If you’re among the millions of Americans planning to move this year, you’re probably feeling excitement and anxiety at the same time. After all, moving is a lot of work, and it can be stressful. But with careful preparation and organization, you can make your local move as stress-free as possible.
Here are eight tips to help you out and make your move a breeze.
1) Hire Professional Movers
If you’re planning a local move, you may be tempted to do it all by yourself to save some money. But trust us wen we say hiring local residential moving services is absolutely worth the cost. They’ll handle all of the heavy lifting for you, making the entire process much less stressful.
When hiring movers, be sure to get multiple estimates and comb through online reviews before making your final decision. And don’t forget to factor in the cost of renting a moving truck or van, if necessary.
2) Make a Plan
Making a general plan is always a good idea and can be the crucial step in any move, local or not. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll be more likely to forget something important, which could lead to delays and headaches down the road. Even having a quickly sketched plan will help keep you organized and on track throughout the moving process.
So what should your moving plan include? At a minimum, it should outline the following:
- Your budget and how much money you can spend on the move
- The date of your move
- A list of all the tasks that need to be completed before and on Moving Day
- A timeline for completing each task
- A list of everyone who is helping with the move
- Contact information for movers, if you’re hiring the best moving services.
- Contact information for friends or family members who are lending you a hand with the move
3) Create packing lists for each room in your house
This may seem like an overkill, but trust us, it’s not. Packing lists will help you keep track of everything that needs to be packed up and moved. They’ll also ensure that you don’t forget anything important.
To create your packing lists, go through each room in your house and list everything in it. Be sure to include both big and small items, as well as any valuables or sentimental items that need to be packed with extra care and TLC. Once you have your lists, you can start packing up each room one by one.
4) Label All of Your Boxes
As you’re packing up your belongings, label all the boxes with their contents. This will save you a lot of time and energy later on when you’re trying to find and arrange things in your new home. If you want to be extra organized, you can label each box with the room it should go in. For example, if you’re packing up the kitchen, you could label the boxes “kitchen,” “dishes,” “pots and pans,” etc. This will make unpacking a breeze.
Remember that you should always have a seperate box with fragile items, so ensure you have the appropriate packaging and enough wrapping paper to keep them safe. If you hire movers, they’ll have the neccessary equipment for it, so you don’t have to worry about anything getting damaged during the move.
5) Pack an Overnight Bag
On Moving Day, you’re going to be busy getting settled into your new home. The last thing you’ll want to do is dig through an array boxes to find your toothbrush and some clean clothes. To avoid these unpleasantries, pack an overnight bag with everything you’ll need for the first few days in your new place.
Be sure to include a change of clothes, toiletries, your phone charger, and any medications you take in your essentials bag. You may also want to pop in a few snacks and drinks, just in case you get hungry during the move. If you happen to work from home, keep the work essentials such as your laptop, tablet, and any work-related documents nearby as well.
6) Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need Before You Move
One of the best ways to reduce stress during a move is to get rid of any belongings you don’t truly need before you even start packing. After all, the less stuff you have to move, the easier it will all be. To get rid of unwanted items, you can organize a garage sale (and even makes some money out of it), donate them to charity, or simply throw them away.
Whatever you do, don’t bother packing up things you don’t need or want. It’ll just complicate things and make the moving process more difficult as nobody wants to move something just to throw it away as soon as they arrive in the new home.
7) Schedule Utility Hookups In Advance
One thing that most people tend to overlook before moving into a new home is to schedule utility hookups for the day after you move in. Make sure to do it on time, and you’ll have electricity, water, and gas from day one.
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To schedule your utilities, simply call the companies in your area that provide these services and let them know when you’ll need them. Most companies require at least 48 hours’ notice, so be sure to call ahead of time.
8) Update Your Address
One of the most important things to do before moving is to update your address with the post office and any other companies you do business with. This will ensure that you continue to receive your bills, packages, and other important mail at your new home.
To update your address, simply fill out a change of address form at the post office or contact each company individually. Be sure to do this a few weeks before you move so there’s enough time for eveything to be updated.
Make Your Moving a Breeze
When moving, there are many things to consider to have a smooth and stress-free relocation. From making packing lists to removing any unnecessary belongings, following our simple tips will minimize the anciety that often comes with moving and ensure a smooth transition into your new home.
We advise labeling all boxes, packing an overnight bag with essentials for the first few days in your new home, and scheduling utility hookups ahead of time. Additionally, be sure to get acquainted with your new neighborhood and its amenities.
Good luck!
