How to Prepare for Moving to San Diego

01.03.2023

There are lots of reasons why would you want to move to San Diego. If you clicked on this article, then you probably know its location and advantages. It’s a warm place, close to Mexico, not as crowded as Los Angeles, and has plenty of high paid jobs. You can work in San Diego and go on vacation to Tijuana or Los Angeles. It’s only a 2-hour drive from there. San Diego is also not as expensive in terms of rent as, let’s say, San Francisco or any other west coast big city. Why wouldn’t you want to live there? If you already thinking about packing your stuff and moving, hold your horses, there are some things to consider. It’s cool to just wake up, pack your bag and say goodbye to your house somewhere in Louisiana. But what’s next? No matter how romantic the spontaneous move sound, you are going to spend much more money on it. Why shouldn’t we slow down and think about how to prepare for moving to San Diego?

Let’s say you already found a house you’re going to settle down. How it should be done? It depends. For example, if you want to take your favorite chairs and couch or just want to deliver all the furniture, wardrobe, and some equipment from the old house then you’ll need trucks. If you have one - great, but it doesn’t mean that nothing is going to break during the trip if you don’t work in a professional moving company. You can also rent some trucks and just move them on your own, but again, the damage might be irreparable, even if you hire a driver, they still are not a professional mover. Also, renting them might get pretty expensive. What can you do then?

• - First, start with a plan. What kind of budget do you have? Make a list of everything you need to do including collecting packing materials, the cost of moving, and even the money you’ll possibly spend on lunch between the move. Create week by weekly schedule, making it clear on which day of the week you’re going to pack this or that room. 

  
  
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  - As for the stuff. Maybe you don’t need all that much. Some people say that if you haven’t used this thing for a year, it’s highly likely you’re never going to use it. Make a list of things you definitely need and maybe give the rest to some charity. You will spend less money, someone will get a new table - everyone is happy. 

  
  



• - If you’re into DIY moves, then there is much more to think about. You’ll have to pack, load, and unload all the stuff on your own, which already sounds tiring. How long is the road? Maybe you’ll spend more on gas than trusting it to deliver your belongings to experienced drivers. For example, Finch Moving provides you with packing materials as well as professionals who know exactly how each item should be packed. Finch also loads and unloads your belongings, so you won’t break your spine trying to move all the furniture at once. 

  
  



• - Visit your new home, and get acquainted with neighbors if needed. If you don’t know the condition of the apartment or house you plan to move in, it’s time to actually go there and see. Maybe there are some things you wish to fix before moving, like painting walls, installing some additional lighting, connecting the Internet, or removing old and weird-looking things from the basement, who knows what can you meet there? Also, ask the previous owner about the neighbors or just come and see them. No one is obliged to actually maintain close relationships with your neighbors, but it’s better to understand whether they can cause you any trouble before moving there. 

  
  



• - Cancel your gym membership, and doctor appointments, return all the books, and get all needed refills from the pharmacy before moving into a new area. Two weeks before the move left? You should transfer all your prescriptions to the pharmacy close to your new home. 

  
  



• - If you have school-age kids, it’s time to research schools nearby. You can google each school and based on the ratings choose the most convenient one. 

  
  



• - Somewhere around eight weeks before you move you should notify your landlord about the intention. It’s probably written in your lease, that the tenant should notify the landlord at least 60 days before the move. Speaking about the lease, check your agreements to make sure that you won’t break any law before you move, maybe there are some extra steps on how to terminate the lease in your case. 

  
  



• - Contact the moving company and get a quote if you don’t want any surprises during the move. Make sure that the manager is clear on how much you’re going to pay for YOUR move and doesn’t give you any vague numbers. 

  
  



• - If you’re still convinced that you can do it without any moving company, well, you still probably can’t do it on your own. For a DIY move, you’ll have to ask your family or friends to get a helping hand. You’ll definitely need it, especially when it’s time to carry all the furniture in your new home. Also, don’t forget to rent a truck (or trucks) several weeks before the move. 

  
  



• - Make a schedule for the movers. Choose the day when you’re going to move if you’re using the services of a moving company. Most companies can get really busy during the summer, like from May to September. To avoid any delays you should probably move in winter or early spring. 

  
  



• - If you have already six weeks of preparation before moving to San Diego, you’ll have to start collecting packing supplies if you don’t want to purchase them directly from a moving company. 

  
  



• - If you don’t move there to get a new job, maybe you should contact your health insurance provider and ask them if your medical coverage will still be available after the move. Also, check on your homeowner and auto insurance providers to see if they can still work with you in a new area. If not, think about changing them.

  
  



• - If you have lots of food in the refrigerator, it’ll be kind of waste to just put it in a garbage can. Donate them to the local food bank, or other charities, or just start eating them. 

  
  



• - If there are only five weeks left before your move, you should better start packing all non-essential stuff in boxes. All the books, decorations, and electronics must be packed first. All the essential stuff like clothing or toiletries is usually packed last.

  
  



• - Get rid of any hazardous items like fireworks, gasoline, or guns by giving them to your local hazardous waste facility. 

  
  



• - If you need a break during the move, you should look for hotel rooms or ask your friends or family whether you can stay for the night and rest from the road. 

  
  



• - Check if you have all the utilities in your new home. You should have gas, electricity, water, internet, security system, trash, and phone working right after your move. If something’s broken, contact the utility company from the new area and ask to schedule your installation date. 

  
  



• - If the moving company allows you to move plants, it’s up to you to decide if you want to take them or not. Just know that some of the plants may die. 

  
  



• - Two weeks before the move you should notify your employees that you’re taking some days off. 

  
  



• - Decide where is the best place for a parking spot when the truck arrives. Usually, no one is thinking about such small detail until they arrive at their destination. 

  
  



• - If you have pets, two weeks before the move you should take them to the veterinarian. Check on their health, see if they can handle the move, and get some shots and vaccine records. Please, don’t move your pets like their furniture by putting them in the trunk, they should be traveling with you. 

  
  

One week before the move, you should clean the old house and pack all the essentials leaving only things that you need on a daily basis. On the day before the move, we recommend getting a good amount of sleep, getting some cash for the road and water, and just being calm about it. With a good moving company, you shouldn’t be expecting any trouble.