Let’s get right into the most important question and why you are here: Is planning a move in 30 days possible? You’re in luck! While it may be complicated and quite complex, moving in 30 days is definitely possible! Staying organized during the entire process is critical, which is precisely why we will review some of our favorite packing and planning tips for your upcoming move. We know how to help you organize your move to perfection and make it smooth sailing, even if time is not on your side. We will help you during every step, from decluttering to packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, and setting everything up at your new home.
The most important part is knowing where to start and how to navigate from there. Thankfully, we have gathered all the best tips and tricks in the industry and are happy to share them! Let’s get started!
What Are Your Moving Needs?
As we know, every move is different. This means people have different needs and expectations regarding their dream moving experience. While it may be too far to say that someone is dreaming about any kind of moving experience, the reality is that everyone wants it done as smoothly as possible. Some value time over care, and others value professional packing techniques over completing their move quickly. It all comes down to what you are moving and what you are expecting from the situation. This is why assessing your needs should be your first stop on this journey.
Ask yourself: what is the most important part of this move for you? Do you have any items you have specific moving requirements for? If you have a piano, expensive electronics, artwork, and similar possessions, you must plan how to handle these items. Hiring a moving company seems simple enough, but even your movers may offer different kinds of services and include different things in said services. So, once you have your preferences and dealbreakers listed, you can move on to the next phases of your move, such as creating a moving timeline and budget.
Once you’ve created an approximate moving timeline, listing all the necessary tasks you need to complete before moving, you can plan the costs. Now, you will know everything that needs to be done, and you can list the approximate costs according to your timeline. It is best to go a bit over with your estimations instead of underestimating because that could cost you much more in the long run.
The next phase of your move is decluttering your home, and as one of the essential parts of your relocation, you need to tread carefully.
How to Declutter Your Home
This is one of the most important phases of your move, as it will lighten the final load once you pack everything up. You can also donate these items to someone in need, sell them for some extra cash, or simply get rid of items you no longer wish to use or aren’t in good condition. There are many reasons why decluttering is important, but overall, it can be a very therapeutic process with some extra benefits.
Keeping your decluttering phase organized is very important; you don’t want to create chaos around your home and make packing even harder. Creating piles is usually the way to go, so having a keep, sell, donate, repair, and discard pile for your items is something you should plan in advance.
Be truthful to yourself about your possessions and how much they are used. Don’t move items you truly don’t need, as you will be paying to move them. Some items can be easily replaced at your new home.
If you’re having trouble visualizing your decluttering piles and what to put in them, here are some examples:
Keep:
Keep items you use regularly and can’t live without, as these are essential to your daily life. Sentimental items with significant emotional value should also be kept, as they hold irreplaceable memories. Essential furniture and appliances are necessary for your home, so they should be retained. Additionally, keep seasonal items in good condition, such as holiday decorations and winter clothing, as you will need them throughout the year.
Sell:
Consider selling gently used clothes and accessories that no longer fit your style and furniture and decor items you no longer need but are in good condition. You can also sell electronics and gadgets you’ve upgraded from, along with books, DVDs, and collectibles that are still in good condition.
Donate:
You can donate clothes and shoes that are still wearable but you don’t need them. You can also donate non-perishable food items, kitchenware, and household items that you have duplicates of. Additionally, consider donating toys and games your children have outgrown.
Repair:
Repair items with minor damages worth fixing, such as broken furniture or torn clothing. Electronics that need simple repairs or battery replacements, shoes and accessories that need mending, and appliances that need minor servicing are also worth repairing.
Discard:
Discard broken or heavily damaged items beyond repair, expired food and medications, old papers, magazines, and mail you no longer need, and items that are stained, worn out, or unusable.
How to Create a Moving Checklist
The next part of your moving journey will be your checklist. This will include all the tasks you need to complete in 30 days. Check off the tasks once completed, and write down everything essential to your move. You can separate them by day, week, or move phase, but here is an example of what should be done in the span of 30 days (aka four weeks).
Week 1
Organize Your Move:
- Create a Moving Binder: Compile essential documents, checklists, contracts, and receipts in one place for easy access.
Declutter and Decide:
- Inventory Your Belongings: Evaluate everything you own and determine what to keep, donate, sell, repair, or discard.
- Order Packing Supplies: Purchase boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, markers, and other necessary supplies.
Logistics and Notifications:
- Research and Book Movers: Get quotes, read reviews, and secure your moving company.
- Notify Utilities and Services: Schedule the disconnection or transfer of utilities like electricity, gas, water, and internet.
- Change Your Address: Update your address with the USPS, banks, subscription services, and other essential contacts.
Week 2
Start Packing:
- Pack Non-Essentials: Begin with items you won’t need in the coming weeks, such as seasonal items and decorations.
- Sort Important Documents: Collect personal, financial, and medical records in one place for easy access.
Plan Ahead:
- Arrange Temporary Storage: Reserve a storage unit for items you won’t immediately need in your new home.
- Plan for Pets and Plants: Arrange safe transport for your pets and plants.
