10 Helpful Moving Tips for a Quicker and Easier Move
Did you know that moving ranks #1 on the list of the most stressful life events?
In fact, it’s been shown to be even more stressful than a breakup or divorce. It’s completely insane! If you’ve ever moved, you’re probably aware of how stressful the process can be. If you haven’t already, it probably already sounds overwhelming.
To learn more about quicker and easier ways to make your next move less stressful, keep reading…
Before the Move
Create a Checklist
Like any big event in our lives, a checklist is a must when moving.
It’s helpful to keep track of important tasks and design a system to stay as organized as possible. Having a dependable checklist and system on hand will make things less stressful because you know you’ve planned ahead of time. You can personalize it by your needs and preferences but most checklists should include:
- Dates To Turn Off and on Utilities
- Change Address
- Order of Packing
- Scheduling by Timeline
Declutter Unwanted Items
Have you been putting off your day for decluttering? Now’s the time.
Making sure you don’t move anything you no longer need is an essential packing tip. Reduce your stress and workload by decluttering before you start packing. Take measurements of your new home and let go of any furniture that won’t fit or that you know you won’t use.
Clear the Food in the Fridge
Create a meal plan for the week or two before moving to use up as much of the food as possible, especially perishables, to avoid having to move a lot of food or throw out the excess. Pantry items will be simple to transport to your new home, but you don’t want to deal with a slew of fridge and freezer foods.
Find a Truck / Mover Early
Whether you’re moving on your own or with the help of movers, it’s best to book as early as possible.
If you wait too long, you may end up paying more or not finding a truck or movers at all, especially if it’s peak moving season. Gathering quotes from multiple movers will help you get the best price, and you may even find that a company is willing to lower its estimate in exchange for your business.
During the Move
Make Good Use of Your Clothes
If you run out of wrapping paper or bubble wrap, make good use of your clothes!
Packing fragile items requires great care and attention. You don’t want to open a box after a move and find shattered plates and glasses. While wrapping paper and bubble wrap are excellent ways to protect such items, they are not cheap. To save space, time, and money, try throwing them in your coats or hoodies.
Label Boxes
You’ll need labels to tell your moving boxes apart.
You can tell which room each box belongs in by color-coding it with duct tape, or you can use symbols. This will help the movers sort out the boxes by the room it belongs to as well as speed up the unpacking process.
Take Pictures of Box Contents
After you’ve packed the boxes, take a quick photo of the insides in case you need to refresh your memory about what’s where later. While you won’t be able to capture every item in the shot, it should give you a good idea of what you’ll find in each box.
Put Together a Moving Essentials Bag
The first night in your new home will almost certainly be the same day you finished moving out of your old one. Packing an overnight bag allows you to sleep instead of unpacking the bedtime and morning essentials.
- A Fresh Set of Clothes
- Documents
- Chargers
- Medications
- Basic Toiletries
After the Move
Give Yourself a Deadline
After a long week of planning and packing, unpacking can be daunting.
Plan to host a housewarming party or get-together within a few weeks of moving in. This will give you a deadline for finishing all of your unpacking.
Get Rid of Boxes as You Empty Them
As soon as all of the contents of a box have been cleared, disassemble and recycle it. This will give you an accurate indication of progress while also freeing up valuable space in your new home.
How Are You Getting Ready for the Big Moving Day?
Moving can be stressful enough on its own.
From the buying and selling process to the actual move-in, it takes a significant amount of your time and energy. We hope these tips help you get started on an easier and quicker move!
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