It’s moving day. The heavy furniture is packed into a trailer. Your belongings are put away in boxes and loaded into the car. The place is empty, but now what? Before handing over the key, do yourself– and the next inhabitants– a favor by cleaning the home. While it may be tempting to hire someone offering move out cleaning services, it can save you a lot to DIY it.
So how clean should a house be when moving out? That depends. If you’re a tenant, a deep clean could be the difference between getting your security deposit back or not. But if you’re a homeowner and not on a lease, doing a final sweep is still the neighborly thing to do.
As experts in moving household goods and vehicles around the country or overseas, we’ve seen our fair share of clean, empty homes. Use our move out cleaning checklist as you prepare for your big move.
House Cleaning Tips
Before you get started, keep these tips in mind:
When packing, do not pack your cleaning supplies. Set those aside and clearly mark them so they aren’t stashed into the moving van before you’re ready.
Open windows to air out any smells left by cleaning supplies.
If you’re on a lease, read through it very carefully for any sneaky fine print that requires certain cleaning standards.
Use microfiber towels instead of paper towels or plain rags. These are eco-friendly, reusable and streak-free.
Deep Cleaning House Checklist
Use this first checklist to get a general start on cleaning the home:
Vacuum every room. Mop any tile, linoleum or laminate floors. Apply a treatment oil to wood flooring. If the carpet is extremely dirty, rent a carpet cleaner.
Dust everything. This includes corners, fans, window sills, built-in shelves and cabinets, lights, and any other permanent fixture in the home.
Remove any nails, hooks and similar hardware. Repair these holes with some spackle, then repaint the spot. This will give the wall and rest of the room a fresh look.
Repair any damaged wall fixtures like a clothing rack or lighting fixtures.
Wipe down all the doors, trim, baseboards and crown molding.
Clean all windows– both sides– with a streak-free glass cleaner.
After you’re done with the initial groundwork, follow these cleaning checklists for specific rooms in your home.
Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
Use grout cleaner on tiled areas. Apply it early so it has time to work.
Clean out the exhaust fan.
Use special bathroom cleaner, usually with a bleaching agent, on the toilet. Clean all surfaces of the toilet.
Scrub the shower and tub with a soap scum fighting cleaner.
Clean the countertops, sinks, towel racks, lights and any storage areas.
Clean the mirror with a streak-free glass cleaner.
Kitchen Cleaning Checklist
If the refrigerator, oven, microwave or other appliances are staying, clean the interior and exterior of those. Take advantage of the oven’s self-cleaning feature, if there is one.
Clean the floor below and wall behind the appliances.
Empty out cabinets, drawers and shelves, then dust the insides. Wipe down the front of cabinets.
Scrub the countertops, backsplash and sink.
Clean out the exhaust fan and garbage disposal.
Living Room, Office and Bedroom Cleaning Checklist
Dust light fixtures, ceiling fans and any built-ins. Then wipe down with an all-purpose cleaner.
If applicable, clean out the fireplace and chimney.
Dust window blinds and sills.
Clean out air vents and replace filters.
Outdoor Home Cleaning Checklist
Clean out the gutters of any leaves, twigs or build-up from rain and snow.
Sweep dirt, grass and other debris out of the walkways.
Mow the lawn, bag up fallen leaves, and do basic grooming of any other landscaping.
Replace burnt out bulbs in exterior lights.
Clean out dirty outdoor trash cans or recycling bins.
Moving Tips from Schumacher Cargo Logistics
Moving out of your old home and into a new, unfamiliar place can be a daunting and exhaustive process. Keep your head on straight and use our packing tips and moving guide to help ensure a smooth move. Heading to foreign lands? Our international moving guide will also keep you on the right path.
With 40 years of moving and shipping experience, the moving specialists at Schumacher Cargo Logistics know how to safely get your items from Point A to Point B. Whether it be within the same area code or halfway across the world, call our moving specialists today to get a free quote on our services.
Why Hire a Moving Company?
From finding a new home to getting accustomed to the new culture and lifestyle, moving is already a stressful feat on its own. Especially when it’s an international move. The last thing you want to worry about is transporting your vehicles and household goods from Point A to Point B. That’s why choosing a trusted moving company for international shipping is vital to a successful relocation.
