4 Weeks Before Your Move

28 days until your big move. It’s time to give notice and transfer important documents. You’ll also begin the most notorious aspect of moving: packing.

• Last call: Send notices. About 28 days ago, you looked at deadlines and other details related to moving. If you haven’t already, give notice to your landlord or HOA; this is generally your last opportunity to do so before you’ll face a penalty.
• Obtain and transfer records. One month allows just enough time for an organization to compile and forward important records. Consider the following:
  • Notify your child’s school. School administrators should know your child’s new district. You can also request transcript forwarding to the new school.
  • Notify routine service providers. If you’re moving to a new county or state, you’ll need to request and forward documents from doctors, attorneys, car mechanics, banks, and more. Take this opportunity to ask for recommendations for other service providers in your new area.
• Reserve vehicle storage, if needed. Depending on your destination or plans, you might need to store your vehicle for a while. This is a good time to check prices and reserve a space. You can choose a covered garage or open space on a short-term or long-term basis. You can also arrange storage for RVs or campers.
• Begin packing: nonessentials and more. In this round, you’ll stow away rarely-used items.
  • Start with the basement, garage, and closets. Work your way up and out. Everything from family heirlooms and memorabilia to out-of-season clothing should find a box
  • Unload nonessential cabinets and shelves. That forgotten cabinet above your fridge, the for-show bookshelf, and all of the knick-knacks – nonessential baubles, books, and tools must go (into the boxes).
  • Wrap up spare rooms. If it’s not a living room or a bedroom, pack it now – all of it. In some cases, a spare room might serve as a studio or an office; take this opportunity to pack everything but the computer, work files, canvas, and paint brushes. Be honest with yourself about what you’ll truly need access to in the coming weeks.
  • Label with detail. Add detailed descriptions to your boxes not just for movers, but also yourself and your family. Because rooms often hold multiple types of items, it’s a smart idea to list the intended room’s name, as well as the box’s contents. For example, “Master Bedroom Closet: Seasonal clothing, hats, boots.” This approach should apply to all phases of packing.
  • Flag boxes that need immediate unpacking. If you haven’t already, review your boxes and mark them with a colored tag that reminds you to unpack them first.
  • Consider loading order. Once you’ve flagged items, you’ll also have a loading strategy. Remind movers to load the flagged boxes last; the last boxes in the truck will unload first in your new home.