When it comes time to move, you will have what feels like 987,345 things to do. Without a moving binder, things will be forgotten, items will be misplaced, you will leave the dog behind, and you will naturally develop the first grey hairs of your life.
So let’s get organized with a moving binder and avoid all that, shall we?
Here is everything you need to make your own moving binder.
How to Make a Moving Binder
Making your own moving binder will take a bit of time but it can be done and will help you stay organized. Trust me, it’ll help with all the details you have to keep track of. Here are the supplies you will need.
- 2 Inch Binder or any three-ring binder
- Paper and moving checklist
- Dividers
- Moving Box Labels (here’s where to get free boxes for when you move)
- Pens
- Post-it notes
- Highlighters
- 3 Ring Pouches
- Moving Calendar
- Sheet protectors (because you will spill coffee on this binder more than once)
Moving Binder Sections
Your moving binder will need several sections to keep everything organized and easily accessible, which is why you need dividers. You may also want to use sheet protectors to protect the most important documents (1). The sections you should have in a moving binder are:
- Change of address list
- Moving Calendar
- Moving Checklist
- School Information
- Utilities (details and contacts)
- Open House Details
- House Colors (paint for each room, trim, door color, floor colors)
- Contractor Information (contacts, estimates, and contracts)
- Renovation Schedule
- Moving Schedule
- Moving Budget
- Moving Contacts (costs and contract)
- Room by Room Inventory List
- Mortgage information
- Storage Rental Information
- Mover Contact information
- House Plan and Room Layouts
- Map
- Receipts
- Password Tracker
Personal documents and personal papers need to be kept track of. So let’s go through all the details of why you need these moving binder sections and what you should put in all the pages.
Change of address list
You’ll be changing your address, so make a list of all the places you need to notify.
Moving Calendar
There will be a whole bunch of different things happening when you move. Keeping track of your moving timeline in a calendar is the easiest way to keep sane and organized.
Moving Checklist
Having a complete moving checklist is a must when house hunting. There are so many things to do when moving from one house to another, which amplifies when moving to a new city. To do lists are essential, and thorough moving checklists are a good way to ensure you complete everything that needs to be done.
School Information
You will need to contact the current and new schools and arrange the records to be sent. It’s a good idea to get a copy for yourself as well.
Utilities
Moving necessitates contacting your utilities and service providers to inform them that you will stop services or transfer your account to a new house.
Open House Details
If you have yet to sell your house, or your home purchase depends on you selling your house, then you will want to have all of your house items organized and ready. This will include where you need to be when the open house is happening, where to go while the house is open. What items need to be moved out and other relevant information for your open house.
House Colors
Moving into a new home means new colors. Unless your furniture happens to go with the walls in your new home, you are going to want to paint and change things around. It’s always easiest to do this when you are new to the house and haven’t unpacked. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible. But it’s best if you can.
Keep all of your house samples (like flooring, carpet swatch) and room colors in this section, so you know what you need and how much paint you need to buy (a rule of thumb is 400 square feet per gallon). Then, use a paint calculator to see how much you need for each room.
Click Here to Get a Moving Quote
Contractor Information
This section is very important if you are renovating before moving into your new place. Keep all of your contractor estimates, contracts, and budgets in this section. You will also want to have all your contractors’ contact information.
Renovation Schedule
Renovation timelines are key when you are moving. Make sure you have tased with your contractors and laid out everything that needs to happen and by when to keep the renovation on schedule. A renovation planner or remodeling planner is a good idea to have at this point if you are doing the Renos on your own.
Moving Budget
Moving isn’t exactly cheap, but it can be done. Still, keeping an eye on all your moving costs is a good idea and ensuring you aren’t going crazy with everything. (hint: find free moving boxes as soon as possible).
Moving Contacts (costs and contract)
Before you pick a mover, call several and compare costs of each moving truck. Then, get quotes from at least three or more places and enter your costs into this section with all of the estimates so you can easily compare costs and pick the right movers.
Click Here to Get a Moving Quote
Room by Room Inventory List
When you finally pack everything up, using box labels to organize, you will want to keep track of everything. Your role on moving day will be helping and directing traffic. Knowing what boxes go from room to room in the house and inspecting them for damage is a big part of the day and save precious time overall.
Mortgage Information
This can include bridge financing, mortgage documents, bank contacts, and anything else you have relating to selling your existing home and buying your new one (2).
Storage Rental Information
If you are renting a storage pod or using a storage container, you will want to enter all of the information of the storage company and keep your contract in here so you can refer to it when you call them.
Mover Contact Information
Whether you are hiring a moving company, putting your items in storage, or getting your friends and family to help you move, put all of the contacts that will be helping you in this section so you can get them quickly.
If you are thinking, “I’ll just leave it on my phone,” you may not have reception where you are or something else strange. A paper copy guarantees you will have the numbers when needed.
Click Here to Get a Moving Quote
House Plan and Room Layout
Unless you are building a custom home, you likely won’t have blueprints of the house. Instead, get some graph paper and sketch out the dimensions of each room. This will help with painting, organizing the rooms in the house, and furniture layout.
Map
Get a paper map of where you are going for the new location. You never know when your data is going to run out or just flat out have no cell reception. A map fixes this, and it’s totally old school.
Receipts
Use this section to keep track of all your receipts. Then, depending on your reason for moving and the tax laws, you can claim some or all of your moving expenses. Plus, it’s good to have if you have to contact people about an item after you settle in.
Password Tracker
Call me crazy (you wouldn’t be the first), but I don’t like the idea of all my passwords being stored somewhere. I know you can do it everywhere, but there are certain ones I don’t want to be saved anywhere but in my head. Except my memory is terrible. So I keep everything on a password tracker so we can
Other Things to Include in Your Moving Binder
There are likely other things you will need in your moving binder. Important phone numbers, anything else you need for the big move. Keep another section at the back of the binder for taking notes, other items that pop up, and things that don’t fall into all of the other categories. You’ll be happy to have this.
Are you still trying to sell your house? Here’s the cheapest way to sell a house
Buy a Moving Binder Printable
If all of this sounds like a lot of work to make and print out, don’t worry; we’ve got your back. We’ve made our own moving binder that you can use to get prepared and organize your move easily and effortlessly. Simply click the button below, and buy our moving binder. You can see more details in our store.
Final Thoughts on Moving Binders
This might feel like a lot, and it is. That’s because moving is a big undertaking, and you want to ensure you are properly prepared for everything so you can move confidently and easily. This moving binder will be a godsend for you when you get going.
If you are needing moving day essentials items, we have some you can get as well as things to do after you move into a new house. To make sure you are covered every step of the way.