Moving into a newly built home or a home of any age is always a thrilling moment for homebuyers — especially if all goes well on move-in day. After upgrading your home, you should develop a solid moving strategy. Proper planning can avoid mistakes and reduce your stress level before, during, and after the actual moving day.

Moving Tips for New Home Buyer

Here are several easy ways to simplify the moving process and ensure it is a successful journey for everyone involved.

Get Organized

Getting and staying organized will help you remain calm and complete your tasks on time.

•   Use a checklist. A detailed moving checklist can quickly become your new best friend. A checklist can help you navigate the moving process and keep track of all the tasks you need to do. Items on your list can include confirming a moving date, hiring a mover or rental truck, forwarding mail, and arranging school transfers. And a checklist can help you remember to pick up the keys to your new home! Moving companies, real estate agents and online moving experts can often provide pre-made moving checklists and planners.
• Create a moving folder or box. You will need a place to keep your checklist, collect new addresses, moving agreements, receipts, and more. Hard copies are more reliable than digital images since phone and computer batteries can die during a move.
•  Get a move-in date. Obtaining a move-in date will help you establish a timeline and accomplish your moving goals. Ask real estate agents or builders for an approximate move-in date and get that date confirmed as soon as possible. Many items on your to-do list will rely on your move-in date.

Book a Mover or Truck

Selecting the right mover can protect your belongings, save money, and make your life and move easier.

•   Choose a mover. You will need to decide if you want to move your belongings yourself or hire a professional moving company to handle all or part of your move. You can get cost estimates, check availability, compare damage and insurance policies and read online reviews to help you make the best-informed decision.
• Make reservations. Reserve your move-in date with a moving company or rental truck company. Book your date, preferably at least six weeks in advance. Waiting to book a reservation until the last minute can add additional costs and fees to your estimate.
•   Obtain a written confirmation. Ensure the truck rental or moving company’s contract includes relevant facts, such as the cost estimate, moving date, insurance terms and other essential information. Place the contract and deposit receipt in your moving file or box for easy access.

Schedule Utilities and Get Connected

Shutting off soon-to-be-former utilities and communication connections and turning on utilities, internet and cable in a new location is easy. Simply contact utility providers for natural gas, electricity, water, garbage and internet by either going online, calling or visiting the office and advising them of your needs.

• Start utilities and internet providers at the new home. Give providers a turn-on date to ensure your home is safe and comfortable upon move-in arrival. Real estate agents, new home builders or city government offices can usually provide a list of utility and internet providers in your new area.
• Stop utilities at your to-be-former home. Give current providers a turn-off date to ensure you do not pay for utilities after your move-out date.

Begin Packing

Stepping up your packing skills can help you avoid wasting valuable time and energy.

•  It’s never too soon. Start the packing process after learning a move is in your future.
•  Obtain moving supplies. You may need moving tape, tape dispensers, permanent markers, wrapping paper, oversized garbage bags, cardboard boxes, see-through plastic containers, etc. You can purchase these and other moving tools online or find them in big box stores, office supply stores, and grocery stores. Moving companies, rental truck locations, and storage facilities often sell a majority of these items as well. To find free, lightly used boxes, visit websites with pickup locations in your area like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor.
• Get rid of junk. Ruthlessly purge any unwanted, worn-out, and outdated items. If you’re uncertain about an item, donate or trash it. If you don’t want to trash items, you can always have a garage sale. You’ll have fewer possessions to pack, load and unload, move and unpack. You may even earn some extra cash.

Box It Up

These simple moving packing tips can reduce the time it takes to pack and unpack your belongings. They may also keep your items from breaking and make them easier to carry and manage.

• Pack room-by-room. Pack, label, and tape boxes at seams according to the room, such as the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom. Separate junk items into a single pile in each room to manage later.
• Use the correct size box. Put heavy items in smaller boxes and place light items in larger boxes.
• Load boxes by weight. Place heavy possessions on the bottom. Put light items on top.
• Avoid empty spaces. Use packing paper, clothing, towels and other soft items to fill gaps.
•  Pack artwork carefully. Create an X with masking tape across the glass for strength, and in case it shatters. Wrap in bubble wrap or paper and place in a frame box. Use cardboard to separate several pieces. If you’re moving expensive art, ask movers or artwork specialty shops about special crating.
•  Special kitchen guidelines. Wrap each dish in moving paper, bundle in five packs, and wrap in paper. Place the bundle on its side (never flat) and surround it with wadded paper for cushioning. Wrap cups and bowls individually. Stack no more than four in a paper-wrapped bundle. Place in a box surrounded by wadded-up paper. For glasses, select boxes that have cardboard dividers if possible. If not, wrap each glass in paper and surround it with plenty of paper cushioning.
• Clothing and shoe details. You can place folded clothing in cardboard boxes, suitcases or leave it in dressers. Place hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes. If you don’t have much time, leave clothing on hangers and put them in large plastic bags. Pack shoes in a separate box, individually wrapping shoes with heels, buckles or sharp edges.

Valuables and Move-In Day Essentials

Designating a few boxes and bags for precious valuables and move-in day essentials can streamline your moving day. This step can make your belongings extra safe and easily accessible, especially if you keep them with you rather than in a moving truck.

Important Items and Documents

• Give valuables a special box. Place precious items such as jewelry, coin collections, cash and important documents and files in a secure box.
• Keep valuables safe. Putting valuables in a separate container can safeguard they don’t get lost or damaged.

Important Essentials

•  Pack a few bags. Fill a bag with daily items to save your sanity when you get to your new home. Instead of rummaging around for your toothbrush and pajamas, you will know exactly where to find them.
• Gather your toiletries. Toiletries can include toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner, a comb and brush, towels, and whatever else you need to keep yourself on track.
•  Put together a few outfits. Essential move-in clothing usually means comfortable gear, like tee-shirts, pants, underwear, socks, shoes, slippers, pajamas and a jacket or sweatshirt.
• Pack your medications. Bring any medications taken daily, including prescription meds, over-the-counter meds and vitamins.
• Food and drinks. Select a few of your favorite non-perishable snacks and beverages to have on hand to satisfy between-meal hunger and thirst. Bottled water, juices, sodas, chips, crackers, apples, oranges and chocolate are options.