Moving is something you’ll have to do at least once in your life. On average people stay in their homes around 5-7 years. If you’re lucky, you’ll only move a few times before finally settling down in a home you love and stay for many years. In general, moving is stressful whether you’ve done it numerous times or not. The process isn’t necessarily easy, however, there are ways you can decrease some of the stresses that come with moving. Whether you just bought a home or are moving to a rental, follow these tips for the easiest move.
1. Preparing For the Move
First-time homebuyers typically lack the experience of being prepared for a big move. However, according to SmartMove, “Millennials, in particular, seem to be shaking off the stereotype of lifelong renters.” As individuals who have spent most of their adult lives renting an apartment, planning a move to a house may be a completely different ballgame.
Whether you’re moving to a rental or you’re a first-time homebuyer, the best way to start the moving process on the right foot is to start as soon as possible. As you start the moving process, there are a few steps you should take to lessen some of the stress that comes with moving.
- Contact your current utility company and set the shut off date, Locate utility companies near your new residence and make arrangements for the utilities to be turned on
- Find a moving company that will perform all the task you need assistance with for moving
- Plan your storage solutions
- Gather and organize your packing supplies
2. Getting Rid of (Some) Stuff
Moving is easier when you’re organized and don’t have to pack and carry items you will no longer need to your new home. If you start packing late and haven’t had time to throw out or donate things you don’t need, then you’re going to spend more time and money on the move.
Before you grab your boxes to start packing up your home, do the following:
- Purge your closet: Go through your cluttered closet to make sure you’re not hoarding clothes that no longer fit. If you still have clothes from high school you won’t wear again, make sure to donate or throw them out before you begin packing. There’s no point in bringing old clutter to your new home.
- Get rid of items you don’t need: Look at all of the items in your home and consider which ones you need and which ones you don’t. You may choose to purchase new items such as furniture when you move, so there’s no sense in paying a moving company to lug a heavy couch around when you aren’t using it after.
- Make donations: If your clothes or furniture are in good condition, you can donate them instead of throwing them out. You can donate just about anything, so make sure to schedule a pick-up ahead of time so you can have a charity organization pick them up from your house.
- Consider storage: If you aren’t sure which items you’ll need at your new home and which you won’t, you might want to consider a short-term storage solution that allows you to keep the things you might need in the future without bringing them to your new home until you’re ready.
3. Saving Money
Moving can be expensive, especially if you don’t start with a plan or follow any tips above. Luckily, there are ways you can keep your moving costs down. These include:
- Getting Quotes and Comparing Movers
- Planning a Budget
- Free Packing Supplies, have your friends save boxes and newspaper
4. Packing For the Move
Packing is usually one of the most tedious and time-consuming elements of the moving process. However, you can cut corners to save yourself time while ensuring nothing gets left behind or damaged in transport.
- Leave your clothes in your dresser: There’s no need to unpack your dresser just to pack it up again. Make sure to secure the drawers closed so they don’t open during the move.
- Use linens and towels for padding: Instead of buying bubble wrap, use soft items you already own to make sure fragile items are kept safe.
- Pack suitcases: Your suitcases are meant to carry your belongings, so put them to good use instead of using more boxes than you need.
- Take photos of box contents: Instead of writing down what’s in each box, you can take a photo to save time.
- Color code boxes: Keep a cheat sheet of colors for each box that is designated to a certain room.
- Keep essentials in a separate bag: Pack things you use daily in a separate bag, so you don’t have to go through every box searching for them as soon as you get to your new home. Your bag can include everything from clothes to medication.
5. What to Do on Moving Day
Your moving day is going to feel like one of the longest days of your life because there’s so much to do. These moving day hacks will help you get through it.
- Pack lunch and drinks in a cooler: stock a cooler with snacks and drinks to make sure you’re healthy and hydrated throughout the day. This is especially important if your kids will be helping on move-in day.
- Plan for your kids and pets: If your children aren’t old enough to help you unpack, make sure you have someone who can take care of them on move-in day so you won’t feel stressed taking care of them while handling other tasks. You should do the same for your pet, especially if they get stressed in new situations.
- Be done packing beforehand: Don’t leave your packing to the last minute. Having to wake up and pack on moving day will add to your stress. Instead, aim to have all of your packing done the day before.
Last-Minute Hacks for Moving
Of course, we all hope we can plan and prepare for our moves, but that’s not always the case. If you’re pressed for time, follow these hacks:
- Pack without sorting: If you don’t have enough time to sort, then don’t. Make sure to wrap valuables and fragile items, but make everything else fair game so you can get packing done as soon as possible.
- Let the movers help: Hiring a moving company means you can give them extra tasks to do like wrapping up furniture or taping up boxes. This may cause extra time on your move, which can lead to higher costs.
Final Thoughts
Although, there’s still more work to be done, congratulations on moving to your new home! Now that you know the best hacks for moving, it’s time to unpack. If you’ve followed our hacks, you should be organized enough that the unpacking process is easy and even a little fun. You can go room by room unpacking, but make sure you start with furniture, so you have somewhere to rest on breaks.
Guest article is written by Matt Casadona, he has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt is an editor at 365 Business Tips and is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music.