How Much Does A Moving Company Cost?
Get at Least Three Quotes
Request and compare estimates from at least three separate reputable shipping companies. You can see the differences between how much different moving companies charge you. Check every detail on these quotes, including the time frame, shipping method, packing materials, and if there are any fragile or precious items in the shipment.
Additionally, the final cost of your shipment will depend not only on the amount of items included. There’s also the space it takes up and the special services provided by the company, like door-to-door delivery or packing and unpacking for you; these features can drive the cost up or down. Deciding which special services are most important to you will help determine which company to choose.
How to Evaluate Moving Companies
Start your research early
Waiting until a few weeks before your move may put you in a tough spot. You run the risk of a hefty upcharge for the last minute accommodations, or you may not even find a company with available space for your items. So don’t put it off until the last minute. You’ll want to do extensive research on which companies ship to your desired port, what items you’re allowed to ship, and how past customers enjoyed their experience with their company. Give yourself plenty of time to decide.
Licenses, Accreditations and Memberships
One of the most important considerations is the company’s licensing and accreditations. Since these are given based off of industry-wide standards and qualifications, you’ll have a third-party guarantee whether a company is worthwhile or not.
The most prestigious accreditation for a moving company to have is the FIDI/FAIM membership. FIDI is the Federation of International Movers, and it is considered a worldwide standard for top quality movers. The FIDI Accredited International Mover (FAIM) Quality Management Programme is a quality certification reserved for the best international moving companies.
Other licenses to look for are:
FMC – Federal Maritime Commission
AMSA – American Moving and Storage Association
IAM – International Association of Movers
DOT – Department of Transportation
OTI – Ocean Transport Intermediary
NVOCC – Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier
Tracking Information
You feverishly refresh the “track package” page while waiting for an online order to arrive. Why shouldn’t you have the same comfort when moving? One of the greatest advantages of modern technology is the ability to keep track of your shipment status. Choosing a company that gives you this option can relieve the tension of wondering when your household goods will appear.
Experience with Foreign Ports and Customs
An international move is completely different than a domestic move. Each country has its own customs protocol and requires different shipping documents. Shipping with an experienced international moving company that knows how to handle these logistics will make your move much smoother.
Ship with Schumacher Cargo Logistics
Schumacher Cargo Logistics fulfills all of these expectations listed above. That’s what makes us one of the top international moving companies. We offer plenty of shipping services designed for a variety of customers. Get your free moving quote today!
At Schumacher Cargo Logistics, we’re experts in shipping vehicles overseas or exporting household goods. However, not everyone knows what’s required and we receive a lot of questions about what documents our customers need when moving internationally. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a helpful guide to explain some of the most common documents required when exporting an automobile or household goods.
Documents for Vehicle Export from USA
Passport
A clear scanned copy with the passport number
If it’s a U.S. passport, it needs to include the Employer Identification Number (EIN)
If it is not a U.S. passport, no EIN is needed
Receive your Employer Identification Number with the EIN Assistant
Certificate of Title
The shipper’s name has to be the current owner of the vehicle listed on the title
Bill of Sale
Power of Attorney, depending on the port
Documents for Exporting Household Goods
Passport
A clear scanned copy with the passport number
If it’s a U.S. passport, it needs to include the Employer Identification Number (EIN)
If it is not a U.S. passport, no EIN is needed
Receive your Employer Identification Number with the EIN Assistant
Valuation of the shipment, as required by U.S. Customs
If you are only exporting your vehicle for a temporary amount of time, you can get an ATA Carnet. This specialized document allows you to bring your car and household goods overseas for up to a year, and then the item(s) need to be brought back. For example, you would use this document if you were shipping your car overseas for a race or a show; after the event, the car would be returned to the United States.
Using this document gives you the benefit of bringing your vehicle and household goods into the country duty and tax free. In addition, you cannot sell the item(s) with a carnet overseas.
