A Moving Out Checklist for First-Time Movers

Whether you’re going off to college, advancing a relationship, getting a new job, or simply starting a new life on your own, moving out of your childhood home for the first time can be quite a stressful experience, regardless of the circumstances. However, it’s an important part of adult life, and a necessary step a person needs to take in order to experience the liberty and joy of independence. To help you make this step a less stressful and smoother experience, here are all the essential aspects you need to take care of when moving out for the first time:

1. Constructing an appropriate budget

Many first-time movers tend to focus primarily on the excitement of moving out, finding a new home, and starting a new chapter in life, that they often forget about all the aspects that go into moving, particularly the unavoidable cost of relocation.

However, the mere act of moving can be quite costly on its own, from smaller items like the boxes, tape, and other supplies necessary for packing, to bigger expenses such as hiring vehicles and movers that will relocate your belongings. For that reason, it would be wise to plan out your entire move in advance, and construct an appropriate budget that takes all necessary expenses into account, in an effort to avoid any mishaps and unpleasantries along the way.

2. Packing your belongings efficiently

Even though packing is an unavoidable aspect of moving, it can be quite difficult to begin when you don’t have any previous experience with relocating all of your belongings. The best place to start is by stocking up on as many cardboard boxes, moving bins, and other supplies, which you might be able to acquire for free at your local grocery shops or delivery companies.

Then, go through your current home room by room, and create a detailed checklist of everything you have to pack, by category. This will allow for a more streamlined and efficient packing process. Once your belongings are packed, don’t forget to label your boxes appropriately. While always beneficial, proper labeling can become particularly helpful when it comes to long-distance moves like East to West Coast, for instance, when things tend to get shuffled and misplaced.

3. Hiring necessary help for the move

From providing you with packing supplies and helping you pack any essential or challenging items to offering fast and reliable vehicles, as well as any potential shipments, a moving company can be of great help, especially when it comes to your first move. As long as you hire a reputable and reliable company, they can ensure your relocation goes as smoothly as possible.

This becomes especially important if you currently live or are moving to a state with bad traffic or unpredictable weather, such as Washington. In that case, the best course of action would be to hire the services of professional Seattle movers who will not only make sure that the process of moving is stress-free and pleasant, but might also give you some peace of mind knowing that you won’t need to struggle in such unfavorable conditions alone.

4. Surviving the final moving day

When the move day finally comes, it might turn out to be a bit more hectic and challenging than you initially thought. While this is a common aspect of all moves, there are some things you can do to make moving day a bit more manageable. For instance, you could get an early start in order to make this time-consuming process a bit more organized.

For a more streamlined move, follow the general rules, such as moving the largest and bulkiest items first, and then moving on to smaller boxes. Once you arrive at your new home, don’t begin unpacking until everything is moved in, as you’ll only risk creating a bigger mess in your new space. It would also be a good idea to try and organize everything you can while you unpack, possibly following your packing checklist, in an effort to make the moving process that much easier to handle.

5. Taking care of essential documentation

Documentation is another aspect that often gets overlooked when moving for the first time, but it’s an essential part of your life that should be taken care of in advance as well. Updating your ID, driver’s license, credit cards, and possible health or other insurance information is absolutely necessary when starting a life in a new location.

However, you shouldn’t forget about the smaller aspects either. In case you wish to transfer your internet and cable services, have all your mail be delivered to your new home, or relocate any other utilities you might need, make sure to update the necessary information in advance as well, in order to be able to start living in your new home in a more relaxed and carefree manner.

While any move can be quite overwhelming, especially when it’s your first time, it doesn’t have to be an overly daunting and challenging process, as long you carefully plan all the necessary aspects in advance.

Lily Miller

Lilly Miller is a Sydney-based graphic designer and a passionate writer. Loves everything about home decor, art history and baking. Shares home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney.