You are moving, and you are both excited and stressed. There are so many things to do! We know you are all over the place since it’s clear that organizing a move is much more than just packing. Especially in the Chicago area – you need to get the right moving company, to make sure you have enough time off around the moving day and avoid the heavy traffic if possible. But, what about all the little things you have to do aside from packing? Here are some things you might forget since they seem small, but make a huge difference:

  • So many things to pack and prepare, but how about the freezer and the refrigerator? At least 24 hours before the moving day, make sure to unplug and defrost these appliances. They have to be dry and ready for transport, and while many people oversee this step and leave it for last, we are here to put it on the top of our list.
  • Since the refrigerator is being transported, it would be smart to have a small cooler with you. That’s how you can carry all your drinks, snacks, etc. with you during the long moving day.
  • Are you moving, yet you have a big family? Small children and pets can be in the way during the day of relocation. Make sure someone babysits your kids and takes care of the pets while you relocate your household – you’ll do the job faster that way.
  • Since you are probably familiar with the list of the non-allowables, be sure to dispose of all the items you can’t take with you – like some chemicals, plants, some kinds of food (frozen meat, for example), etc.
  • On your day of the move, before the relocation crew arrives, prepare and correctly label all your boxes. Double-check to see if anything is properly packed and labeled so the movers can do their job smoothly.
  • If you read our other blogs, you know how much we recommend packing a box or bag of essentials – toothbrush, some towels, toilet paper, first-aid kit, water, etc. This bag should be on-hand first thing when you get to your new home so make sure it’s loaded onto the moving truck last so you can grab it first.
  • If there are some items you don’t want to load into the moving van (like the bag of clothes you want to take with you in your car), make sure to label them clearly so there’s no mix-up.
  • Before leaving the house, do the last check – the air conditioner and the lights need to be turned off and the windows and doors locked. Leave all your keys to the others who move in.
  • When the relocation team loads all the items in the van and is about to drive your belongings, check if you took everything. Check every room, storage room, attic, and basement.

Leaving a house and moving into a new one is quite a task. There are so many small details to take care of so here are our tips to make it go smoothly!