Planning for a Move: What to Toss, What to Keep, and What to Carry with You

Planning for a Move:

What to Toss, What to Keep, and What to Carry with You

Planning for a move can alleviate a great deal of the stress associated with moving. Thinking through the process and figuring out how to deal with each aspect of the move will help to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

I recommend that you start by making a list of things you need to do to prepare for the move. Also think through the logistics of the move itself and what you will need to do to get settled in your new location.

Get the eBook!

For tons more information on planning for your move, check out my eBook:
Moving Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Successful Move.

In addition to how-to information, you'll find 10 printable checklists to use before, during, and after the move to stay on top of things.

Start with Purging

There is no sense in moving things you no longer want, need, or use. Consequently, part of planning for a move should include purging your belongings. This means sorting through everything you own and deciding what goes with you and what gets left behind. In the eBook, you'll find a list of 100 things to leave behind when moving (and much more!).

If you are using a moving company, there will be some items which they will not transport (and which I generally do not recommend you move yourself). It’s best to separate these items from your shipment before the movers arrive rather than be faced with a kitchen counter covered in black listed items on move day and no idea what to do with them.

What to Toss

Generally speaking, anything flammable, combustible, explosive, bad-smelling, prone to spoiling, or likely to leak is forbidden.

When planning for a move, determine how best to use up the items listed below so that you have as little as possible to get rid of before you leave. This advance purging will ensure that all or most of the stuff you're not taking gets a good home or is properly disposed of rather than just ending up in the trash.

The following list touches on the main items movers will not pack. This is not to say that your movers won't have other items that aren't included here, so be sure to ask them for a list of stuff your specific movers can't move.

*Items the Movers Won't Move

Oil and gas (to include empty red gas cans like you use to fill your lawnmower)
Butane
Propane cans or tanks (even if they are empty)
Bleach and other disinfectant cleansers
Paint
Aerosols
Automotive fluids such as antifreeze
Fire extinguishers
Ammunition
Open containers of alcohol
Open food containers
Perishable foods
Open liquids (this includes shampoo, lotions, cooking oils, etc.)
Money (I've even had kids’ piggy banks rejected)

*A free printable version of this list is available here.

Items to Give Away

In addition to those items which moving companies forbid, plan on leaving the following items behind simply because they do not move well:

House plants --- I always give mine away as gifts to friends and neighbors
Candles --- In warm temperatures candles can melt and reform leaving them looking worse for the wear and potentially damaging other items packed around them. In addition, the smell from scented candles will permeate everything stored in the same box.
Delicate children’s artwork --- Take some photos of the child with the project and dispose of it or give it to an interested relative, teacher, or friend remaining in the area.

What to Carry with You

In the process of planning for a move, you will also need to set aside certain items to transport with you which are of high intrinsic or sentimental value.

Below is an extensive list* of items to hand carry with you on a move. It is not all inclusive. Many of the items on the list may not apply to you and your family. On the other hand, some items of significance to you may be missing from the list. Use it as a guide to get you thinking.

*Items to Hand Carry with You on a Move:

Prescription medications
Computer files backed up either on an external source or via the cloud
Photos (or external hard drive/CD's/SD cards containing digital photos)
Cash/coin collections
Jewelry
Rare or highly valuable collectibles
Birth certificates
Marriage certificate/license
Passports
Adoption, custody or foster care records
Immigration & naturalization records
Military records
Divorce records & settlements
Any court documents
Copy of will/living will
Death certificates/burial records
Social Security & Selective Service records
Voter registration information
Medical files (including dental and immunization records)
Insurance information (auto, homeowner's/renter's, medical, dental, life, business)
Bank account numbers and contact information
ATM debit cards (& pin numbers)
Cash
Checkbook
Credit reports
Credit card information (and contact info)
Income tax returns
Investment information (account numbers and contact info)
Pension/retirement plan (information and contact info)
Savings bonds
Safety deposit box (information & key)
Serial numbers for valuable items
Safe combination
Loan or lease information
Mortgage information (including record of property tax)
Record of employment benefits (including contact and account info)
Record of government assistance (Medicare/Medicaid, food stamps, etc.)
Business licenses, insurance, records
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Deeds to property
Warranties
Auto registration, title, bill of sale
License plate and VIN for all vehicles you own
Children's school records
Test results for college entrance exams
Diplomas, transcripts
Membership cards and information
family history records
keys (to all vehicles, home, safe, business)
key to post office box
list of emergency contacts
Copy of your household inventory
Any and all information associated with your move - rental/service contract, terms & conditions, insurance, etc.

*A free printable version of this list is available here.

Free Printables

The lists referred to above are available in printable form. Use them as a checklist when planning for a move to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.

A Solution for Scrapbooks

Some people will advise you to carry your scrapbooks with you when you move, but I find this too cumbersome and impractical given the number and size of our scrapbooks. Instead, we have scanned each page into a computer in case the book is damaged or lost. As a bonus, this allows me to share my scrapbook pages with others electronically as well.

Final Thoughts on Planning for a Move

While you are planning for a move, I highly recommend preparing a household inventory. You can move with greater confidence knowing that you have an accurate record of your belongings which can be referenced in the case of loss or damage.

As you prepare your inventory, take the time to measure your furniture and jot down the dimensions. This is a great task to assign to older kids. Keep your list of furniture dimensions with you as you travel to your new home. You can use this information to decide which items will go where. In addition, knowing the size of each piece will help you determine how best to arrange the furniture within each room and whether or not a particular piece will be too large for a particular space.