It’s not easy to prep your family before a major move. As soon as you make your decision to move and share it with the rest of your family, don’t be surprised at how everyone reacts. Some will be excited. Others dismayed. And everyone will be overwhelmed. In fact, you’ll have so many questions flying at you, it will feel like you’re running for president.
The best way to resolve a collective sense of crisis is to become organized and practical. So make lists, delegate responsibilities, and set a schedule.
What kind of lists should you create? Here are 10 list categories to consider:
1. A list of what you need to do to streamline the heavy lifting.
Your biggest challenge is how to move all your stuff from point A to point B in the fastest, most economical way. The worst way to meet this challenge is to do everything yourself – from packing to loading to transportation. The best way is to enroll the help of a professional moving company like North American who can help you figure out all the logistics as well as provide some muscle to help move all your appliances, furniture, and big boxes. Doing it on your own will be a nightmare, working with experienced people who know what they’re doing will relieve you from stress, worry, confusion, and help you avoid making expensive mistakes.
2. A list of what you need to do to outfit your new home.
Picture how you want your new home to look. Once you have an idea of how you want it to look as soon as you step in through the front door, figure out what you want to take with you. For instance, you might prefer to buy a new refrigerator instead of packing your ten-year-old model. Or, perhaps, you’ve perfected the décor in the living room want to make sure your new living room will look exactly the way it does right now.
3. A list of what you need to do to make a virtual move.
First, you’ll need to backup your data. Either get an external hard drive or sign up for cloud storage.
Second, you’ll need to organize all your computers, devices, and any peripheral equipment like your external port devices, etc. The most important things are your cords and chargers. Label each one to match the computer or device it works with.
Third, you’ll need to organize your boxed software, DVDs, CDs, manuals, etc.
4. A list of all your important paperwork.
Buy a fireproof lock box. Here are some papers you want to be sure to include in it:
- · Birth certificates.
- · Passports.
- · Vital health records.
- · Financial information.
- · Career stuff — job-related references, contacts, diplomas, resumes, certifications, etc.
- · Mementos – pictures of your wedding day, that trip to France, your gold medal for your first 10 k run, etc.
On the day you move, be sure to keep these with you in your car or in your carry-on bag if you’re flying.
5. A list of all your stuff.
Over the years, you have probably accumulated a lot of stuff. Decide what you want to take and what you want to put in storage. Also, decide what you don’t want anymore.
6. A list of where everything will go.
Color code all your boxes so that you know what’s in each one and what room it will go into when you get to your new home. Also, decide what to do with what you don’t want, like put it in storage, trash, recycle, give to family and friends, or donate to goodwill.
7. A list of everything that you need to do to clean up or take care of.
Segment this list into three sections: outdoors, indoors, and services.
Outdoors: This is everything you need to take care of in the yard.
Indoors: This is everything you need to repair or clean up inside the house.
Services: These are all the services you want to discontinue or transfer like mail, utilities, cable, drinking water delivery, subscriptions, memberships, etc.
8. A list of everything you need to stay organized during your move.
Use a bag, binder, or software app to store information about the moving company, your to-do checklist, your inventory, etc. Essentially, list everything that you need to keep track of to facilitate your move.
9. A list of everything that you will need on the day you get to your new home.
Once you get to your new home, everything will be in boxes, so have a bag with your basics. Include everything you need—pajamas, toothbrushes, breakfast cereal, coffee, toilet paper, etc.
10. A list of everyone you need to say goodbye to before you leave.
Make sure you have a list of everyone you need to say goodbye to or every organization you need to inform about your move. Also update all contact information.
You will not be able to draw your lists from memory, but will develop them as you inventory your house and as you pack. In addition, you will constantly be adding to your lists. You can, of course, make these lists in a notepad or use a to-do list app. The purpose of making these lists is to stay organized and see at a glance what needs to get done