Moving can be a hectic and stressful time for all involved, but a little bit of planning and preparation can make it less painful. Creating a plan will give you a guide to follow and help the move go smoothly. Here are ten tips to help make your moving process easier.
1. Plan as Far in Advance as Possible
It never hurts to get ahead of the process and start thinking about your move. Start looking for an experienced mover and set a date for the move. If you plan on using experienced packers, be sure to let them know everything that needs to be packed so they can be prepared. Start thinking about how you will organize everything and create a visual of the move in your head.
2. Sort Your Things by Category
The move will go much easier if you organize your belongings by category. It is easiest to start with your clothing, because you will find items that you will want to give away, which means less to move. You can also easily sort your books, papers, movies, and other miscellaneous items.
3. Get Rid of Things You Don't Need or Want
You most likely own plenty of unused or unnecessary items. You will have less items to pack by eliminating the things that you don't need. The earlier you toss these items, the easier the packing and moving will be later on.
4. Schedule a Donation Pickup
Remember all of those things you own that are no longer needed or unnecessary? You can donate many of those items to a charity, and many of the charitable organizations will even come pick them up for free. Donating your old items to charity will make you feel good, and it can also possibly be used as a tax write off.
5. Buy Supplies Beforehand
You are going to need boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap, and many other supplies. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase those items, but instead be prepared ahead of time. Sit down and create a list of all the products that you will need for your move, and make just one trip to the store to save yourself time and stress. You can also check to see if you still own the original boxes to many of your items to save yourself the time and money of buying new boxes.
6. Pick the Right Moving Day
Think about all of the potential moving days and pick the day that will be easiest and cheapest for you. Find out which day you will have the most help and which day will be the best for the moving company as well.
7. Schedule Disconnect Times
You probably have cable, water, power, internet, gas, and other services. All of those services need to be shut off before you move, and it is good to give them a notice at least a week ahead of time. You may also need to spend a little extra time gathering cords, remotes, cable boxes, routers, and other supplies that the companies will want back at the time of cut off.
8. Start Packing and Labeling Boxes
Start packing your items as soon as possible to give yourself the most amount of time to complete the process. Packing just a little at a time can be less stressful and make your move more enjoyable. The key to finding your belongings after the move is labeling the boxes accurately. Label the boxes by category to find things easily and label the sides of boxes instead of the tops.
9. Decide What to do With Plants and Pets
Start figuring out what you will do with live plants and pets. You will need to arrange transportation for pets and take your pets to the veterinarian if necessary. Moving live plants can sometimes be tricky, because they need the proper amount of sunlight and water. Live plants can either be given to friends or family, or they can be donated to local charities or hospitals to keep from having to move them.
10. Perform Last Day Checks
The day of and before moving, check closets, cabinets, and corners of every room to make sure all items have been packed. Also, make sure things like the water, furnace, air conditioner, and lights are all turned off and windows and doors are closed and locked.
These are just a few tips to help make your move easier with less problems. It is best to be prepared and plan well in advance to avoid any headaches. If you follow these pointers throughout the move process, you will be able to make your move worry-free.
