Introduction to Moving Out Quickly
Life has many stressful events; getting married, changing jobs, and moving are at the top. But it can be daunting if you are moving out of a house or apartment in 2 weeks and still not ready. But it is doable. Below, we cover exactly how to move from anywhere—house or apartment. You’ll know what to do in advance, the day of your move, and a free checklist and tips to make the process much easier! Here are 3 Men Movers top tips on preparing for a move within two weeks—whether you live in an apartment or a house! Let's get started!
Moving Costs and Expenses
If you're only two weeks away from moving, you may have already set your budget or at least understand what your move will cost. But let's cover the basics and some hacks to help you out.
New Residence Set Up
Every residence has costs associated with getting settled and set up, and costs can vary by area, new or existing structure, credit history, or other specific needs. These costs are not uncommon, and they range between $300 and $1500. Some of the basic utilities/expenses to budget for are:
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Cable/Internet provider
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Gas/Electric
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Phone
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Homeowner/Renter's insurance
Moving Supplies
Moving supplies is a sneaky cost in both time and dollars that needs to be accounted for. There are many places to get boxes from, but if you're limited by time, making sure you get supplies on the fewest trips is essential. If you're more limited by budget, you'll have to get creative with how and where you source the boxes. Other supplies can be purchased from Walmart, a home improvement store, or Amazon. You can expect to spend at least $200-$300 for tape, labels, boxes, etcetera for even a modest-sized move.
Pro Tip: Try this move planning tool from Home Depot to make your life easier. You input information about your move, and it will build and price out the cost of supplies, which should help you budget as well as save time by reducing trips.
Transportation Costs
Renting a truck—The price of renting a Uhaul or Ryder truck depends on the distance you're moving. A local move depends upon the market and truck size, but it ranges from $20-$40 per day, plus mileage, insurance, and optional equipment like moving blankets, dollies, and hand trucks.
Friend's pickup and/or trailer-Once again, this cost will depend upon distance and time, but it's common courtesy to pay for your friend's gas and mileage.
Professional movers-Costs for professional movers vary widely, based on the size of the house, distance from place to place, and amount of household belongings you have. Get several quotes on cost, as local movers typically charge by the hour, and long-distance van lines quote based on the weight of all your belongings and the distance of the move. When determining the cost for local moves, remember you can also choose to have the mover get the heavy stuff to save money.
Choosing and Planning a Moving Method
Rental Truck
If you choose to rent a truck, there are a few things to consider as you compare rental companies, such as:
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Cost comparison: You'll want to compare not only the listed cost per day but also what's included (mileage, dollies, hand trucks, etc.).
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Fuel Type-Gas or Diesel? Diesel gets better mileage for more extended trips.
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Availability—You'll need to call around and reserve your truck. Doing this as one of your first steps will ensure that you don't miss out.
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Type of residence you're moving from/to-You need to consider the size of truck, ability to maneuver in and out, and kind of ramp or lift gate the truck has.
Family and Friends
If you've got close friends and family members to help, great! If you've helped friends who've moved before, now you can collect. Using friends may be the cheapest way to move out, especially if you only have a few items of furniture. Some things to consider when getting them to help out:
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Scheduling: You'll need to work hard and fast to arrange for help, especially on a tight timeline.
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Food/Gas-Feed the people and they will help. Pay for gas, and they might help again.
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They're not professionals-Your move may go slower, and you might have stuff dinged up.
Professional Movers
You want easy? A moving company can do all the heavy lifting for you, bring the truck, and supply the muscle. But, the tradeoff is cost for time in the moving process. Hiring movers may be your best bet to get it done right and on time if you're on a tight timeline, like two weeks. Factors that you'll have to consider if you go this route:
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How to choose the right mover-Picking a mover is a very personal decision since they will be coming into your home. A valid mover's license and insurance are the starting point and can be found on your state's DMV website.
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Look at review platforms, neighborhood forums, and movers' websites-All of these resources will give you an idea of the quality of the mover.
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Costs- You'll want to compare the price per hour and the number of movers you get for that price. In addition, many movers have different ways of calculating trip fees and/or add-ons for supplies.
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Do they offer other services-If you're on a tight timeline and have the budget; many movers also offer packing services and will supply the materials as part of the service.
Hiring Movers
If you're moving out in two weeks, hiring and booking your movers must be done as soon as possible. During the summer months (May through September), movers' calendars book up fast, so getting your quotes should be at the top of the list. We’ve got just the right questions to ask—especially if you want to move quickly—and how to find a legitimate company.
The booking process can be easy or involved, depending on who you select. Here's how different movers handle the booking process:
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Complete walk-through and quote-Typically this is done for long-distance moves so the mover can build out the estimated weight and cubic feet for pricing.
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Call in quote and booking-Most movers have a website with a phone number or form fill and will collect your information and quickly get back to you to discuss the details.
