Moving to a new home is easily one the most hectic events life has to offer, but there are ways to make the process easier on yourself. One of the worst mistakes people make is leaving important tasks to the last minute, so try to space these tasks out into a manageable timeline once you know you’re going to switch up your living situation. If you’d like to give yourself the gift of a smooth move, here’s a simple guide to moving for you to think about.
Find Movers
While you can move everything yourself, you can save your sanity and your back by hiring someone else to do the heavy lifting for you. There are lots of options out there to suit your individual needs. You can even find movers by the hour. Start researching early and decide what your budget is. Most movers will give you an estimate, and some will even come to your house to make sure the estimate is accurate and take measurements. Make sure you book your movers as soon as you have a confirmed move date. This is especially important if you have a lot of stuff to move a significant distance. You don’t want your preferred company to book up!
Gather Important Information
It’s a good idea to gather all the important information related to your move and store it in a safe place. This can be a physical binder, or a digital one, so long as it’s a tool you’ll actually use. It’s not a bad idea to set reminders on your phone or digital calendar as well. This binder is where you put all important dates, required paperwork, and your list of important tasks. When you have everything organized visually, you can set deadlines for things like transferring school records, notifying the post office, and changing your address with important institutions.
Relentlessly Organize
The key to a seamless move is organization. Even then, there are bound to be hiccups here and there, but you can prevent the worst by organizing well before you need to pack. Really, there’s no better time to take stock of your belongings than before a move. This is your time to be realistic about the things you use, the things you don’t, and the things you should have gotten rid of years ago. Pick a room, set a timer, and catalog a little bit each day. You don’t necessarily have to start packing at this point, but it’ll be helpful to know where all of your things are if you’re trying to pack by category. It’s also a good idea to start using up products that are impractical to move with, like that jar of artisan mustard in the back of your refrigerator that you haven’t touched in months.
Buy Supplies
Set aside some time to buy packing supplies. Some moving companies supply boxes, but you can always provide your own, especially if you’re looking for something a bit more sturdy. Don’t skimp on things like bubble wrap or other inserts you can use to protect your more fragile belongings. What’s the point of saving money if you end up with broken dishes? Some people like to practice packing particularly delicate items to make sure they know how to arrange them in advance. You can print out labels, or just make sure you’ve got enough tape and markets to accurately label as you go. Don’t skip labeling! You’ll regret it when you’re unpacking and desperately need your boxes of toiletries or dishes when you’re trying to get settled in your new place.
Pay Ahead
By the time moving day arrives, the last thing you’ll want to do is figure out how to pay movers, shut off your utilities, and more. Some other tasks to take care of before moving day include refills on your medications and getting your car checked out. This is highly recommended if you need to travel far and you’re driving. Confirm your reservation with your moving company and arrange a payment method. Don’t forget the tip! These kinds of people are handling your most prized possessions, after all, and refreshments are never a bad idea.
Moving can be stressful, but that doesn’t have to be your reality. Highlight your priorities, organize ahead of time, and hire professionals to help you through this big transition.