Moving to a new home is an exciting but often stressful time. It’s stressful because there are a lot of little things that you need to do in order to move from one home to another. However, if you prepare properly, you can make the entire moving process a lot easier and less stressful. Below are 6 strategies you can use to prepare for your next move.
Create a Running To-Do List
An easy place to start is creating a running to-do list. As you’re preparing for your move, you’re going to think of new things that you need to do. Every time you think of something new, add it to a to-do list that you keep handy. A great place to create your to-do list is on a smartphone app, particularly if you create it in a place that can sync to multiple devices. This way, as soon as you think of something, you can add it to the list before you forget. Then, when you accomplish a task, cross it off the list so that you no longer have to think about it.
Get Rid of Your Junk
One of the best things you can do before you move to a new home is to get rid of your junk. The less stuff you bring to the new place, the easier the transition is. Go from room to room and identify the stuff that you no longer need. It could be old toys for your kids, clothes you no longer wear, or anything else you might have tucked away in your closet.
Once you’ve gathered everything you want to get rid of, you then just need a method for doing so. A great option is to work with a junk removal service. According to Van’s Hauling, a junk removal service in Phoenix, “A good junk removal service will come to your home and quickly remove everything you don’t need. This eliminates the need for you to make multiple trips to the dump or spend all your time trying to sell it.” While you may be able to put some things out on the street for garbage day, if you have a lot, your best bet is to work with a professional service.
Find Professional Movers
To make moving day as easy as possible, you’ll want to work with professional movers. Professional movers will take care of all the heavy lifting, literally, and ensure that your belongings arrive at your new home safely. If you’ve never moved someone from one home to another, count yourself lucky, as it’s exhausting work. You have enough to worry about on the day of the move, so let some professionals handle the physical labor of transporting everything.
It’s a good idea to find several local movers in your area and compare them against one another. Learn about their rates by getting an estimate from each, then read some testimonials from previous customers. Finally, make sure the movers are insured so that you don’t end up paying if something breaks in transit.
Purchase More Moving Supplies Than You Think You’ll Need
When working with movers, they will often provide you with moving supplies such as boxes, tape, and bubble wrap. However, purchasing these supplies from the movers can often be more expensive. You’re often better off getting the supplies yourself. Many local home improvement stores will sell everything you need, or you can find supplies online. Just be sure to order more supplies than you think you’ll need, as it’s very common to not order enough boxes or tape. You’d rather have a little too much bubble wrap to protect your belongings than not enough.
Mark Important Dates on the Calendar
There are several important dates throughout the process of moving. For example, there’s the closing date on your current home, the closing date for your next home, the days your realtor is showing the house to others, etc. An easy way to manage it all is to ensure that you write all important dates on your calendar. Even better, use a calendar app on your phone that can remind you of when these dates arrive. That way, you’re not struggling to clean up your home 10 minutes before an open house is scheduled to start.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Finally, give yourself as much time as you can to prepare for the move. If you try to get everything done in a weekend, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed, and some things will get lost in the shuffle. As soon as you know you want to move, start planning out the steps that you’ll need to take to get there, giving yourself extra time to complete them. For example, start packing up the things you don’t use very often a few weeks in advance so that all that remains the week before your move is the essential items.