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Fully online booking—This method is super convenient for people on a tight timeline. You won't have to wait for callbacks from sales agents if you're ready to book. Our booking system at 3 Men Movers allows for just that. Or you can call in if you like.
If you plan on booking a packing service, and movers haven’t already done a virtual or in-person walkthrough, take photos or video and send it to them yourself. This step is critical if you’re using the company’s packing services. Professional Tip: Open all closets, cabinets, doors, and drawers so your movers can accurately gauge how much they’ll be packing and/or moving. Review your quote with them and ask about any additional fees not outlined that could be tacked on if they need to pack your items.
Pre-Moving Checklist
If possible, build yourself a moving checklist, download one from a web resource, digitize the document, and keep it on both your phone and your computer. This will help you keep things organized and from getting missed. Part of your checklist close to your move date should include:
Make Minor Home Repairs
If you're in an apartment, find any little things that could cost you the security deposit and fix them. If you're moving from a house, it would be wise to consider both repairs before the move. However, you should also keep basic tools and products (think spackle, spackling knives, and small paint brushes and paint for touch-ups) handy for right after you're finished loading the truck. It will reduce stress and save time.
Check on Parking or Truck Access from the Street
Please speak to your landlord or neighbors, both at your existing residence and your new one, first to avoid any conflicts and to let them know what and when your move will happen.
Schedule Any New Address Appointments as Far in Advance as Possible
Coordinating other events around a move can seem like an "it can wait" task, but if you miss scheduling them, it can keep you from enjoying your new place sooner. Here are just a few things to think about:
Utility Providers
Contact the following in advance of your move date: Electric, Gas, Phone, Internet, Streaming Services, and Water. Scheduling utilities will ensure that your new place is ready to go, and you'll be able to call, use the internet, and take a hot shower.
Change of Address
File with your post office to begin mail forwarding. Still, you'll also want to perform as many of these online (think credit card companies, Amazon, or other places you buy from and have delivered) to make sure your packages and statements come to the correct address. You may also want to consider changing the address on your driver's license now.
Other Pre-Move Scheduling
You must contact your homeowners/renters insurance company and set up the new address before moving out date. Also, think of anything that could be impacted by your move being longer or shorter than expected (e.g., reserving an elevator, hiring an electrician, locating cleaners or specialty disposal, finding contractors to disassemble/install certain items like a playground or workout equipment).
Essential Moving Supplies
Take stock of things you have to move and make a list. This will help you know the types and quantities of moving supplies you need before moving. If you’re packing alone, use packing supplies that will make packing easier: Buy boxes that are heavy-duty, packing tape, permanent markers, blankets for wrapping, bubble wrap, leg casters, box dividers (or clean towels) for glasses and dishes, and plastic wrap or tarp for transporting live, potted plants.
Moving Boxes
You're going to need many boxes, more than you think. Planning and estimating your needs will save you time and reduce trips to the store. As mentioned before, Home Depot's website has a calculator tool that is really cool and a time saver. You'll want to consider not only the quantity needed, but also:
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Sizes and Strength- You'll need a variety of sizes (small, medium, large) for each room of the house. Spend a little extra and get the heavy-duty ones. It will prevent crushing and tearing.
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Specialty Use-Wardrobe boxes, Art boxes, and TV boxes. Get the right tool for the job.
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Where To Buy-You can buy boxes from Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart (for actual moving boxes), or your local businesses (grocery stores are great) if you're on a budget.
Wrapping and Padding
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Bubble wrap/Box Dividers/Paper- You'll need some of each to protect large and small delicate items. Paper or box dividers for kitchen items, bubble wrap for larger items like framed pictures or electronics.
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Blankets/Towels- If you don't have actual moving blankets, you can use blankets from the bed and towels to wrap furniture and other items to protect from dirt or damage.
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Stretch wrap- Another tool to wrap furniture and hold blankets in place on larger items like flatscreen TVs.
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Where to get- Home improvement stores and WalMart.
Labels and Miscellaneous Supplies
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Packing Tape- You'll use a lot, so don't skimp on quality. Tape multiple layers to prevent blowouts.
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Marker Pens/Box Labels- Making sure you've taken some time to label the room and key belongings in each box will save you staging time and unpacking time.
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Where To Get- Walmart, Amazon, Target, and home improvement stores
Packing and Preparation
Decluttering
Right at the start of packing is a perfect time to start decluttering. Donate or eliminate anything you don’t want to take with you. There's no time like now to go through and dispose of anything that you haven't used in a long time. Practicing the one-year rule helps people keep clutter to a minimum. If you haven't used it in over a year (holiday decorations excluded), maybe you can live without it. If you have time, you can use sites like Facebook Marketplace to list and sell what you don't want.
