Moving is stressful. Staying organized while planning a move can be really difficult. With so many moving parts, it can be tough to keep everything in order. You are packing up all of your belongings and moving them to a new location. What happens if you don’t keep details of the move organized? The moving process will be more time-consuming, more expensive, and more emotionally and physically draining. But there is a simple solution to help you stay on top of it all while moving:

A Moving Bundle.

What is a Moving Bundle? It’s a few essential tools to help you stay on top of tasks and keep documents organized while moving. Creating a place to store all details related to your move is critical for maintaining a low-stress level during this chaotic process. There are three components to an effective moving bundle:

Moving Planner

A Moving Planner full of checklists, logs, and trackers, to keep yourself on task. I never had any luck finding a helpful Moving Planner when we were moving. So, I created one for you! This 140-page, wire-o bound planner has 11 sections:

• Moving Tips
• Calendar
• Contacts
• Moving Checklists
• Moving Company
• Moving Day
• Service Recommendations
• Current Home
• New Home
• Inventory
• Financial

It’s small enough to fit in your handbag, yet big enough to keep track of all important notes. Unique features include: questions to ask moving companies when you interview them, address change checklists, healthcare checklists, moving day timelines, room planning summaries for your new home, and more.

3-Ring-Binder & Tools

A 3-ring-binder with organizational tools to use as a catchall for necessary documents you receive throughout the moving process. When you sign a contract, place a copy of that contract in this binder. When you purchase something related to the move, put the receipt in this binder. When you receive an email with important information, print it out and stick it in this binder.  

I find a 2” binder works best for a typical family move— large enough to keep things organized. The bigger the move, typically, the bigger the binder needed. I like to make my moving binder stand out so that it doesn’t get lost. Pick a bright colored binder, decorate it, or use flashy colors & stickers. It is hard to misplace something that is so obnoxiously decorated.

Organizational Tools to supplement your binder:

• A highlighter to emphasize any notes 
• A 3-ring-pouch to keep all moving-related receipts
• A set of different colored pens to make different notes. I usually use a black pen for basic notes, a blue pen to sign documents, and a red pen to make a note of something that needs to stand out.
• Dividers to categorize your documents. I like to label sections very specifically so documents can be found easily. I recommend creating labels that follow along with the sections in the Relocation Planner.  
• Sticky flags to bookmark something that needs to be reviewed or signed.
• Post-It notes to jot down quick, temporary notes. If I have a question as I am reading through a contract, I write it down on a post-it note, place it next to the spot I have a problem, and draw an arrow to the line in question.
• A notepad that is large enough to take lengthy notes. I like choosing a pad with holes on the side to tear off my notes and add the sheet to the correct section of my binder. I hate scrambling at the last minute for a piece of paper for four reasons.
  • I will lose that scrap piece of paper.
  • I will miss out on the initial information while I am looking for something to write on.
  • I want to appear organized to prospective companies, so they take me seriously and know I mean business.
  • I don’t want to write notes on something that I will need to use later on and will inevitably misplace

Email Folder

A designated folder in your email for moving documents: a majority of your correspondence with moving-related service providers will be via email. You will receive many emails related to your move. So, having a place to send all of those emails will save you a ton of time in the future. I usually create a main folder labeled “Relocation.” Then, because we have moved so much, I make a sub-folder for each specific move: “[Year City – Street (if needed).” For example: ‘2019 Chicago – Belden’. This title is clear yet straightforward.

While this isn’t a tangible product that you can hold in your hands, it will be the key to staying organized digitally. You will receive so many quotes, messages, and other details via email…so keep it simple, because it is easy for emails to get lost if not categorized properly.

I promise, if you find the time to find a moving planner, put together a binder, and set up a designated email folder, moving will be a more enjoyable process. Instead of searching for scattered documents, digging through emails, and getting overwhelmed, you will be able to focus on being efficient and getting the job done.

If you are still looking for the perfect relocation planner, check out this printed and bound relocation planner designed by Move Mama Move. Looking for something digital to print off at home? Check out our digital planner here!