Documents for Exporting Items, by Country
Note that the lists above are not exhaustive; these documents are only the most commonly required. Each country will have its own specific requirements for exported items. Here are some examples of the different documentation required by Australia, France and the United Kingdom.
Australia
B534 Form – Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement
France
Inventaire pour la Douane Française / Inventory for French Customs
How Schumacher Cargo Logistics Can Help You Export Your Items
To keep things in order, Schumacher Cargo Logistics provides to our customers a checklist to ensure that all required documents are received, as well as assistance if you need help completing the documents. In addition, you will receive a booking confirmation letter containing details of your shipment and information for the documents required by your destination country.
When you’re in the midst of a move, it’s hard to nail down exactly what you’ll need on hand to help you pack. Here, we’ve compiled a handy list that you can use as your go-to packing guide.
Boxes of various sizes
Plastic tubs with lids for storage
Packing material like bubble wrap, newspaper, packing peanuts, etc.
Tape and tape dispensers
Duct tape
Packing tape
Masking tape for labeling
Painter’s tape for quick touch-ups
Scissors, box cutters
Stickers for labeling and color-coding boxes to each room
Permanent marker
Trash bags
Furniture pads and covers (blankets work just as well)
Dollies and hand trucks
Rope, twine, bungee cords to hold things in place during transport
Padlocks if items will be in the moving van overnight
Toolbox
Cleaning supplies
Once you’ve moved past the packing supplies, you’ll want to make sure you have your personal essentials easily accessible. The last thing you want to do on your first night in your new house is unpack a hundred boxes trying to find your toothbrush. Pack these items up last, as you’ll want to make sure they’re the first things you grab from the moving van.
Toilet paper
Hand soap
Dish soap and dish towel
Paper towels
Snacks
Beverages
Plates, utensils, napkins
Pet supplies
Emergency kit, first-aid kit
Flashlight, candles, matches
Shower curtain
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and other related items
Personal information, like birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses, etc.
Clothes for the upcoming days
Toiletries
Backpacks and school supplies
Electronics and accompanying chargers
Cooler, ice or ice packs
Medicine, prescriptions
Cell phone
Sheets, blankets
Pillows
Sleeping bags
Anything else you may need within 24 hours of packing and moving
Expat Insider is a global survey that gives an in-depth analysis of expat life around the world. In the 2017 survey, more than 12,500 expats from 166 nationalities and living in 188 countries responded with new insights. There were 13 subcategories within the survey, and they all fall into four larger categories: Quality of Urban Living, Getting Settled, Urban Work Life, and Finance & Housing. With these results, three capital cities stood out as the best cities for expats to live.
Manama, Bahrain
Bahrain landed at #1 on Expat Insider’s country ranking, so it’s only fitting that the country’s capital, Manama, was also ranked highly. The city’s friendly attitude to foreigners is appealing to expats. You don’t need to be fluent in the Arabic language to get around either, as English is widely spoken.
Other perks include housing and finances. Accommodations are easy to find, and the average annual household income for expats is over 200,000 USD. However, a third of the respondents said that local transportation could use improvement.
Skyline of Manama, Bahrain
Prague, Czech Republic
Expats in Prague are happy with the affordable housing and healthcare. Local career opportunities, transportation, and safety are high scoring categories. Prague is also a city full of culture and sustainability movements, giving it high points for local leisure activities.
Respondents living in Prague gave the city a low score in the Getting Settled category. This includes friendliness of the local population, generally speaking and toward foreigners, and learning the local language, Czech, which can be difficult to learn.
City of Prague
Madrid, Spain
Madrid’s sunny climate gets high scores, and the warm temperatures are reflected in the local community’s friendliness to foreigners. Expats can get settled and feel right at home in Spain’s capital. Affordable housing and healthcare are both available, and local leisure activities are easy to find.
However, many of the respondents from Madrid gave negative opinions on the local economy. And while a majority like their work-life balance, many are unsatisfied with their jobs and career opportunities.
Madrid at Sunset
Ship With Schumacher To Move Overseas
We are experienced movers ready to safely ship your belongings to where you need them. Our shipping services cover a variety of cargo shipping. Get your free shipping quote and book with us today!