How to Make a Last-Minute Move Less Chaotic

In a perfect world, you’d have all the time you needed to go through your moving checklist, carefully wrap and package every collectible you own, and set off on your next chapter taking the scenic route.

We don’t need to tell you that you don’t live in a perfect world. If you’re starring a last-minute move in the face, you’ve probably already figured it out.

From home disasters to relationship breakups, there are a multitude of reasons you could be gearing up to leave with little time to prepare. Maybe you started with all the time you needed and what with one thing and another, you no longer have that time, and nothing is done. Moving procrastination got the best of you, but there’s not a moment to waste beating yourself up about it.

As a full-service moving company that offers same-day moves, All My Sons Moving & Storage understands how nerve-wracking this time can be. That’s why we’ve created these special moving guides to help you make your next move with confidence.

The good news is that your last-minute move doesn’t have to break your sanity. Take some deep breaths, roll up your sleeves, and get down to business.

Your first order of business should be to assess your moving needs. A full moving checklist might be more than you have time to handle but take a few minutes to jot down your basic plan. While every move is different and not every timeframe can accommodate all the things you could put on a moving checklist, there are some essential steps most moves must take.

Here are some fast ideas to put on your moving checklist:

• Purchase Packing Supplies: You may not have the luxury of being able to meticulously count out how many boxes you need. Go ahead and buy packs of boxes and supplies in bulk. Some retailers will allow you to return unused boxes if you have the receipt, or you could always save the extra boxes for your next move.

• Schedule Utilities for Disconnection: Call your utility providers for electricity, gas, internet, etc. and either update them with your new address for transfer of services or schedule disconnection. Give these companies your new address so that you can be reached with any final bills.

With limited time to pack, you’ll need to move at top speed. We recommend setting up some boxes in each area you need to pack so you can grab the next one as you fill them. There are some basic rules you should follow when packing to make sure your move goes smoothly:

• Pack the Non-Essentials First: The best items to pack first are the ones you are not going to need again soon. Some great places to start are with your off-season clothes, back closet memorabilia, and holiday decorations. Then you can move up the hierarchy of need room by room.

• Purge as You Pack: Your move will be significantly more manageable if you off-load excess items you do not need to take with you. Have a trash bag on hand for the small items that should be thrown away and gather items that should be donated in a box.

• Label Boxes Clearly: There’s nothing quite as nerve-wracking as searching for something you know is in one of the boxes in your box-mountain. Label your boxes by room and write out important contents on the top in as much detail as possible.

for your daily medication sounds about as appealing as pulling out your eyebrows one hair at a time. Be sure to pack the things you need daily separate from the items that can wait and include any items you might need in case of emergency in this bag as well.

You can pack these items in a bag or box, just be sure to always keep it with you on-hand. Here are some examples of items that should go in your essentials stash:

• Medications: Include the medicines you take daily as well as any medicine you need in case of emergency.

• Overnight Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, floss, and maybe soap. You might need these items in transit if your move takes several days and you will want these items almost immediately once you reach your new home.

• Change of Clothes: Even if you do not move overnight, you will likely want a change of clothes on hand in case you’re not able to unpack all your clothes the same day you arrive at your destination.

If you need a space cleared quickly or an item gone yesterday, the perfect people to call are the junk haulers. They sweep in, grab your bulk trash items, and then cart it away so you don’t have to deal with it. Junk haulers can make donation runs on your behalf, recycle items that are salvageable, and properly dispose of items that do not have a second life in them.

Junk haulers are great when you’re working with a hard deadline. Don’t have time to sort through a room full of what you know is garbage? You can pay them to clear out a space or get a quick quote for one or two large items. Once the items are gone, you will be free to make your move, and you’ll feel so much lighter and less burdened doing it.

You can get same-day junk removal from Junk.com for residential and commercial junk removal including property cleanouts. Junk.com will haul away old furniture, appliances, scrap metal, electronics, and more. Book now to get a team out to appraise your junk.

There’s no shame in asking for help. When you’re facing a last-minute move, you don’t want to do it alone. While family and friends might try to be there for you, they aren’t usually experts in getting the job done. Hiring a professional moving company can often prove worth every penny in the time and energy it saves you.

When you call the pros, you have options like professional packing to make sure all your possessions arrive safely at their destination. They can disassemble and wrap your furniture and carry multiple boxes on their special dollies. Pro-movers come with the tools and skills to complete your move so you can rest easy and focus on settling into your new home.