box you have. For example, For living have let it have the color green label on it. In Addition, you can get white sticker labels to list all of the items in each box.
3. Plan Out On How To Fix Any Repairs
sit down and list all the things you have changed when you first moved in. Did you drill in any holes in the wall for curtain rods? Did you paint your bedroom a different color?
Go through each room and write out all the things you have changed. Within the next 30 days make sure you give yourself some time to get those stuff done, so you’re not stressing last minute.
4. Purchase Items You Need in Your New Place.
Are you moving into a 2 bedroom apartment? Or are you moving into a two-story house? Do you want to upgrade on any furniture?
If you’re not able to upgrade your new place right now, that’s okay. You still have time to slowly make your new house feel like home.
Please Note: A lot of furniture stores have 4-6 week processing time. Take that into consideration when purchasing large furniture.
Three Weeks Before Moving Day
1. Book a Moving Van/Create a Moving Plan
After packing a few boxes you’ll have an idea of what kind of moving van you’ll need. I highly suggest using Uhaul to estimate what kind of truck you will need or even check out their instructional videos on Youtube. This helped me a lot to estimate what kind of truck my fiance and I would need to move both of our belongings.
2. Look Around For Renters Insurance
This is something I decide to do early on. Take your time comparing the renter’s insurance quotes. If you went to University/College, you may qualify for a discount on your insurance. In addition, your work benefits may also offer discounts on insurance as well!
Make sure to get your renters insurance between the 30 days to two weeks before.
3. Bring Back Anything That Has Been Loan Or Borrowed (Books, DVDs, etc.)
Do you have any books you have loaned from the library? Did you borrow clothes from your sister? Make sure to give back anything you have borrowed or loan so it doesn’t get accidentally packed in with your stuff.
4. Arrange To Disconnect All Cable, Internet, Phone And To Let Them Know Your New Location (If The Service Provider Is Available At Your New Place)
Check if your service provider is available where you are moving to. If so then take the time to call your service provider to transfer your services to your new place.
Make sure you call in advance in order to get your cable and internet set up at your new place within the first week.
If your new place does not have your service provider available, here are the following things you will have to do. 1) look around for a new service provider, 2) Let your service provider know your last day of use.
Make sure you take the time to return any internet boxes, cable boxes, or anything you have rented from your service provider.
Depending on your provider, you may be able to take it with you to your new place ONLY if they are offering the same services near your area.
5. Continue Packing
Around this time, you will just be packing non-stop. You’ll begin to see items around your home that you probably won’t be using within the next three weeks.
This could be packing up seasonal clothing that you won’t be wearing for the next few weeks, kitchen utensils, and more.
Two Weeks Before Moving Day
1. Give In Your Two-Week Notice (If Applicable)
Moving to a new city? Are you able to commute to your old workplace or will you have to find a new job? Before putting in your two weeks, think over your options. How long are you able to go without a job? Can commute for now until you find employment at your new location? Or will you have to quickly find a new job before moving?
If you have already found a job, or close to the process of finding a job. Then look into putting in your two-week notice.
2. Begin Packing Anything That You Do Not Need For The Next Two Weeks. (Leave Any Linen Last! You Can Use This To Help You Pack)
This will ease the stress you may have with packing. Take some time on your days off to pack the things you know you’re not using for two weeks. This could be books, clothes, electronics, etc. Keep anything out that you’ll need until the day you move.
3. Consult With Your Landlord On What Day You Will Be Meeting Up On Moving Day.
After paying your first month and last month’s rent, call or email your landlord to see when you can move into your new apartment.
This also means booking time to use the elevator to move all of your belongings. If you are moving into a house, discuss with your realtor when you will be able to move in.
Usually, between the time you buy your house and getting the keys could be weeks or a couple of months. So make sure both you, your realtor, and the sellers are all on the same page.
5. Create a Utility Account and Internet Account or Transfer an Old One To a New Location. Let Them Know The Moving Date.
If this is your first time moving out on your own. You will need to register for a Utility account. Not only will you be responsible for rent but you will also be responsible for paying your utility (Or in Canada we call it Hydro). This may include the energy you use and/or the water you use.
This being your first time moving out I suggest reaching out to your hydro company your apartment uses and register for an account. Your landlord may ask for the account number.
If you are moving to a different location with the same service provider then you can submit a form to transfer your account to the new location.
Remember to get this sorted out at least 5-10 business days before move-in day. Doing this will allow you to have some lights on when you first move in.
