Day 1 start a list for your 60 Day Moving Checklist
I’ve found — and this is borne out by numerous Habits of Wealthy People type books, that having a list is key to success. So, your first task in the 60 day moving checklist is to start your list.
Consider having a pad of paper dedicated to your move. Or create an Evernote file. Or color code all your activities on your calendar program to help keep track of dates and deadlines. Whatever your thing is, start now.
The important take-away here: start your list on day one of your 60 day moving checklist!
For home buyers – day one is easily the day you go under contract. For Home Sellers, the 1st day might be the day you sign your listing agreement.
The clock is ticking until your move. Use every day to ensure the move is seamless, painless, planned. The first day of your pre-move is a good time to have your attorney review your new work contract to make certain you understand everything as you begin this arduous process.
Relocation Company Involved!?!
For clients making a move with a Relo company, be sure to print and review a hard copy of your relocation agreement. You want to ensure you follow the necessary protocol/s correctly to maximize all financial incentives. For instance, a client of mine mentioned he had purchased some of the boxes – an expense – and then discovered his wife (the primary relocation subject) had to be listed as making the expense for it to qualify for reimbursement.
Fortunately they were able to head over to the local hardware store where the boxes were purchased and make a quick exchange with her now listed as the moving supplies purchaser. Too frequently the point of contact and relo beneficiary are not the same person – so print and read your rules. And keep a written copy available as you make your move. This is one of those important legal documents to hang onto.
Week 1; Select a Moving Company
Don’t leave this critical task for late in the moving process. Get multiple bids. Having a trusted mover is important. I’ve blogged on moving in other posts. De-clutter, visit goodwill or similar, give things away. Why pay to move stuff you don’t need, use or want?
Your mover will also be a good source of boxes – frequently for free. Or find boxes these days on sites like Facebook Groups pages and NextDoor.
Pro Tip: Put everything – and I mean everything – in a box. Professional movers can carry three, four even five boxes in one trip. They will just as readily carry one couch cushion lest it be damaged. So box everything up including the couch cushions!
Week 2; Research Schools, Day Care, Doggie Day Care
Whether you have furry friends or walking talking little ones, you need to research schools and animal clinics and such early in your moving process. If the nearest vet clinic is 20 miles away, is that going to impact your decision to relocate? Also, remember for pets and children, you want to set up their new living space first in your new home. So you might be transporting some of these belongings yourself. Creating a safe environment for children and pets is critical when making a move to a new space.
If you have children, schools are important. Residential real estate taxes generally pay for K-12 education. Good communities collect sufficient taxes to have wonderful schools. A better school means more opportunity for your children.
If you don’t have kids, you still want better schools. Better schools = better home appreciation rates. Your Boulder real estate investment is going to appreciate faster than a similar investment on the east side of Colorado in part because of better schools. Better schools make an area more desirable and safeguards your real estate portfolio.
Just in day dreaming mode about a big move? Why not look at Boulder Homes For Sale !
Most Overlooked Moving Detail In First 30 Days
For those moving from a rental to your new home – remember to give notice to your landlord!
Choose Your Realtor
You should already have a Realtor if you are in the countdown to making a move. And when moving to Boulder, you should be working withe me, Bob Gordon, to get moved. Or when selling your house, contact me – Bob – now to get your house sold! Your real estate agent will be a big resource throughout the process.
Week 3 Make Travel Arrangements For Pets
Maybe you’ll just fly your pets with you. Or drive them ‘cross country. I love my cat Delilah, but there is no way I could spend a day in the car driving with her meowing in a crate nonstop. Just not going to happen. So make a plan for getting your fur children to your new city.
Clients of mine found a pet friendly hotel. Ideal for bringing their six cats from California to Colorado for the big move. Pet owners – do a little research so you have a legit space for your animals to relax once you get here. And having a pet friendly hotel can relieve stress – sometimes closings are delayed, possession is bumped back to make a repair. Having a safe haven for your pets will take a lot of stress off of you.
Finalize Temporary Housing
If you are not planning to move into your new home immediately, investigate temporary housing. Here is my two cents on this subject. Executives almost always buy when moving cross country or around the world. Too often, I hear entry level home buyers say, “oh, I need to live there before I can buy.”
