As much of a big and worthwhile transition as it can be in your life, moving home can also be quite the stressful experience, especially if it’s done without the level of care and preparation that it demands. If you leave things to the last minute or don’t approach the task with the organization that it demands, you can find yourself playing catch-up as the moving date draws near, which can cause a ton of unnecessary worry.
Here, we’re going to look at what you can start planning now, in advance, and how to unfold your plan over time to make that move as easy as it can be.
Start Packing ASAP
Perhaps the process that takes up more time than people expect the most is the packing process. If you leave it too late, then you are going to be rushing to stuff things into boxes, which can sometimes lead to poor organization and an increased risk of damage. Start packing by room in advance, putting away things that you know you’re not going to need.
As the time draws closer, steadily pack away more and more of the things that you’re not likely to use by the time that you move home. Be sure to pack an overnight bag and your essentials separately, including important documents, medications, chargers, and at least a day’s worth of changes in clothing, too.
Gather Your Moving Supplies Early, Too
As you start packing, you’re likely to start getting an idea of exactly how many moving supplies you’re going to need. It’s easy to underestimate the amount of boxes, tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, furniture blankets, and other helpful moving items you’re going to need.
Think about every item in the home, and whether they might need specialty containers or extra care, and start ordering the supplies that you need. You might be able to get some at a discount or even for free if you have nearby stores or offices that throw that kind of thing out on the regular, too.
Clearing The Way For The Move
The logistics of a good move are all about making sure that you finish up packing and move things on the trucks (or whatever other vehicle you’re using) as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Needless to say, children and pets can get in the way of that, making an already hectic day a lot noisier, chaotic, and even potentially dangerous. Planning childcare or pet care in advance allows you to focus on the move without constant interruptions or safety concerns.
Consider asking a trusted family member or friend to watch children or pets, or book a daycare, sitter, or boarding facility for the day. Get this all established ahead of time so that you don’t have to try to rush to get the kids and pets out of the way on the big day itself.
Arrange For The Utilities To Be Switched Over
It’s so easy to forget, you’d be surprised how often it happens. If you don’t remember to transfer your utilities to the new home, then an exciting move can quickly become a hugely frustrating experience. Take the time to make a checklist of the utilities you need to switch over in advance, including electricity, gas, water, internet, cable, as well as any private trash collection or security systems you use.
Get in touch with your providers in advance to schedule a shut-off day and to set up an activation day for the new home, as well. Do this alongside other address updates, such as with your bank, insurance providers, and any government agencies you need to inform.
Find The Right Team To Help You
One thing that you absolutely do not want to leave too late is getting in touch with a moving company. In fact, you should be booking your date with professional movers, if you plan on using them, as soon as you know what your moving day is. This makes sure that they aren’t fully booked up, already, which becomes increasingly likely the closer you get to that day.
It also gives them the time to make sure they’re able to provide the vehicle size and any moving equipment that might be needed, especially for heavier or more complex items that you want to move.
Sell, Donate, And Discard What You Don’t Need
While you’re thinking about how to pack up everything you own, take the time to truly go over all of the items in your possessions, as well. Go over every item and, while packing away the things that you want to keep, start making piles of items that you might want to get rid of, as well. The sooner you start this process, the more you can end up shaving off your move.
Look at places you can sell your secondhand goods online, first and foremost. Then, you can look at what your local second-hand and charity stores are willing to take off your hands. Lastly, if there’s some stuff that simply needs to be thrown away, consider local recycling companies that can handle it in the most responsible way first.
Settling In Your New Home
When moving day is done, you’re going to be in your house with a ton of boxes. If you pay for unpacking services, you can get all of the vitals set up in no time. However, otherwise, you should work to create a good first impression of your new home as best as you can.
You can do this by taking the time to give it a quick clean before unpacking, and to begin organizing the spaces to suit your needs, such as getting your biggest and most useful furniture in place first. Even if you’re not able to fully unpack, getting the essentials in place can help you rest after a busy moving day.
Moving is never the easiest thing in the world, not if you have a full home that you need to think about, but with the tips above, you can make sure that it’s not going to take over your life more than it needs to, either.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo