Moving is much like steering a vehicle through a considerable distance of nondescript areas. It is one of those paths that everyone has to go through almost one time in life.
While everyone generally moves for a good reason; however, the word ‘fun’ doesn’t dovetail with ‘moving.’ Let’s admit it – moving to a new house is no less than a business class flight to the stress city. Overwhelming, distressing, laborious – these sets of adjectives can perfectly sum up the entire moving process.
However, the good news? Moving doesn’t have to be any of that. Knowledge is the key that unlocks all doors, which implies with the correct information, you can facilitate and simplify your move from one house to another.
Does it seem so good to be true? Then, let’s flesh out tips that ensure a peaceful transition to your new home without the need to break the bank, your back, or your delicate lamp.
-
Declutter
Dispense with all redundant, old, damaged items that you may have in your home. If it’s out of fashion or you haven’t used it in more than a year, then dispose of it. Make ruthless decisions when it comes to purging. Feel free to donate or sell possessions that you might not need in the long run.
However, some possessions are usually close to our hearts, such as heirlooms, antiques, or family memories. In this case, you can rent a self storage unit to keep your valuable belongings secure. And the best part? You can access these storage units at your convenience.
-
Create a to-do list
Things can go awry during the moving process. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-might-fit-all approach when it comes to moving. Therefore, prepare a to-do list to avoid panic under the wire. Ideally, it’s best to start preparing a month before the move so that you have adequate time to complete each task.
One pro tip is to divide tasks according to each week so that you can alleviate the burden to a great extent. And don’t forget to mark off tasks as soon as you finish so that there’s one item down on your to-do list.
-
Research professional movers
Unless your friend who owns an empty van accompanies you during the moving process, hiring professional movers is imperative. Although search engines might overwhelm you with an enormous amount of moving companies; however, don’t select the first five-rating company. The movers you hire can significantly influence the moving experience.
Some movers don’t load those items in the truck which aren’t in the container. In that case, your stuffed-to-the-gills baggage won’t be of use. Therefore, search for the companies with insurance licenses and offer the best services. Then, get quotations from each one of them and compare the costs.
-
Pack ahead
Since you are probably aware of your moving date, start packing well in advance. You don’t need to remove your outfits from the hangers to stow away in the regular boxes. Instead, purchase wardrobe boxes that allow people to hang the dresses as it is.
However, it’s best to use suitcases for heavy items, which are pretty hard to carry in a box. The wheels of luggage bags make it easy to transport cooking utensils, decoration pieces, and artwork. Moreover, don’t let the movers lay a hand on your precious articles such as jewelry, gadgets, and necessary documents. Instead, pack them yourselves.
-
Create an ‘all essentials’ box
Pack the necessities – all the items without which it’s next to impossible for you to survive the first night at the new place, in a single box. It may include toothbrushes, medicines, toys for kids, toilet papers, outfits, blankets, bedsheets, eyeglasses, phone chargers, or even a novel that’s about to complete. Put in every such item for which you might carelessly rip off the box in case of crisis.
If you can’t tuck in all these items in a single box, pack two boxes. Just ensure to put a tag of ‘essentials’ in these boxes so that it’s easy to identify them.
-
Label each box
Wish to streamline your moving process? Take a permanent marker and label every box you packed. Mention the details of the contents and to which the room the moving boxes belong. Often people label them at the top side; however, when you stash away your belongings, it becomes extremely tough to read those labels. Therefore, it is recommendable to label each box on the side.
One best practice is to go for a color-coding system. You can assign a color to each room to ensure that every box ends up in the correct spot. That way, you can eliminate the need to rummage through every package when you need something.
-
Set up utilities
You certainly don’t wish to spend the first day at your new home without electricity or, worse, water. That’s why ensure to call the utility service provider and let them know about your moving date. Then, they would set up new connections at your new home.
Also, don’t forget to ask them to remove installed connections from your old house. And, while you are at it, you must also contact your internet and television service provider.
-
Update address
Home address plays a crucial role in many aspects of an individual’s life. So if you haven’t updated your new home address, you might get into some unnecessary trouble. Thus, wear your shoes and head over to the nearest post office to update them about your current home address. Doing so can save you from missing essential mails and packages.
Furthermore, don’t forget to inform your bank, workplace, credit card and insurance companies, and friends about your new address. Likewise, if you are moving out of state, update your address on the voter’s website and become eligible to vote for the next elections.
-
Work out about meal schedules
In between the moving mayhem, it’s easy to overlook a very critical matter – food. To avoid scurrying in the eleventh hour, it would be a good idea to plan out your meal schedules. Shop for the ingredients or other junk food you can take during the first couple of nights in the new home.
Since it might take some time for you to unpack every box; therefore, you can prefer takeouts instead of cooking. That way, you can also figure out the best restaurants and cafes in the vicinity of your new home.
Final Words
Moving home is a significant event, either you intend to do it only once or quite frequently. And since you have to keep tabs on numerous factors. Therefore, it can turn out to be a super nerve-wracking process.
However, you can make things more manageable, less stressful and ensure everything goes without a hitch with moving tricks.
Follow the hacks discussed above and see for yourself how this time, perhaps, your move isn’t that much chaotic as you initially predicted it to be. You will witness the real benefits of your endeavors when you snuggle deeply into the couch, feeling content on the first Sunday in your new home. And without having to complete any to-do task.
Comments