Welcome to Boston! Whether you’re headed here from faraway lands or just our from your parent’s place, it’s an exciting city with tons of culture, passionate sports fans, and amazing places to live.
The actual move itself? Not fun. Never is. Especially during steamy 90-degree humid days of summer, or the cold/wet season, which could last for months from December through April.
Moving is perhaps the most dreaded job anyone can think of. It’s overwhelming and a ton of work, and the simple fact of huge changes is utterly unwelcome. But as with any big task, moving can be made much less overwhelming and more manageable if tackled in an orderly, step-by-step fashion with a definite timeline.
Oh – and if you remember nothing else regarding your move to Boston, remember these two very important things:
- Post Moving Permits in Advance
- DO NOT BRING A MOVING TRUCK ONTO STORROW DRIVE
Here is our relocation checklist for people moving to Boston – broken down into 2-week increments:
8 Weeks Out
Any good relocation checklist will begin with important tasks and prep work at least eight weeks before the actual move. Are you a planner? Great. Here are the things you need to accomplish at this stage:
SORT AND DECIDE
Walk through every room and open every drawer. Decide what to take to your new home and what to get rid of. Make a list of ‘keep’ items that will require special packing or extra insurance coverage.
PURGE
Get rid of all your belongings and items that didn’t make the “keep” list. You can donate items or, at this early stage, hold a yard sale. If you’d like to use the KonMari Method, go for it.
RESEARCH AND HIRE MOVERS
Research moving companies. Always ask for the mover’s U.S. Department of Transportation license number, whether the company is bonded, and whether the company is licensed for interstate moves, if you’re moving out of state. Request in-home estimates to receive the most accurate pricing, or ask for a virtual estimate over FaceTime or Zoom if you’re more comfortable social distancing at this time. Ask around – check Facebook communities and ask friends who have moved what companies they have used. Some movers stay in business for years, while others come-and-go.
CONTACT SCHOOLS
If you have children in school, you should let the schools know about your planned move and obtain copies of school records. Also, contact the new schools in Boston to find out about enrollment and records transfer.
6 Weeks Out
At six weeks out from the move, momentum is beginning to build, so the relocation checklist now begins to move into actual moving-related tasks:
COLLECT PACKING SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS
Buy plenty of packing boxes of various sizes, and make sure you have enough packing paper, bubble wrap, and packing tape. In the past, people used to grab boxes from dumpsters behind big-box stores, but you might want to think twice during these post-COVID-19 times.
Color-coded markers are also a good idea to help you get everything in place when unpacking. Buy a pack of Sharpies and use them liberally.
MAKE TRAVEL AND LODGING ARRANGEMENTS
Be sure, at this early stage, to take care of any travel arrangements such as booking flights. And be sure to make arrangements for lodging if you’re making a long drive, or if you need somewhere to stay till you get all moved in.
TAKE CARE OF MEDICAL MATTERS
Obtain copies of medical records for all family members, or have the records sent to your new physicians. Haven’t found new ones yet? Ask your current doctors for recommendations.
CHECK ON INSURANCE
Get in touch with your insurance agentss to find out what to do about continuing coverage, including dental, medical, personal property, and auto insurance.
4 Weeks Out
In theory, about four weeks ahead of the move, you’ll begin the actual packing, doing such things as:
PACK RARELY USED ITEMS
Start packing all those items you don’t use very often or only during other seasons, but be sure to keep out whatever you use frequently. It’s also a good idea to take photos of valuables and then pack them separately for easy recovery.
LABEL EVERYTHING
Label every box such that you will know at a glance exactly where the contents go in your new Boston home.
MAKE INVENTORY LISTS
Make a thorough inventory listing the contents in each box so that you can compare this against the moving company’s inventory sheet.
REMAINING 4-WEEK TASKS
The remaining tasks at this stage are as follows:
- Make arrangements for your pet’s travel and/or boarding.
- Contact utility companies both for shut off and for turn on in Boston.
- If you’ll need storage in Boston, line that up now.
- Clear out freezers and pantries so that you won’t have to move a lot of food. This might even save you some $$ on not having to buy groceries for a bit.
- If you will be driving, have your car fully serviced.
- Put in a change of address.
- Alert all important parties and service providers about the move, for example, your employer, banks, credit card companies, subscription services, friends and family.
2 Weeks Out
At this point in the relocation checklist, you will see to more drastic moving measures, such as:
CONFIRM EVERYTHING WITH MOVERS
Contact the moving company and double-check your plans. Make sure the insurance in place is enough to cover your valuables.
CLEAR OUT STORAGE
Empty all storage devices and locations, including storage units and safe-deposit boxes.
REQUEST TIME OFF FROM WORK
Determine how many days you’ll need to complete your move, and then contact your employer to request that time off.
Moving Week
It’s finally here – moving week! The final tasks in our relocation checklist will be performed right before the move during that final week. These tasks include:
- Confirm everything with the movers yet again.
- Finish up all the packing.
- Pack an overnight bag for all family members.
- Get all vital prescriptions refilled.
- Disconnect and clean all appliances.
- Get the keys to your new Boston home.
- Give away or donate any non-perishable food you have left.
- Disassemble all the furniture you possibly can (making sure to secure parts to the furniture).
- Safely dispose of all items that aren’t allowed to be moved, such as paint, gasoline, and chemicals.
Finally, prepare to enjoy this new adventure in Boston that you’ve just rendered manageable with our relocation checklist.
Still, if you’re moving to Boston, you shouldn’t rely on this relocation checklist alone. Our real estate agents at NextHome Titletown Real Estate can be more help than you can imagine. Find out today how our experienced agents can assist you. Just send us a message or give us a call at (617) 657-9811.
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