6. Arrange For Your Car To Get a Tune-Up If Driving a Far Distance
Is your new place a couple of hours away? Make sure to get your car checked if it is capable to drive the distance. Helps with no delays on move-in day.
7. If You Have Children; Keep Some Toys Out For Them To Play With. Toys That Are Easy To Place Inboxes.
Children still need to be entertained from now until they get to their new room. If you have any small children, keep out at least 10-15 toys for them to still play with within the last two weeks. You can always place the toys in a moving box a couple of days before.
8. Hire Movers or Ask for Help!
Look at all the things you have to move from your old place to your new place. Would you need to hire movers? Or could you do it yourself?
If you’re asking friends and family for help, try to offer some water, food. This could be a great opportunity to check out the local pizza place near you.
One Week Before Moving Day
1. Work On Any Last-Minute House/Apartment Maintenance.
Such as; fill in any holes you might have drilled into, fix any cupboard doors, repaint any walls you have painted, clean the carpet. Remember how you moved in? If you were renting then it has to look the exact same way it looked before.
Need to follow a thorough checklist? Check out our blog post about Apartment Moving Out Cleaning Checklist to help with leaving your old apartment spotless.
2. Pack Clothes and Toiletries In a Suitcase You Will Need For The Next 14 Days
I highly doubt you’ll be able to find the box of clothes right when you move in. Pack enough clothes in a suitcase for two weeks, just to give yourself some time to unpack everything.
3. Finalize Everything
Make a list of anything else you need to do. Did you let the post office of your new location? Did you have to get any prescriptions to last you for a couple of months? Make sure to finalize everything you have to do in your city before leaving.
4. Pack Everything You Need Into Boxes
Now it’s really time really and I mean REALLY pack everything up. only keep things out you can pack inside a suitcase but everything else needs to be packed away. You don’t want to be packing up your entire kitchen the night before the moving truck comes.
5. Create a First Night Box
After moving all of your furniture and boxes inside your new place, you’ll be exhausted to even open boxes for things. Create a box of all the things you will the first night. This box could include some of the following; toilet paper, paper towel, first aid kit, paper plates, plastic cups, etc.
6. Begin Changing All Government Identification (Health Card, Drivers License)
In Canada, you have to give them at least 6 days to let them know about your new location. Make sure you look into how to change your address for all government documents.
7. Empty And Clean The Fridge
Do this 24 hours prior to moving. Take the time to unplug the fridge and clean out any food, leftovers inside the fridge.
This is a great opportunity to use up the rest of the food in your fridge, or place your frozen items in coolers.
8. Wrap Bed Or Place Bed Into a Mattress Protector
This could be done the morning of. Remember to wrap your mattress and/or buy a mattress protector to keep your mattress protected during the journey from your old place to your new place. This will help for any insects or dirt to be found in your mattress. You can find a mattress bag on Amazon!
Moving Day!
Congrats! you made it to moving day! Here is a small checklist to follow on Moving day!
1. Pack the Moving Van
Begin bright and early and start packing the moving van. You want to start with the heaviest furniture/items to the lightest boxes.
Want to keep your moving boxes organized? color code them! Grab some colored label stickers and assign a color to each room.
for example, the kitchen can be red, living room can be blue and so one.
This will help friends, family, and even movers to place the boxes in the correct room. Unpacking will be a breeze!
2. Give All Your Helpers The Address To Your New Location
Before leaving your old location, give everyone who is helping you move into your new place the address. You don’t want anybody to get lost on their to your new place.
3. Place All Keys Inside an Envelope For The Landlord
Place all keys inside an envelope for your previous landlord/next owners. If you and the landlord are going to be looking over your old apartment prior to leaving. You can give them the keys then, or drop it off in their mailbox.
4. Do One Last Walk Around
Check to see if you have left any boxes behind, and see if everything is intact for the next tenants/owners. Remember, to take photos of the place!
Just in case you need to refer back to them with your landlord if they have any concerns. Also take in one last moment and say goodbye to your place.
you could be saying goodbye to a place that you have created so many memories.
Conclusion
Remember to walk through your place first to do an inspection at new place. This will help you get back your deposit.
I highly suggest it takes some time to clean your apartment/house prior to moving everything in.
Just in case they have done any renovations on the place and sawdust is everywhere, or just for your ease, you know the place has already been clean.
Happy Moving!
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