Quick Reference Guide to Making Your Seattle Move as Easy as Possible

No matter how professional and helpful your Movable team members may be, moving from one place to another is often a stressful experience. Carefully packing all your items, making sure every last thing is in place, and cleaning your home after all is said and done can take a toll, both mentally and physically.

But the good news is that throughout our many years of helping Seattle moving clients just like you, we’ve learned some easy tips and tricks that can make the experience go a whole lot smoother. Ultimately, like almost everything else in life, a successful move is all about preparation – but with so many other things on your plate, having them outlined for you can make all the difference in the world.

Step-by-Step Seattle Moving

Step 1 – More than One Week Prior to Your Move

  • Arrange for the disconnection or changeover of utilities (water, gas, electric, cable, etc.).
  • Walk through your home and determine what you really want to keep. Ask youself, “Do I really need this? If I keep it, will it add value to my life, or just create more clutter?” Be fearless.
  • For the items you decide to get rid of, hold a garage sale to make some extra money, or call charity for a pick-up.
  • Don’t forget to clean out club, gym and/or school lockers, and be sure pick up all your dry cleaning.
  • Go ahead and pack any items you don’t use on a daily basis. Be sure to number and label each box for future reference, and keep a close inventory.
  • Don’t forget to retrieve and return all borrowed items from neighbors and friends. Be sure to check your yard, garage, and sheds for any miscellaneous items.
  • Take measurements of your new home’s rooms to determine where your belongings will go in advance. You can also take pictures of your furniture or obtain fabric samples that you can use for color/decorating reference prior to your furniture being delivered to your new home.

Step 2 – Less than One Week Prior to Your Move

  • Make a detailed list of all items that will be moving with you personally. Valuable and/or irreplaceable items such as jewelry and heirlooms should remain with you, not with the movers.
  • Call your moving, storage, and pet transportation companies—as well as your hotel, rental car, and temporary housing accommodations—to confirm dates, times, and other arrangements.
  • Clean out and defrost your deep freezer. Also, clean out your cupboards and plan any remaining meals in advance. Groceries are expensive, so don’t buy any more perishables than you absolutely have to, otherwise they can go to waste.
  • Disassemble furniture or other “buildable” items.
  • Inform all friends & relatives of your forwarding address. If your phone service won’t be instantaneous, arrange for a temporary voice mailbox. Some long distance providers such as Sprint and MCI offer 1-800 voice mail numbers.

Step 3 – Important Items for the Day of Your Move

  • Set aside a box of cleaning supplies, as well as your vaccuum cleaner. You’ll need these after your belongings have been moved out of your current home, and will likely need them again immediately after arriving at your new dwelling.
  • Assemble a “Survival Box,” which should include paper, pens, stamps, envelopes, cellophane, heavy duty tape, scissors, tape measure, paper cups, ziplock bags, paper plates & towels, plastic utensils, facial & toilet tissue, instant coffee or tea, cream/sugar, soap, moist towelettes, aspirin, bandaids, can opener, bottled water, travel alarm, flashlight, small tools kit, trash bags, snacks or drinks, children’s games, address book, spare car keys, and phone books (for the city you are leaving, as well as for your destination).

Need More Tips for Your Seattle Move?

At Movable, we’re wholly focused on making your move as easy as possible. We’ve been a top choice among Seattle residents for many years, and are excited to have you as our newest customer.

If you need additional recommendations about moving in the Seattle area, give us a call at (206) 466-7710. Or, if you’re ready to make your reservation, click here to begin! We looking forward to working with you soon!

Image credit: HighYa