By the week before you load the truck, your house probably looks like a bomb went off. Boxes stack to the ceiling. Drawers are taped shut. Chair legs are wrapped in bubble wrap. It is barely livable. You have spent two months packing every artifact of your family’s life.
But preparation has limits. Some tasks simply cannot be done earlier. They are too logistical. Or they involve things that change right up until the end.
Here are five things you must handle in the final seven days. Ignore this list and you will spend your first night unpacking bank forms instead of sleeping.
Set Up New Bank Accounts Before Closing Old Ones
Location matters. If you are moving states or crossing borders, your current bank might not be the best fit. Or it might charge you fees for no reason.
Do not close your old account until the new one is active. This prevents your direct deposits from bouncing. It also stops overdraft fees when checks take time to clear.
Pick a new bank before you arrive. Check which ATMs are in your new neighborhood. You want one that is close to your new home or job. Avoid out-of-network ATMs if possible. They charge extra. Saving those fees adds up.
Transfer Prescriptions Early in the Week
Medication does not stop because you are in a van. If you take daily prescriptions, call your doctors this week. Ask them to send your prescriptions to a pharmacy in your new town.
Do not wait. If you wait until you are unpacking and realize you are out of pills, you will be in trouble. Calling a doctor from a strange address is harder than doing it now.
Choose a pharmacy that is convenient. Near your new home is ideal. Confirm the transfer is complete before you leave your old house. Keep a list of your medications in your survival kit anyway. Just in case.
Tag Furniture for Specific Rooms
Movers are strong. They can lift a heavy armoire into your new house. But they might not know which room it belongs in.
If you leave that decision to them, you will spend hours moving heavy furniture around after they leave. That is exhausting.
Tag every item. Use colored tape or paper. Write the room name on it. Kitchen. Master bedroom. Office.
Better yet, make a floor plan. Show the movers where the big pieces go. This simple step saves your back. It also helps the movers work faster. They can load and unload with purpose.
Pack a Moving Survival Kit
The moving truck might be late. Traffic happens. Weather happens.
Do not assume you will have your stuff when you arrive. Pack a box for your car. This is your survival kit.
Include:
– Important medications
– Copies of important documents (leases, deeds, IDs)
– A change of clothes
– Basic toiletries
– A first-aid kit
– Tools for minor repairs
– Coffee and a way to make it
You might need to fix a leaky faucet before the truck arrives. Or you might just need a hot cup of coffee in an empty house. Having these items in your car means you are not stranded.
Defrost, Unplug, and Strip
The night before, do the final prep. Strip your beds. Pack the linens. You will need a clean sheet in the new house anyway.
Defrost your refrigerator. Do this 24 to 48 hours before you leave. Ice will melt. Water will pool. You do not want your new kitchen flooded on day one.
Empty the ice bin. If your fridge has a water line, shut it off. Unplug every appliance. Dishwasher. Microwave. Toaster.
This also protects your old home. An unplugged fridge does not run while the house is empty. It saves energy. It prevents accidents.
These tasks are small. They are annoying. But they matter. Do them. Then you can just drive.
