I guess everyone hires movers?
Well, we move ourselves (it's a good workout). :)
We have (oddly enough) moved EVERY time our baby was 1 year old! Now, we are moving ourselves with 3 young kids... so planning is key. Even if it does all go out the window. ;)
We started talking about it with them really early on and brought it up weekly, and I'd say 10 days post-move, they seem okay... it didn't seem to rock their world the way the one 3 yrs ago did!
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| Moving with 3 kids 6 & under and no movers... WHAT? You can do it! |
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| Moving when our oldest was 1... |
On all the lists I found on Pinterest, lots of stuff seems to be left out. To me, they seem like short lists of obvious tasks. (Hire a mover, Change your Address, get boxes... REALLY?)
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| Moving when our middle was 1... |
TO DO (local move, moving ourselves-- a nitty gritty list):
6 weeks before:
- Pack at least 1 box a day from now til when
you move. Start a GoogleDoc and only number the boxes--anything goes for what is inside-- on the Google Doc, put what is inside each number. That way, you don’t open a box til you need something in it-- then you unpack the entire box. Collect boxes at the grocery store, school. - Give notice to landlord
- Get a great realtor-- if youre local, definitely use Erica Jolles
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| Moving this time... when youngest is 1 |
5 weeks before:
- Email realtor to confirm closing date
- Come up with floor plan& with a "truck" plan-- how you plan to load the truck-- draw on posterboard and hang in truck-- you will get delirious so it's good to be able to look at this and not have to talk at 2am ;)
- Make checklist of who to change addresses with (Post Office, utilities, DMV, magazines, student loan, internet/phones, doctors, health insurance, banks, pharmacy, schools, PayPal, Etsy, Amazon, alma mater), cross off when complete
- Check in with lender about your loan status (you should have started the pre-approval months before)-- Cindy Reichle is on the ball and the best lender I've ever encountered
- Write down finances for move-- truck, closing costs, new appliances--anything-- make sure you have what you need! We have always used Budget trucks, seem to be the best buy. We get a 16' truck and 12 pads for local move and do 3-4 loads... it costs under $150 including gas to refill the truck! A few other costs to consider with estimates (Termite bond $800, charges for transferring utilities ($20 water, $40 cable/internet), inspection + reinspection after repairs ($575), curtains & hardware-- esp if new construction these things may not be up ($200 if you buy Target brand rods and then fabric and sew yourself-- another cost saver---buy a piece of fleece at fabric store the size of the window, tack it up til you can do the curtains), lawnmower $114 for manual if you like a workout/weedwacker $30/large ladder $100-or find used), change license address ($25 per license), paint & rollers ($300), re-key doors $105 mininum
4 weeks before:
- Measure windows, pool, etc, OR download MagicPlan app and go take pics of the space!
- Line up babysitters for the kids TIP: See if someone will come 8pm-11pm so you can really get a lot done while they sleep and not be worried about if the baby is okay with the sitter, etc. We did this the fist night living in the new place and went back for a mega-load and then sent the sitter home at 11:30pm and unpacked til 3am. INSANE? Yes. Major cost saver? Yes.
- Get 2-3 pool fence estimates-- we wound up with Pool Guard
- Buy bathmats/garage mats
- Get inspection & appraisal
- Shop around for and line up homeowner’s insurance and give the info to lenderBuy spackle and paint to patch rental
3 weeks before:
- Clean out pantry and fridge/freezer
- Book truck rental for 3 days so you can make several trips and save time on packing/unpacking… i.e. one trick is to just load dresser drawers WITH the clothes still in them, then they pop back in and clothes are all where they should be
- Change home phone, TV, internet etc-- cost saver-- Ooma, $3 per month for home phone
- Find out how to maintain a pool- what to buy?
- Keep checking for used: swingset, yard tools, pool tools
2 weeks before:
- Find out trash & recycling days & contact city for bins
- Get estimates on anything you need done before move in (pool fence, re-keying doors)
- Confirm Homeowner’s insurance
1 weeks before:
- Buy a few things at Lowe’s: lock for fence, plastic roll-out cover (with adhesive) to put down on carpets for moving w/ shoes on, mailbox/mailbox numbers
- Pack a kitchen box that is for the first few days of eating
- Shop washer/dryer, set up delivery date
- Set up install of pool fence
- Change address: See list below
- Get old sheets to put down on carpet so we dont need to take shoes off when moving
- Take shower nozzles off--soak in vinegar overnight, brush with old toothbrush, replace with cheapies
- Pack two small suitcases for 1st night: new shower curatin plus hooks, 5 towels, toiletries, bathmat, sheets for queen bed, clean sheet for crib, pajamas, undies/diapers, clothes, lovies, DVDs/player-- 3 rolls TP, 1 roll paper towels and a small trash can or trash bags
2 Days before:
- Disassemble all furniture
- Keep 5-6 empty boxes out, ready to have stuff thrown in
Day of:
- Close on the house!!! :)Pick up truck
- Send email to everyone with new address
Day after:
- Locksmith- rekey doors
- Pool fence install
- Internet install
4 days after:
- Go back to rental and check for anything we forgot--clean up, spackle/paint, vacuum, and turn keys in-- GET SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK (by law they must return or explain why not within 30 days)
CHANGE ADDRESS:
- Water/Electric
- Cable/Internet
- Subscriptions
- Student loans
- Bank
- Pharmacy
- Work
- pediatrician,
- chiropractor
- School
- health insurance,
- Doctor
- Licenses/DMV
- Life Insurance
- IRAs, etc
- Credit Cards
- PayPal
- Etsy
- Amazon
- USPS- they will send you a 10% of total purchase at Lowe's and Target-- so wait for the big shop til those coupons arrive
- kid magazines
- Alma Maters
