We begin the second blog of our long-distance moving checklist with what to do when you are 45 days away from your penultimate moving day. When you are roughly six weeks out, things are going to start to move quickly regarding moving preparation, and balancing that checklist with everyday life will be difficult, but it certainly can be done. Let’s continue our countdown 45 days out.
Hunt and gather supplies: Now is the time to begin getting together everything you need to make your move happen physically. The first step should be looking for boxes if you need them. While you can purchase moving boxes from moving and shipping stores, you can just as easily get them for free. Ask friends or family if they have excess boxes stored in their home you can use. Alternatively, you can go to local office supply stores (that don't sell boxes in store), liquor stores, or even libraries and ask if they have excess boxes to give you. Other items to consider buying now include tape and tape guns, permanent markers, gloves, hand trucks, or whatever else you could imagine needing.
Begin packing now: 45 days out is a good time to begin packing a little bit here and there each day. Doing this now will save you a ton of time later on, and will make your final week of the move much more relaxed.
Be liberal with the labeling: Nothing is worse than packing a box full of stuff, taping it up, then not labeling it. This can lead to confusion later on that can easily be avoided. Label your filled boxes immediately once you decide what you are putting in them and be sure to label on all facing sides of the box to make identification easy. Don’t forget to label fragile item boxes as well!
Measure, measure, measure: Don't wait until the day of your move to figure out if your bed won't fit through a particular doorway in your home. Measure all of your entryways to figure out what can fit where when it comes to moving large items.
Car care: Long distance moves typically mean you are moving a car as well. If you plan on driving your car across the country, get it checked out with a trusted local mechanic first and be sure it is ready for the drive. If you plan on having a vehicle shipped to your new home, remove any and all personal items of value, even spare tires, as they could go missing during the trip.
Book a moving company: 60 days out was the time to start your research, so by 45 days out, you should have a good idea of who your moving partner is going to be. Now is the time to book them to ensure your moving date doesn’t get bumped. If you are still hunting for a company now, try your best to reach a decision as soon as possible.
Don't forget odds and ends: This includes getting your medical records for you and your family for your new doctor in your new city. If you haven't done so already, notify your children's school(s) of the impending move and get any records you might need. Consider taking pictures of how your electronics setup is in your home right now as well. Unless you plan on changing the look of your new home, it might be helpful to remember later on how everything was set up.
By doing a little bit each day, your moving checklist will slowly start to look less and less scary as your final move date approaches. Keep 1-800-PACK-RAT in mind for any moving and storage needs you might have! Whether it is a local or long-distance move or you need temporary or long-term storage, we have your back!