Your Ultimate Summer Moving Checklist

If you’re all set to move this summer, then you’re probably either making a packing list or looking for one to use as a guide. Did you make sure you booked a moving company? A cleaning service? Ordered pizza for friends and family who are helping? There are a lot of things to remember when it comes to moving in the summertime, and you need a summer moving checklist.

Moving Checklist Item 1

Gather boxes for packing. You can order boxes online or purchase empty boxes at a home improvement store. If you want a more eco-friendly approach, try renting boxes for your move. If you are in Miami, you can rent boxes by CLICKING HERE.

Moving Checklist Item 2

Clean out each room as you finish packing it up.

Kitchen: wipe out drawers and cabinets; clean the stovetop and oven; clear out and wipe down the fridge, freezer, and microwave; wipe down countertops; shine up the sink; mop the floor.
Living Room and Bedrooms: dust ceiling fans; wipe down baseboards; wipe down doors; clean the walls by removing nails and spackling over holes; wash the windows; mop hard floors and deep clean carpets; vacuum inside HVAC vents; and vacuum upholstered window coverings if leaving behind.
Bathrooms: scrub out the shower, tub, sink, and toilet; wipe down the counters; mop the floor; clean the mirrors; and remove nails in the walls and spackle over holes.
Basement/Garage: vacuum up spider webs; sweep the floor; repair any openings in the floor or walls; clean the windows; and clear out all debris and trash.

Moving Checklist Item 3

Book a moving service or enlist the help of volunteers. Not sure how much a moving service should cost? For a rough guide, remember that movers charge by the hour, so based on average moving costs, hiring 2 laborers and a truck will cost you between $90 and $120 per hour. However, most movers have a 3 hour minimum. Be sure to ask when the clock starts clicking. Typically, movers charge for drive time as well. You can save time by making sure your items are boxes and ready to go. Most likely your movers will bring moving blankets for large items.

Moving Checklist Item 4

Book a carpet cleaning service if your carpets are very stained. If you want to give it a go yourself, try our eco-friendly solution for carpet cleaning. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax and 1/4 cup vinegar to create a cleaning solution (or paste). Apply the paste and let it sit on carpet stains for several hours. After the solution has dried simply vacuum your way to a stain free carpet.

Moving Checklist Item 5

Schedule a pickup for Stow Simple to carry off your storage items. Don’t want to deal with the hassle of schlepping stuff to storage? Book online and Stow Simple will pick up, and store your stuff. They will also drop off heavy-duty bins for you to store your stuff in free of charge. Get hassle-free storage for as little as $25 per month.

Moving Checklist Item 6

Make a detailed plan for what you will do each day leading up to and during moving day. What is it they say, “the devil is in the details.” We all know that moving can be stressful. Some say it’s the even more stressful than divorce. Why put yourself though needles worry. Write it out. Anytime something pops in your head remember to: designate (a date and time in which you will handle), delegate (assign someone else to the task… remember to be specific), or DO IT NOW.

Moving Checklist Item 7

Moving Checklist Item 8

Donate items you don’t need. We recommend making a donate, pack and trash pile when you are collecting your stuff. Once packed, call the Miami Rescue Mission or Salvation Army to pick up any items to be donated. And if you’ve contacted Stow Simple to store items, they will drop of a donation bag for you to fill. They will take it to the Miami Rescue Mission to help someone in need.

Moving in together can be sheer bliss or struggle. Merging spaces at that right time makes all the difference. Below are some tips to know when you’re ready to move in together.

Sign 1: You’re Scared

If you’re not apprehensive you may be in the fantasy world of “playing house.” It’s natural to be nervous. It’s a big decision. Being somewhat scared means that you are fully considering the magnitude of your decision.

Sign 2: You’ve Traveled Together and Survived

Have you spent 100% of your time together? If not, traveling together is great training for moving in. You can better understand habits and how your loved one deals with stress.

Sign 3: You’ve Advanced Beyond the Honeymoon Phase

The first 6 to 12 months of a relationship can be sheer bliss, but can also blind you to realities of what’s going on. Social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, observes that oxytocin released during the initial stages of a relationship (The Happiness Hypothesis) is similar to a drug that creates an altered mental state.

Sign 4: You’ve Had a Major Argument and Survived

Recovering from disagreement is essential for couples to take the next step. Do you remember your last major blowout? The fact that you’ve survived means you are more ready to share a place. You’ve put into place valuable tools that are essential for living together.

Sign 5: You’ve Defined Your Relationship

Communication is key to couple survival. Have you had the “what are we” talk? Sitting down and defining your relationship can help solve communication gaps that often tumble relationships.

Sign 6: You Don’t Ignore Problems

Are the same issues coming up time and time again? If so, and you’re not working to solve them that’s a bad sign. Once you’ve moved in together problems only compound and explode.

Sign 7: It’s Not About the Money

It’s hard to negate that moving in may cut your rent in half. But you need to ask yourself, does moving in together have to do with money? If so, take a pause.

Sign 8: You’ve Made Room

Finally, you need need to make room both mentally and physically. Have you given yourself time to understand one another’s needs, expressed your deal breakers and discussed expectations? One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not discussing with each other what moving in together really means.

What are the next steps? Why are we doing this now? Do you have enough space? Wait… We can help you with the last one. If you have decided to give it a go, and don’t want to fight about whose stuff stays and whose stuff goes… Stow Simple.

We hope this helped and wish you the very best with your decision.