At Maryland Movers, we know that planning a move can be a daunting task, so we have prepared the following moving checklist to help you prepare! The list will help make your moving transition easier and less stressful.

Click here to download our moving checklist.

Moving Checklist

One Month before Moving Day:

• Contact Maryland Movers for a free on-site estimate and book  your moving day. If you are planning a move in the summer, you may wish to call Maryland Movers two months in advance to ensure availability on your desired moving day.

• Order moving boxes and packing supplies. We offer Free Recycled moving boxes

• Begin packing. Clearly label boxes with name, contents, and destination for the box (i.e. "DR" for Dining Room, "MBR" for Master Bedroom).

• Sort, discard, and donate unwanted items.

• Notify the post office.

• Notify doctors, dentists, and other health service providers.

• Notify the human resources and/or payroll department at work.

• Confirm elevator, loading dock, and parking reservations/parking permits for moving day at both current and destination addresses. (If required)

Two Weeks Before Moving Day:

• Make arrangements for disassembly of specialty items (pianos, swing sets, etc.).

• Make arrangements for child care and/or a pet sitter for moving day.

• Arrange for time off from work to prepare for the move and to be present on moving day.

• Notify your local department of motor vehicles for change of address on your driver's license.

This is only a partial document, to download the full PDF please click here.

If PDF format is not compatible with your computer please request a different format at: support@marylandmove.com or call (301) 369-9100.

Moving comes with plenty of expenses, but what most people don’t consider is that they easily can reduce the cost of their moves by simply planning ahead and slimming down.

I’m not saying it’s easy. When we moved a few years ago to our current home in Fulton, MD.  I had to come to terms with all the gadgets and tools I had bought and stored over the years, many only used once, some not at all. When we packed up the toys the kids were too big for, it did tug at the heartstrings a bit, but we knew that the toys could find a better home than the back corner of a dusty attic.

As a moving business owner –  I’ve seen people move all sorts of things. I’ve seen them move boxes that haven’t been unpacked from the last move, wobbly swing sets, basketball goals, firewood and even vintage stereos and TV sets they had good intentions of repairing.

The bottom line is simple economics: The more stuff you move, the more it will cost you. That means, the easiest way to save money on your move is moving only those items that you need, that you really want, and that you really use or wear. Everything else needs to go away.

Here are some tips to help save money on a move:

1. Think ahead. If you know the floor plan and style of the house where you’re moving, take room measurements, and decide in advance what is going to fit and what won’t. You easily can donate those items to a local charity, sell them or even offer them to the buyers of your home. In addition to furniture, consider all those knick knacks, sets of dishes you never use and the clothes that have gone out of style or no longer fit.

2. Don’t furnish your new attic. It’s time to climb into the attic, go through the mini barn and dig into all those closets. Unless it’s really necessary, there’s no need to fully furnish your new attic.

3. Age does matter. Before you decide to move your washer and dryer and other heavy appliances, consider the cost of moving them. In many cases, it makes more economical sense to sell or donate old appliances instead of paying for the cost to move them.

4. What you can’t eat, donate. It’s simply not cost effective to move most food, plus frozen food cannot be shipped. So instead of bagging up all the canned goods in your pantry, consider donating them to a local food pantry. The same goes for pet food.

5. Move at the right time: The beginning and end of the month are the busiest days. Moving on one of these peak days means a more expensive, higher stress move. If your schedule is flexible, ask your relocation consultant to book your move on a non peak day.

If while packing you discover something you hadn’t thought about, used or even seen in years, then you probably won’t need it in the next house. Sell, donate or trash it.

I watch HGTV every now and then and I always like the shows about home organization where the crew will go into someone’s house and help (or prod or bribe) the residents get control over all the clutter. Several years ago, after hearing and seeing the need from our customers, we decided to do something similar.

If a customer is overwhelmed by the move, getting the house ready to be sold, and all the other things that go with it, we can send in a crew of two to three professional packers, who will help the homeowner divide belongings. The first are items that will be moved, which need to be packed. The second are items they don’t need, but could donate or sell, and the third pile is for all those things that no one really wants.

People really can save hundreds of dollars by getting organized. There are other benefits, too. Houses that are in tip-top shape and no clutter sell faster and for more money. Plus, unpacking is a lot less work

Maryland Movers

President

Moving plants? Follow these simple tips and your plants will travel up to three days before requiring any attention.

• Three weeks before moving day: Re-pot plants from clay pots into unbreakable plastic pots of the same size; changing pot sizes may harm plants.

• Two weeks before moving day: Prune larger plants to make them compact for easy handling and transport. Pruning also yields healthy, bushy, attractive plants. To prune, simply pinch back newer growth with your thumb and forefinger. Do not prune ferns and succulents (e.g., cactus, jade plants, aloe).

• One week before moving day: Check plants for insects and parasites. If you apply insecticides, exercise caution and follow label directions.

• Two days before moving day: Water your plants normally, taking care to not over-water. Too much water can cause plants to freeze in cold weather or promote fungus growth in warm weather.

• Moving day: Pack your plants in the morning (or the night before).

• Wrap large plants with an old bed sheet or tissue paper to prevent branches from breaking.

• Place each pot in a box so it fits snugly at the bottom.

• If necessary, pack paper in the box around the base of the pot to hold the pot in place.

• Punch air holes in the sides of the box and loosely fasten the lid so plants can breathe.

• Set the boxes upright and clearly mark the lids. This will help avoid loading them by mistake into the moving van.

• Tips for keeping plants healthy while traveling: Load plants as close to your departure time as possible.

• Avoid putting them in the trunk of your car; heat, cold, and lack of fresh air can be harmful.

• In warm weather, stop periodically in shaded areas and crack a window. Avoid exposing plants to direct sunlight at any time.

• Keep a comfortable temperature in your car. Cold weather, especially, can be hazardous to your plants. If needed, help protect plants by wrapping them with newspaper or paper bags.

• Water your plants only if they seem unusually dry. Otherwise, wait until you have arrived at your new home.

• If you travel for more than three days, bring plants indoors when you lodge and open cartons to expose them to light.

• Bringing your plants safely into your new home: Unpack your plants as soon as possible.

• Remove them through the bottom of the box to avoid breaking leaves and branches.

• Refrain from moving plants around until they become acclimated