IMHO, it doesn’t matter what your budget, its best to buy your new Boulder home from day one. First, whatever your budget, its not apt to change over time. Second, a good Realtor (like me) is going to show you what you can afford quickly and succinctly. Last, only moving once, investing your money and emotional energy in a single place to call home, is the best move.
Regardless, now is the time to make certain you know where you are going to live and make your arrangements so that whoever (Pod rental firm, your parents shipping boxes, the Moving c0mpany) knows where to deliver your stuff. Your temporary housing might be where you are moving from as well.
Its common to see “rent back” agreements for home sellers. And also for a home seller to move into temporary apartments or other housing before school/job truly ends, but after the closing happens.
Day 30 Request Moving Day Off
For those making a move from one location to another with the same company – be sure to request your moving day as a day off. Its a good idea to be home for each segment of the move. On the way out of your old place, its so easy to overlook an item until the last moment. Or be available to label a rogue box.
As you move into your new home, your boxes may not line up with your space. For example, on one move I had a lot of “garage” boxes that in the new place actually went to the basement. And annoyingly I found some bedroom boxes stacked in the basement post-move that had to go to the second floor – that was a lot of stairs up for me to correct!
Be sure to write onto your 60 Day Moving Checklist that you’ll have the day off to supervise the move!
Week Four Moving Musts
Your big move is just a month away. Especially for those moving cross country or off to another part of the world, now is the time to refill prescriptions. Do you wear eyeglasses? Getting your current vision script in writing with a year’s expiration is smart. It might take time to find all the medical people you’ll need (dentist, eye doctor, natural path). Refill – even if you are not empty – your medications. Again, it can take time to get established with a new doctor’s office after your move. Stocking up now is the smart play.
And work with your physician and pharmacy to transfer ‘scripts where possible. Again, so much easier to knock this sort of deadline off of your 60 Day Moving Checklist before you move. Much more stressful to discover an important med is empty in your new location … scrambling to get it filled.
Additionally, consider creating an inventory of belongings as you pack. This could be as simple as taking a series of digital photographs. Or as complex as itemizing onto a log every singe item ever owned. One client of mine used her mobile phone as video camera. She started in her bedroom, filming everything she owned, opening drawers and closets. This system was much faster than writing and worked perfectly. When a box did go missing, she was able to quickly prove exactly what was missing and file a successful claim.
License Plates and Driver’s License
When moving across state lines, many communities prefer you to register your cars and motorcycles locally as well as update drivers’ licenses. Consider working on these tasks early pre-move. You can map out where you’ll be going and double check that your insurance agent is up to date on your plans and keeping your vehicles properly insured as you make the big move.
For instance, if you are moving from a beach town to a mountain community, you will want your boat insurance to stay up to date. In a new community with snow on the ground, it would be easy to lose track of keeping your beloved yacht properly insured – so address this early with your insurance provider.
Month 2 Moving Checklist
By now, you should have a good idea of where you’ll be living initially after your move. You have a date for your move and the packing is started. Necessary medications and prescriptions are safely sorted and stored away. Consider adding a small box for important items that will be hand carried. I would equally hate to lose track of important financial documents as well as my priceless pieces of art created by my son Schyler when he was a grade school’er. Whatever your treasures are, consider carrying them with you in person and packing accordingly.
Count Down to the Big Move
Add a box labeled do not move. For those using a service, having a box around your house filled with things you do not want packed and professionally moved can be helpful. This way on the day of the big move you won’t forget to keep something from being packed away in the mayhem of the moment.
Have you borrowed anything? Now is the time to return it. We have great neighbors where we live. Much simpler to walk next door and return a borrowed item than try to drive it across town or worse wind up replacing it for a neighbor post move. Similarly – if you loaned anything out, now is the time to collect.
U-Haul and Similar Moves
For those using a trailer to make your move – like my athletic coach Ted – be sure to get your car fitted early with the necessary hitch and tail lights connector. And booked your rental way in advance. For some moves, you may realize it is less expensive to sell your furniture than move it cross country. Moving trucks guzzle gasoline and move slowly. Do you really want to drive your dilapidated college couch ‘cross country on your first big move?