Packing Your Belongings
Packing is by far the most time-consuming task of moving, and there are many approaches, but most people would tell you just to start packing and do a room a day for several days. We have another article, Packing Everything You Own (including getting the supplies, closing/taping, and labeling boxes), to help you with this exercise.
Mark the contents and indicate anything fragile inside (especially glassware!)
MASTER TIP: Make sure any fragile items are marked on all sides of the packing box with an arrow facing upwards.
MASTER TIP: Pack up your devices in the boxes or cases they came in (e.g., TVs, jewelry, lamps, cookware).
Staging Your Belongings
The best way to make your move faster? Clear a path for your movers to get to and from your house or apartment door/garage. Staging well-labeled boxes will speed up your move and make it easier to determine the destination room as well.
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Stage In Garage-Remember, organization is the key to moving day efficiency and reducing stress. Distance to the truck matters and will make your move out go faster. Stage non-essential items in boxes first, separate by room in rows or against the wall, always leaving space for navigating.
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Stage In Each Room- If you don't have a garage, staging each room with the boxes works well, or a larger room close to the door or garage will also work.
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Keep Fragile Items Separate- It also helps to have fragile boxes in a separate section from heavier items. Finally, double-check that any descriptions on fragile or important boxes haven’t been mislabeled or misplaced.
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The Essentials Box- Any essential items you don't want to go on the truck, are valuable, or are needed during the packing period.
Two Days Before Moving
Call your moving company and check your appointment.
Life happens, right? Checking and confirming your appointment with your moving company is the ounce of prevention that keeps your big day from becoming a big mess. Most moving companies will call or text 24-48 hours in advance to confirm the start time and details of the move itself.
Double Check and Set Aside Your Essentials
Two days before your move, if you're still packing, make sure that you gather up important documents (think lease agreement, birth certificate, closing docs, medications, toiletries, laptops, jewelry, and valuables and stage them in a suitable place to keep them secure and easy to access over the next few days. There's nothing worse than going on a hunt for something you need now.
Confirm Your Help if DIY Moving
Calling and checking to ensure your family and/or friends will be there is always a smart move. You don't want to scramble for a truck or help on move day if someone falls out due to scheduling conflicts.
Emotional Preparation and Self-Care
Get a good night’s rest 1-2 nights before your move date. Sleep deprivation adds up and can leave you less than alert. Trust us, you don’t want to be grumpy, groggy, or forgetful on your move day!
Moving Day
Pack up the things you’ll use in the morning-last.
Think of everything you’ll need to use on move day that won’t go on the truck. Keep them readily accessible in a grab bag to toss in your vehicle.
The same goes for live, potted plants. Movers can’t legally transport these in a moving truck, so make room in your vehicle while protecting your floors and upholstery.
PRO TIP: Wrap plants and tarp your floor so the soil doesn’t spill.
Protect Your Floors (if moving yourself)
Use tarps and plastic runners to protect carpets and hardwood floors from dirt, scratches, and water from heavy traffic. This will prevent having to repair or clean them.
Have Helper Supplies On Hand (if DIY)
And by supplies, we're talking food and beverages to keep the help fed and hydrated. A well-fed helper is a happy worker.
Communicate Any Special Needs
During the check-in process, communicate any special needs to your moving company and its crew. Communicating what goes and doesn't, and where, help streamline both the move-out and move-back-in process.
Have Your Payment Ready
If you're using a professional moving service, you may want to hit an ATM the night before to have cash on hand for tipping your mover. Here's an article for advice on tipping, if you need help. Keep your wallet with driver's license and credit/debit cards close at hand.
Do One Last Sweep with the Movers Before Leaving
The worst feeling is leaving something behind. (It’s also a nightmare if you’re moving long-distance!) Avoid this by doing one final sweep of your entire apartment or home before you and the movers head to your new place.
Also, as part of the last sweep, don't forget to consider trash pickup and place anything at the curb.
First Night In and Unpacking Your New House
If you do it yourself, the first night in your new house may be a bit like camping, which is why staging your essentials and keeping them in your vehicle is so important. It's also why it is so important to label boxes accurately so you know what key items are in each box. Start unpacking your essential items first, using your labeling to help with sorting.
Unpacking in your new house always goes faster than packing. Labeling correctly lets you know what's most to least important to unpack first. Or, if you'd like to hit the easy button, book an unpacking service from your local mover and they'll get you to enjoying your place even sooner.
Good Luck with Your Last-Minute Move!
Yes, a last-minute move is stressful, but you've got this! With a positive outlook and following these helpful tips, it can still be a smooth process. By getting started ASAP and efficiently organizing your move, you're off to the races. Finding a reliable moving company and utilizing our downloadable moving checklist will help you stay on track and avoid surprises. Remembering to pack and label your boxes strategically will make unpacking a breeze in your new place. Even if you have less time than you'd prefer, with careful planning, a positive mindset, and the support of your friends and family, you can still successfully navigate moving to a new location easily!