Moving Guide

Your Complete Self-Storage and Moving Guide

Storage Renting and Moving Overview

Are you starting a move in the near future? It’s a tough experience, even if you’re just moving down the street. There are so many things to consider, and it only gets hairier when you add kids into the mix.

That’s why we work hard to make it just a little bit easier on you, with storage units to move at your own pace. You have access to moving truck rental and moving supplies purchased right at your storage facility. We also have helpful guides to packing the truck and storing items in your unit.

We want to help you even more by providing a complete moving guide, starting from two months out all the way to a few weeks after you settle in. With a checklist in hand, keeping everything accounted for, and everyone accountable, is much easier. You’ve found your new place, you know how much time you have to get it all there, so adjust this list based on your own needs.

Two Months before Move

What’s in your new area? Take a drive or go online to discover grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies, banks and any other day-to-day places you’ll visit. Keep a list or save them in your bookmarks.
Research moving companies that are close to your current or new residence. You’ll want to reserve time as far out as possible.
What are you taking, storing, trashing, donating or selling? Now is the time to rent your storage unit, too.
Call your insurance company. Get the expensive stuff insured for the move, and inform them of policy transfers and set the date to change over to your new address.
Do you have a lot of things to sell? If so, set up a garage sale. If it’s cold outside, clean out your actual garage as much as possible and set it up inside with heaters.
Make a list of all the places you need to provide a change of address. Bank accounts, doctors, and schools are some examples. If you’re leaving the area entirely, get records from all of these institutions, and keep a folder for each.
Start setting up the last-minute appointments, like dentists, doctors and vets for the pets. If you need to sign for printed records, do this at the time of the visit. Tell them you are moving out, and request enough prescriptions to cover you for at least a month.
Determine how everyone is traveling. Planes, cars or trains? Get the tickets or plan the trip.
Any renovations to the new house should be scheduled now. New carpet, hardwoods, counters, or any changes that will be better made without you or the furniture in the house needs to be set up.
Don’t forget to save receipts. This will not only offer tax deductions, but help you keep track of spending and compare it to the possible travel expenses you might have received from your new place of employment.

One Month before Move

Heading to the grocery store? Ask for extra boxes. Talking to friends or coworkers about the move? Get any moving supplies from them. The rest you can purchase at your storage facility.
Now is the time to pack the things you use the least. Label it all, both by items in the box and which area of the new place it’s going to. Mark fragile items for special care.
Your new utilities will need to be set, so call each service in your new area and set the date to have them transferred into your name.
Are the kids old enough to help during the move? Will they or the pets need a sitter? Figure this out now to prevent a logistics nightmare later.
If possible, figure out where all the furniture will go in your new place. Even if you just have pictures to look at, it will help the movers and yourself during the process. Once they put the item down, they aren’t picking it back up to move it to a new spot.
Schedule last appointments for any landscaping and cleaning of your home, and let them know you will be canceling service.
Look into the requirements for changing your car’s license plate, car title and your driver’s license.

14 Days before Move

With only essentials left to pack by this point, you can start going through the rooms and giving each a light clean, if you are hiring a cleaning service. If not, bust out the mops and sponges.
Save room in your car to bring a few things yourself, like valuable jewelry and personal information. As you pack the records, make copies and pack them up.
You will also need to bring a few essential items yourself, listed below.
Do you have anything that doesn’t belong to you? Return your neighbor’s tools, cookware, and any books to the library.
Give the appliances that are going with you a good scrub down. You don’t want to take any lint or crumbs with you.
If you can, pack and move the items you want stored into your unit. Use our storing tips guide to help. If you can’t, rent a trailer and take those items to your storage unit once you move.

One Week before Move

Your real estate agent and you will need to work together to make sure closing goes as scheduled. That means giving them alarm codes, keys, garage door openers, etc.
Everything is now getting packed. Prepare for pizza and Chinese the rest of the week, or have food precooked to warm up in the microwave. Paper plates, cups and plastic eating utensils will become your new best friend.
The items that you’ll need easy access to, take yourself. Phone chargers, scissors, trash bags, toilet paper, linens, flashlights, tool kits, and general toiletries are included.
Pack all the clothes, leaving a few outfits for each member in case the worst happens and the movers don’t show up for a few days. If you’re moving far away, it’s a safe bet this will happen so invest in air mattresses and take your sleeping pillow with you.
Unplug all appliances, remove propane tanks from grills, and give them a last wipe down.
Get rid of all of your garage chemicals and treatments. Cleaning supplies can go with you.
Don’t forget to take care of your tech. They can get damaged in the move so back up computers, pack them carefully in foam wrap, label the boxes, and maybe just take them yourself.
Confirm the date with the moving company and stop by the bank for cash tips. The general rule is about $20 for each moving person.
Print out directions to your new place, provide the address, and write down your phone number for the movers. Get their numbers, too.

Moving Day

Have you read each line of the moving paperwork? Do it. Carefully. And then sign it.
If you aren’t takin the fridge, clean it out and add a box of baking soda.
When the movers are done, do a last sweep of the house, make sure nothing was left behind, then take out the trash.
Do final walk through to make sure nothing was left behind.
If you can, do the following: someone stays at the old place while someone heads to the new place. If not, do these next steps once you get there.
Take the necessity boxes and set up the house with them, placing toiletries in the bathroom, paper towels and trash bags in the kitchen, and strategically placing flashlights throughout.
Walk through the place and make sure nothing has change. Check all the fire detectors and appliances in the house.
Clean whatever you need to.
Label all of the doors and provide directional signs throughout the house. This will help the movers or anyone giving you a hand.
Invest in plastic floor covers to prevent damage and dirt during the move.
Once the movers arrive, give them a brief tour and show them the different signs.
As soon as you can, set up the beds and put linens on them. Start doing the same with the essentials and forget about the rest for now.
Tip the movers!

Post-Move

Set up cable and internet providers to service your new place.
Make it home! Get stuff on the walls, tables and throughout.
Check on your things in your storage unit and bring home what you want.
Explore! Get to know your new home, neighborhood, schools and local entertainment.
Meet the neighbors, attend functions, and enjoy the fact that it’s finally over!

Find Storage at Any One of The Following Facilities

RightSpace Storage Locations Near You

View more locations

Pay Online

Moving Guide

Arizona

California

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Mexico

Nevada

Texas

RightSpace Storage Locations Near You