Moving is hard, no matter where you’re coming from or where you’re moving to. We’ve been there! Here are just a few of our top tips for making your move to the River Region as easy and organized as possible.
Before the Move
Congrats! You’re moving to the River Region, and we’re so excited to have you here. There are just a few things you need to take care of prior to your move that will make the process much less hectic and disorganized.
- Change your address at least two weeks before moving. Here’s a great list that lets you know who you need to notify when your address is changing.
- Ask local businesses for empty boxes, or grab them from a recycling drop-off center. As soon as you know you’re moving, start collecting boxes. Before you pay for new ones, check around to see where you can get them for free.
- Plan for your last grocery shopping trip to be at least two weeks before moving day. You don’t want to end up with a ton of food to either throw away or pack on moving day.
Packing for the Move
Now that you’re in the process of moving, we know everything seems crazy and chaotic. Here are a few things you can do during your move to the River Region that’ll help you stay sane and organized.
- Start packing as soon as possible! You can never really start too early when it comes to packing for a move. As soon as you know you’re about to move, make a packing plan and start implementing it quickly.
- Prepare a “moving day emergency kit.” Place it in a box or bag and keep it near you at all times on moving day. Here are a few things you might want to include in the kit:
- Prescriptions
- Bandages and gauze
- Aspirin
- Roll of paper towels
- Roll of toilet paper
- Bottles of water
- Pack an overnight bag with your family’s essentials for the first few nights. It’s a good idea to pack a bag with a few changes of clothes, toiletries, and medications your family will need for the first couple of nights in the new house.
- Declutter and get rid of things you don’t need to bring to the new house. Moving is a great opportunity to go ahead and get rid of anything you don’t need. While you’re packing, sort things into piles: keep, donate, and throw away.
- Schedule a donation pick-up with your local thrift or charity store. Most organizations like Goodwill or Salvation Army will pick up bulk donations if you just give them a call. If they won’t pick up your donation, you can still schedule a time to drop it off.
- Use your empty suitcases, laundry bins, pots, and baskets to pack clothes and other small items. Don’t waste any space when you’re moving. Using all available space will cut down on the overall amount of moving boxes you need to use.
- Use towels, sheets, and blankets to pad boxes with fragile items. Use what you have instead of buying new bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
- Leave your clothes on the hangers and bundle them in large trash bags. This will save tons of time and space, and it makes unpacking so much easier.
- Take photos of the wiring in the backs of your TVs, computers, and other electronics. This will help you remember how to set your electronics back up once you’re in your new home.
- Pack heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in large boxes. You should also pack your boxes with heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on the top.
Moving Day
It’s time! You’re on your way to your new home. Here are a few tips to help make your moving day as stress-free and organized as possible.
- Hire a pet sitter or board your pets so they’ll be out of the way and safe. Moving is stressful on our furry friends, too. Make sure they have a safe place to stay until you’re all settled in your new home.
- Make sure you have some cash to tip the movers with. Lots of people forget to keep cash on hand for the movers— don’t let yourself be one of those people!
- Check your old home one last time for items you may have left behind. It sounds a little overkill, but we promise it’s worth doing.
- Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks. You’ll want to stay hydrated and fueled on moving day, so pack a cooler with water and a few healthy snacks and keep it nearby.
Unpacking
This is the fun part— you really get to move into your new River Region home! Keep these things in mind when you’re unpacking.
- Unpack the kitchen first, then take it one room and one box at a time. The kitchen is said to be the “heart” of the home. Go ahead and unpack and organize your new kitchen as soon as you can. You can focus on the other rooms later.
- Get rid of things as you go. This is your chance to purge anything you missed while you were packing,
- Listen to music while you unpack. Everything is more fun with music, right? Unpacking is no exception.
- Let the kids help with simple unpacking tasks. Most kids as young as five years old can help with simple tasks like placing clothes in drawers.
P.S. Click here to see what the River Region has to offer for kids and families!
After the Move
You’re here and you’re all moved in. Welcome to the River Region! Your move isn’t completely over yet, though. There are still several things you need to keep in mind and do while you’re settling in.
- Update your voter registration. Click here to learn all about voting and updating your registration in Alabama.
- Register the kids for school. Click here to learn all about public and private schools in the River Region.
- Decorate your new home. There are tons of spots in the River Region that sell unique home decor pieces. Eastbrook Antique Flea Market and Montgomery Antiques and Interiors are two of our favorites.
- Meet your neighbors and get connected. There are tons of places where you can meet your neighbors in your new River Region community. Check out our resource guide to getting connected.
- Have fun! Click here to check out our guide to all of the best attractions and things to do in the River Region. Click here to check out our calendar of local events.