Moving can be both an exciting and stressful process. Whether you are moving across town or relocating across the country, there is a seemingly never ending list of things to do.. In addition to the physical tasks of boxing and transporting your belongings, there are many people and businesses that you will likely need to notify. While it may seem overwhelming, there are several ways to make sure you stay on top of every step of the process. Here are 7 tips for moving or relocating without a hitch.
Set a Budget
After renting or purchasing a new house, determining your budget for the move should be next on your list. Regardless of the distance that you will be traveling to your new home, you will need to either rent a truck or hire a moving company. You will also need to purchase boxing and packing supplies. Finally, you may choose to pay people to help you move boxes and furniture from one house to the other. In order to be able to afford all of these necessary expenses, set a budget and price out services and supplies well in advance.
Create a Packing Timeline
Whether your home has 5 rooms or 5 floors, packing up an entire house is a large undertaking. Organization and planning are essential in order to make sure that you are ready to load the moving truck and drive away on your departure date. You’ll want to begin several weeks, or months if you have enough notice, ahead of your move in order to make sure you aren’t scrambling in the final hours. Begin with purchasing or collecting boxes, bubble wrap, and packaging tape so that you have everything you need when you are ready to begin packing up your items.
Start as soon as you can with packing off-season or non-essential items, such as clothing or toys. As you get closer to your moving date, plan on boxing up items that you can go without for a week or two, such as kitchen appliances and sections of your wardrobe. In the final week, try to limit the number of groceries that you buy and be mindful of using up refrigerated and perishable items. Also, reduce the clothing that you wear so that you are not doing loads of laundry on moving day. Reserve one catchall box or bag for last-minute toiletries and dirty clothes or any random items you find as you do your final walkthrough.
Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need
A move or relocation is an excellent opportunity to reduce your clutter. As you begin creating your packing timeline, consider items that are collecting dust or that you will no longer need in your new home. If you are downsizing, you may need to get rid of some furniture that will not have a designated space in the new house. Likewise, if you are moving from a cold to hot climate, you do not need to take your entire winter wardrobe along with you.
If you have enough items to get rid of, you could hold a moving sale to make some extra money for the move. You could also sell these belongings through online marketplaces. If you do not have enough time to set up a sale before you move, you can donate items to your local church, charitable organization, or shelters. Be careful not to leave any large items until the last minute, as you might be unable to unload them in time.
Secure a Storage Unit if Needed
If you are not able to scale down your belongings to fit into your new space, or if you are renting temporarily in your new location, you may need to place some of your possessions in a storage unit. If you anticipate this to be the case, you will want to work this into your moving and relocation budget. You will also want to ensure that you have a unit secured prior to leaving your old house so that you can have a seamless move.
Have a Good Packing System
While it may be tempting to just throw everything in boxes and call it a day, your future self will not appreciate this decision when you are unpacking at your new home. Creating a system for packing and labeling your boxes will go a long way for keeping your items organized and easy to unbox later on. Keep similar belongings and items from the same room together. Label the box clearly with the room it belongs to and a brief description of the items inside so that you can easily find what you need.
Notify the Government of Your New Address
In addition to safely transporting your belongings from one house to another, you will want to be sure that you receive all of your mail at your new address. In order to have a seamless transition of your bills, you will need to notify the post office. Though you can file a change of address form in person, the website change-of-address-online.com can allow you to do quickly and conveniently while you pack. You will also need to file your new address with your local motor vehicles department and change your license and registration to reflect your new address if necessary.
Change Over Your Utilities
Lastly, you’ll want to remember to switch coverage of your utilities from your old house to the new. You need to shut off the power, cable, and internet at your old residence and arrange to have it turned on at your new place or switched from the previous owner into your name. Make sure to do these things as early as you can so that you are not left without electricity or the ability to access the internet if needed.
Whether you are making a change for a job, family, or love, moving to a new house is an exciting new adventure. However, if you are not organized in planning for and executing the move, the process can be very stressful. Follow these tips for strategizing your move and utilize resources to make your experience as smooth and seamless as possible.