For a full-service move, it is important to set the moving date and prepare on schedule

[Fam Times Reporter Yoo Hyun-jun] When moving from your current home to a new location, it is advisable to set the moving date and prepare according to a schedule. To ensure a relaxed and error-free move, full-scale preparations should begin at least one month in advance. It is best to start looking for full-service moving companies a month prior. If you wish to move to your desired location on a specific date, you should research and finalize a moving company as soon as the date is set, comparing quotes from multiple companies to make a selection.

Starting two weeks before the moving date, you should begin preparing your belongings. Since you still need to live in your current home, rather than packing everything immediately, it is more efficient to visually check and note down which items to discard, which to move, and where each item should go (e.g., bedroom or living room) to facilitate the process later. During this time, it is wise to discard items from areas distant from daily life, such as drawers, verandas, storage rooms, utility rooms, or rooftops. Administrative tasks, such as school transfer procedures for children, should also be handled during this period. If a moving company has not been contracted by this time, you must hurry to finalize it.

When one week remains until the move, all pending tasks should be completed. This includes filing change-of-address notices for mail like credit card statements and requesting service transfers for telephone, internet, cable TV, newspapers, and milk delivery. If the new home is a high-rise apartment or villa, it is also a good time to apply for elevator usage. This period should be viewed as the final wrap-up of moving preparations.

Leading up to the moving day, finish packing items you intend to transport yourself. Small items prone to loss, such as accessories or underwear, should be packed separately, and valuables or fragile items should be organized individually. For peace of mind, it is good to make a confirmation call to the moving company regarding the date and time, and you should also have a specific plan for the furniture layout and item placement in the new home.

On the day before the move, sort through and handle refrigerator food, drain the washing machine, and finish light tasks like preparing trash bags. On the moving day, once the moving company has cleared out the items, do a final walkthrough of the house to ensure nothing has been left behind and complete the house inspection. Upon arriving at the new home, verify that all belongings have arrived correctly and settle the moving fees.

As described, one should not rely too heavily on full-service moving companies, as they only handle one part of the moving process rather than solving everything; instead, it is better to prepare thoroughly according to each stage. Furthermore, since the beginning and end of a move depend on selecting a moving company and the actual moving process, it is important to prioritize choosing a company through thorough comparison.

Reporter Yoo Hyun-jun fam5@pcss.co.kr