Moving day gets closer and closer! You need to make sure you are prepared. This can be both an exciting and anxiety-ridden day. As you anticipate the change, it is natural to feel nervous. This is especially true considering how much work you have to do on the day of. Fear not. There are ways to plan your move to minimize stress and keep you on track. 

The Importance of Planning

Leave nothing to chance. When it comes to the day of your move, you want to plan properly and ensure a smooth transition from one space to the next. To start, create a detailed checklist of all the tasks that pop up. Starting this virtually is an excellent idea. Keep it saved in a place where you can add to it any time, that way you can make edits as you think of them. 

Moving Checklist Timeline

Take all of the ideas you came up with and create a moving checklist timeline. How far in advance do each of these steps need to take place? Set reminders or calendar invites for yourself to help keep you up to date. And don’t forget to plan for small delays – maybe you didn’t get to pack enough one week, or the best moving companies in Chicago are booked the day you want them. Life happens, make sure you plan for it. 

Once you get to all of the day-of tasks, try to set a specific timeline for the day. Here is an example of a moving checklist timeline that might be helpful:

• 7:30 am – Organize and label all boxes
• 8:00 am – Movers arrive; ask them to pack bedroom and storage items last
• 9:00 am – Pack final items; do a few walkthroughs of your old home and make sure nothing is left behind
• 10:00 am – Travel to your storage facility
• 10:30 am – Place items into storage
• 11:00 am – Travel to your new home
• 12:00 pm – Arrive at your new home and start unpacking
• 1:00 pm – Lunch
• 2:00 pm – Set up furniture; always start with your bed (make the bed too!)
• 4:00 pm – Unpack and organize boxes

How to Organize Day-Of

First and foremost, make sure your whole moving team knows what your ideal timeline for the day looks like. Everyone needs their expectations set in order to help you reach your goals. If there are any stops along the way to plan for – like stopping at a storage facility or the like – everyone needs to be on the same page.

Before getting started, make sure all of your moving boxes are labeled by room. You can have it written out, color-coded, or organized in any way you’d like. This will make unpacking so much easier. If possible, ask the movers if they can pack the items from your bedroom last (you’ll want to set that up first in the new house). 

Making Moving Day Simpler

There are some crucial tips to help make your move simple. Let’s take a look at some of these prep ideas:

Setting Up Utilities & Services

One major way to improve your moving experience is to set up utilities and other services prior to moving day. Contact your utility providers for electricity, gas, water, and sewer services. Make sure you inform them about your move in date so they can have your services prepared for you. You can also do this for services like cable and internet. 

Bringing An Overnight Bag

Though it depends on the size of your move, many people don’t get the chance to unpack everything on the first day in their new home. Due to this, it can be incredibly helpful to pack an overnight bag. This way you can be set for at least a night without searching for belongings. This is also a great opportunity to bring valuables along that you don’t want packed in a truck. 

Preparing Your Bed First

Always set up your bed before unpacking. Why? Let’s set the scene. You’ve had a long day of packing, moving, unloading, unpacking. You are physically and, frankly, mentally a bit spent. All you want to do is take a shower and curl up in bed. But then, you realize you still have to set up your sleeping arrangements. Not ideal. Avoid this issue by making this your first order of business in your house. Do it all – from the bed frame to the sheets – that way you’re ready for your first night. 

What To Have On Hand

Keep in mind that there are a handful of items to keep readily available during your meal:

Packing Tape & Markers

When you are still focused on your old house, it is an excellent idea to keep extra packing tape and permanent markers on hand. There are bound to be a few last boxes to be packed as you do your final rounds through the house. Make sure you have these items at the ready. 

Cleaning Supplies

Once you’re moving over to your new space, make sure you keep cleaning products out. You’ll want to do some light cleaning as you’re putting items away. It’s in the details – wiping down kitchen cabinets before unpacking your flatware, things of that nature. 

Money

Many who are moving have to ask, “Do you tip movers?” Yes! It is typical to tip moving companies in Chicago. So make sure you have money to do so on moving day. The typical tip for movers is about $10 per hour per mover or 10% of the total service charge. 

Hiring Moving Companies in Chicago

When you are preparing for your move, it is important to get your ducks in a row as soon as you can. That is why, at Expert Movers, we offer a free estimate for you to learn more about how we can help. Our team of experienced movers is here to ensure you have a move that is as painless as possible. So, check out our services today!