For many, the steps to relocating to a new home can seem complicated and nerve-wracking. Make your life easier by following these steps to quickly find a residential home mover in the Portland area and complete your relocation.
Get a Few Estimates from Home Movers
The first step of any move is getting multiple moving estimates from Pacific Northwest home movers. With the right team on your side, the stress and hassle of relocating goes way down.
It’s important to get multiple quotes, from three residential moving companies minimum, so you can compare services and prices. It also increases your chances of finding a company you are really comfortable with before the more.
At ITS Global Relocation, we recommend checking the following information for each mover you are considering:
- Licensing Information
- Insurance Coverage
- Accreditations/Awards
- Customer Reviews/Ratings
Pick a Mover and Arrange Important Dates
After you’ve gathered all of the necessary information, including estimates, pick the team you like best for the job. You’ll likely need to sign a contract with your chosen mover to agree to pay a set price for a list of specified services. The contract will also list the dates for your appointments, such as packing services and moving day.
Schedule Utility Transfers/Shut Offs
When the stress of finding a mover is over, it is time to start preparing for the move. Make a list of all of your utilities, including the provider’s name. Contact everyone on this list to make arrangements to:
- Shut Off Utilities After Moving Day
- Turn On Utilities at the New Home
- Transfer Your Utilities into a New Name
If you are making a long-distance move, find out what utility providers are in your new neighborhood. You’ll need to contact them to set up service before relocating.
Arrange School Transfers for Children
Those who have children may want to start arranging for their children’s school records to be transferred to the district in their new area. It can take a week or two to complete the entire process. You may be asked to fill out a few forms requesting a transfer and admitting your child to the new school district.
Reduce Your Belongings
It’s important to start streamlining your household well before the move. If you wait too long to go through your belongings, you may find yourself just moving unwanted belongings or dumping things you want to keep.
If you plan to let go of a significant number of things, it may reduce the cost of a cross-country relocation. Let the move estimator know what you plan to do before your relocation so they can adjust the quote to better fit the size of your relocation.
Self-Pack Some Essentials – Or Everything
At this point, packing is the plan. If you have a full-service move arranged, you won’t need to worry about packing many items. Just set aside a few things you want to take with you in the car, such as valuables and paperwork. You can also set up a “First Day” box with essential items that your family will need during the relocation.
Some potential items for the First Day box include:
- Snacks/Drink Mixes
- Plates/Bowls/Utensils
- Couple Changes of Clothing
- Hygiene Products
- Games and Books
- Personal Papers
Those who are self-packing will want to get started as early as possible. It always takes longer than expected to pack up your belongings. You may be able to purchase moving supplies, like boxes and tape, through your moving company in Portland.
Be Ready on Moving Day
Make a plan for how to handle moving day, especially if you have small children and pets. It might be a good idea to have them stay with a neighbor or relative while your house is packed up.
While you won’t be doing all of the heavy lifting, the home movers may need your input on certain items. So have someone present on the day of the move. It’s also a good idea to get plenty of sleep because movers often schedule appointments as early in the day as possible.
Explore Your New Neighborhood
Consider taking a few days to get settled into your new home. Walk around the neighborhood. Visit the local shops. Find out where important things are located, such as schools, churches, and government offices like the BMV.
Get Started with a Free Estimate for your Portland Move from ITS Global Relocation
When you are ready to begin that long-distance move in the Portland area, turn to ITS Global Relocation. We are proud to be a BBB-accredited and A+ rated residential moving company and agents with Bekins Van Lines.
Our team also offers a full range of moving services, like:
- Residential
- Commercial
- International
- Specialized Moves
- Senior Moves
- Storage
Give us a call to set up a free quote for your move right away. Or you can fill out our online form to request more information.
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