The Ultimate Checklist for Relocating to Miami
Here at the Kern Team, we’ve helped lots of families move to Miami and start new lives, so we know how to make this process as stress-free as possible.
The key for a smooth move is organizing the many tasks lying ahead into a chronological checklist. Trust us: Scheduling specific tasks for different time frames will do wonders for your sanity as you edge closer to moving day.
The following timeline is the one we share with our clients. It will ensure that you and your family are fully packed up and ready on moving day:
8 Weeks Before Moving Day
If you’re enlisting the help of a professional moving company, now is the time to start getting on-site estimates so you can book your move. Are you shipping a car to Miami? If so, you’ll want to schedule that as well.
Once those essential tasks are over with, you’re ready for the decluttering stage. This is when you decide what you want to keep and what you want to throw away, recycle, or donate. We recommend starting with the garage, closets, attics, basements, and storage areas.
6 Weeks Before Moving Day
Now that everything you don’t want is out of the way, you can start packing things you won’t need for the next six weeks. The idea is to start packing the items you need the least, and then gradually advance to the items you need the most each week. So, the last items you pack will be things you use every day, like your coffee maker.
It’s a good idea to create an inventory checklist so you can track where your items are. Give each box you pack a number, and then jot down what’s inside of each box on a sheet of paper (or better yet, a file you store on Google or Dropbox). This way, if you need to find something, you’ll know exactly which box to open.
4 Weeks Before Moving Day
You’ve officially hit the one-month mark! At this point, you can decide how you’re going to transport particularly valuable items such as jewelry, paintings, etc. You should also pack away important documents like your birth certificate, passport, and social security card. Valuables and important documents should travel with you, not on the moving truck.
Next, file your change of address form with United States Postal Service and set up your forwarding address. You’ll also want to notify important companies about your new address, like credit card companies and insurance companies.
Additionally, the one-month mark is when you should contact Miami utility providers along with cable and Internet to set up services at your new home. If you purchased your home a while before you’re moving in, you should already have the utilities in place, so they aren’t shut off.
2 Weeks Before Moving Day
With just two weeks remaining, we recommend contacting your mover to confirm they will show up on time on moving day. Since the most important tasks out of the way, you can focus on quick errands like refilling prescriptions, and canceling your current internet, cable, and phone services, and returning any associated equipment.
1 Week Before Moving Day
The majority of your belongings should be packed up by now, so you should only have to pack up a week’s worth of clothes. Then, set aside everyday items to keep with you during the move, like essential toiletries, phone chargers, medications, and car keys.
Moving Day!
The big day has finally arrived. Remember to have plenty of cash on hand to tip the movers. In fact, tipping your movers after they load the truck will probably make the move go more smoothly, as opposed to waiting until they unload the truck at your new home.
If you are thinking of moving to Miami, we are here to guide you to your dream home. We’ve helped many families relocate to Miami over the past 20 years, and we’ll work with you every step of the way. Give us a call today and let’s start putting this next chapter of your life into motion.
