When you are planning a move, it may seem as if the task is overwhelming. Many homeowners are ready for a frustrating and time-consuming process, which seems bound to leave them tired and unhappy.
However, with the right approach, moving house doesn’t have to be upsetting. In fact, it can even be fun. Even if the move is looming on you in the nearest future, you still have a chance to make it less painful.
We’ve collected the most important tips and tricks for moving home and put it in this checklist. It will only take you about five minutes to read this information to find out how to make your move fast, easy, and even enjoyable.
Table of Contents
1. Take A Smart Approach to Decluttering
People have a tendency to collect a formidable amount of stuff in their homes. You probably have things you haven’t been using for many years, simply lying around and collecting dust.
These things can become a big problem when you decide to move. Do you really need to take them with you so they can collect dust in your new house or apartment?
So before you start packing, do major decluttering. If you haven’t used something in more than a year, throw it out, give it to charity or arrange a yard sale. Whatever you do, don’t take it with you.
By decluttering smartly, you can cut the moving costs substantially by saving money on packing materials and the effort made by the movers.
2. Sort Your Belongings
Your things will be much easier to pack, move, and unpack if you sort them into categories. Some people prefer to pack one room at a time. This makes it harder to unpack, especially if the house you are moving to is bigger or smaller than your old one.
That’s why it’s better to sort by such categories as outer clothing, shoes, laundry, kitchen, cleaning supplies, books, papers, etc. You can save a formidable amount of time on packing and unpacking as well as marking by following a sorting plan.
3. Find a Moving Company
Finding a respectable moving company is probably the hardest part of the process. You need to find movers with excellent references and reviews as well as a reasonable price tag.
According to moving experts at TorexMoving, it’s better to choose a local moving company (in the town you are moving from). This way you can set up an interview, see if the company has an office, check out the moving supplies and equipment, and much more.
Make sure the moving company you have chosen is properly licensed and insured. Don’t take the mover’s word for it. Check the licenses and insurance yourself. If you are planning an interstate or cross border move, find out if the company is licensed to make such moves.
4. Plan Your Budget
When you contact a moving company, you learn the rates. Usually, you’ll hear a rate based on the number of hours and movers you are likely to need. However, you have to remember that this rate is basic. It doesn’t include packing materials, packing services, storage, etc. Some companies can charge higher rates for heavy and large objects. Eventually, you may be paying much more than you expected.
Make sure to ask about all fees extensively. The best way to do it is to visit a company’s office or request a price list over email. When you get full information about pricing, you can plan your moving budget.
Depending on the place you are moving from, you are likely to have a wide choice of movers. So you don’t have to settle for certain prices if they don’t suit your budget.
5. Plan The Moving Date and Time
The majority of home and business owners try to schedule their move for the weekends. That’s why moving on a Saturday is expensive. If you can add some flexibility to your plans and move during a weekday, you can save substantially.
Meanwhile, moving on a weekday can help you avoid traffic jams and ensure your move goes as quickly as possible.
Moves usually take the entire day. Consider starting as early in the morning as possible in order to finish everything before nighttime comes.
If you aren’t sure when the best day for the move is, you can consult a moving company. The representative should give you an idea of when the cheapest moving days are.
Once you choose the date, book the company. If you are planning to move on a weekend, you may need to book the movers one or two months in advance.
6. Make a “To-Do” List
The number of things you have to do when planning a move is overwhelming. You are bound to forget half of them if you don’t write them down. You can even download one of the handy moving apps to help you do it. Here are a few of them:
Make sure you write down where you put things. With such an approach, you can have a much easier time unpacking and knowing which boxes need attention.
7. Take Care of Moving Supplies
Moving requires a wide variety of moving supplies. From boxes and plastic wrap to tape and packing paper, you may be at a loss as to what to buy.
Ask friends and coworkers, who have gone through a move recently, to help you make a supply list. Meanwhile, consider getting free boxes from your nearby liquor store. They are usually tough enough to handle heavy items.
A simple way to avoid the packing hassle is to ask the moving company to do it. Moving experts can do the packing quicker than you expect. Meanwhile, they are bound to keep all your items safe. However, packing services often come with a high price tag. So you have to be ready for extra expenses.
8. Start Packing in Advance
Packing all your belongings in one day can be frustrating and often impossible. To save time and nerves, you can start packing a week before the move.
Start with seasonal clothing and things you use rarely. This can save you a formidable amount of time on the day of the move. Meanwhile, it’s an excellent opportunity to take things slow and get rid of the things you don’t need anymore.
9. Take Care of the Labeling
Labeling moving boxes is just as important as proper packing. Make sure to label the boxes on the side, rather than on the top. Because when they are stacked upon each other in the moving van, you won’t see what’s on top.
Always put as many details as possible on the box. Include category, seasonality, and the level of fragility. You can also use colorful stickers to color code the boxes and make them easier to unload.
Your mood is the key to the move going smoothly. If you are nervous and worried, you are bound to lose something along the way or give the wrong information to the movers. Take a deep breath, relax, and go through the above checklist. Your move will go just fine.
Alex is fascinated with “understanding” people. It’s actually what drives everything he does. He believes in a thoughtful exploration of how you shape your thoughts, experience of the world.