- Notify Schools and Employers: Inform schools and workplaces about your move and arrange the transfer of records.
Week 3
Focus on Key Areas:
- Pack Kitchenware: Start packing less frequently used items while keeping daily essentials accessible.
- Label and Secure Valuables: Carefully pack valuable items and take photos for your inventory.
Confirm and Prepare:
- Finalize Travel Plans: Book flights or plan your long-distance driving route.
- Confirm with Movers: Reconfirm the moving date, time, and details with your moving company.
- Prepare Your New Home: Schedule cleaning and repairs for your new place.
- Pack Fragile Items: Use extra padding and label boxes as fragile.
Week 4
Last-Minute Tasks:
- Prepare Kids and Pets: Explain the moving process to your children and arrange services for your pets on moving day.
- Check for Repairs: Complete any minor repairs or touch-ups in your current home.
Essential Preparations:
- Pack a First-Night Box: Include essentials such as toiletries, a change of clothes, and important documents.
- Defrost and Clean Appliances: Prepare large appliances like your refrigerator and freezer for the move.
- Disassemble Furniture: Begin disassembling larger furniture pieces to save time on moving day.
Final Steps:
- Label and Pack Remaining Items: Finish packing the last of your belongings and label all boxes accurately.
- Conduct a Final Walkthrough: Check every room to ensure nothing is left behind.
- Clean Your Home: Perform a thorough cleaning or hire a professional cleaning service.
Moving Day
- Supervise Movers: Oversee the movers to ensure everything is packed and handled properly.
- Final Inspection: Conduct a final inspection of your home to ensure nothing is forgotten.
- Move Out: Head to your new home, ensuring all your belongings are securely transported.
Hiring Emergency Movers
Finding movers and hiring them for your emergency move will be the next step of the process. Local movers usually require a few weeks’ notice when hiring them, so you still have time to call them up and reserve them for your desired date. Give a few companies’ calls for a quote, and compare the quotes you receive in detail. Once you’ve decided which companies’ quote suits your needs and budget the best, you can reserve them for your preferred date and time and you’re ready to go.
If you’re still unsure whether hiring movers for your emergency move is the best option for your budget, you can roughly calculate how much a DIY move would cost you instead. Remember that even if you are almost completely sure you’re going the DIY route for this move, calling companies around for quotes can still be beneficial to calculate the approximate moving costs you could expect.
Here is a cost estimate table to help you with your calculations:
Packing Supplies Guide
Checking online should be the first step in your packing supply journey. Check Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, and eBay for some cheap packing supplies. Some people might offer supplies for free if they no longer need them. Some local businesses in your area may also be throwing their supplies away, so you can go around town asking around, who knows, maybe you can score some free supplies!
You can also use items you have around your home as packing and padding materials for your items. Here are some examples of what you can use:
- Clothing: Pack delicate items with socks, shirts, and other apparel.
- Towels and Blankets: Wrap fragile items and cushion boxes with these soft materials.
- Bedding and Pillows: Line boxes with pillows and use bedding to protect larger items.
- Suitcases: Ideal for packing heavy items like books or fragile items for extra protection.
- Laundry Baskets and Hampers: Great for transporting lightweight items such as clothes and linens.
- Newspapers and Magazines: Crumple pages to use as padding.
- Plastic Bags: Fill with air and use as cushioning.
- Shower Curtains and Tablecloths: Wrap around large items for protection.
- Old T-shirts: Use to wrap around breakables.
- Socks: Place over glassware and small breakables for added protection.
- Scarves and Shawls: Wrap around delicate items for additional cushioning.
- Bath Mats: Use to line the bottom of boxes for extra padding.
- Oven Mitts and Pot Holders: Wrap around small, fragile items.
- Tupperware and Food Storage Containers: Use to pack small, delicate items securely.
- Reusable Shopping Bags: Pack and transport various household items.
- Children’s Stuffed Animals: Use as padding for fragile items.
- Plastic Containers: Store small, delicate items to prevent them from getting lost or damaged.
- Paper Plates: Place between ceramic plates to prevent them from breaking.
How to Pack Efficiently
Organize your packing process as much as possible so you don’t lose time during this process. Remember that time is already not on your side.
Going room by room is always the way to go with efficient packing.
Start with your least used rooms and move on to the most used ones.
The only exception to this rule is the kitchen, which needs to be separated into phases and packed little by little simultaneously with the rest of your home.
Label all your boxes with their contents, corresponding room, and if there are fragile and breakables inside. Be detailed with your descriptions, as they will help your movers or helpers navigate the move much more easily.
Pack and Move Quickly with A#1 Movers
Moving in less than 30 days is more than possible with the right experts by your side. We know how to prepare, pack, and move your home, office or storage in the blink of an eye while keeping your possessions safe and sound. Our professional movers at A#1 Movers are trained professionals with years of experience, and we’ve seen it all.
Place your trust in Dallas’ #1 movers and make your move a smooth and seamless experience. We are waiting for your call!
