Did you know that about 40 million Americans move each year?
Whether you’re relocating across the nation or just a few blocks away, the process of planning for a move may be intimidating and stressful. There appears to be an unending number of issues to consider while moving, from packing boxes to decluttering, from hiring reputable movers to even preparing your present house for sale.
So, read on for our full breakdown of how to plan a move in eight simple steps for some peace of mind and less stress overall.
1. The Basics of How to Plan a Move: Purge
Do you have a strategy for getting rid of the clutter that’s built up in your garage, attic, and/or basement?
If your house is a dumping ground, you may need to plan out when you’ll deal with each mound of trash over the following several months before the move.
You should go through each pile many times, separating out the obvious throwaways from the less apparent throwaways. Charity may benefit from your unwanted stuff. Find out which local charity might benefit the most from your donation by looking them up online.
2. Tackle Your Address Change
To celebrate the end of the moving process, you may go out for a drink or a meal or just relax on your new sofa. You don’t want to be burdened with any more tedium at that point.
Before anything else, take care of all of your requests for address changes.
Before you begin packing, tell the post office, bank, and other vital contacts, such as the subscription office of your favorite newspaper, to ensure that everything is updated and in order by your move-in date.
3. One List to Rule Them All: Create a Comprehensive Moving Checklist
Making a to-do list is a tried-and-true method for keeping track of what has to be done. You’ll also be able to cross things off of your to-do list as you go, which is always a good feeling.
When you’re responsible for both kids and pets, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. When planning for a move, it’s a good idea to make a list months in advance.
Aside from that, the introduction of deadlines is essential. Set deadlines for each activity and make sure you reach them.
This is because certain chores must be finished before others. To be safe, while you’re making a to-do list, do an inventory of your possessions.
Use this list when unpacking to ensure that you don’t overlook anything.
4. Save Money on Packing Materials
All of your moving boxes may be obtained for free from package and supermarket retailers.
Even if you’re relocating to a cheaper location, moving may still be a lot of effort and cost a lot of money. Why spend money on moving goods when you can receive them for free? The number of boxes you’ll need to store your possessions has been calculated.
To be on the safe side, double that sum by 20% and begin browsing at your local appliance or department store. As an alternative, you may look at your local supermarket or package store, but be aware of boxes containing frozen or fresh veggies because they may have water leaks or food stains on them.
Find out when the business expects to receive new deliveries. They may even offer to put some boxes and packing paper aside for you if you ask them.
5. As You Unpack the Old Make Plans for the New
Your new house won’t look precisely like your previous one, and who would want to do that anyway? Fresh inspiration awaits in your new surroundings.
Take photographs of every room in your old house before you begin packing it up, so you can plan how to unpack. You’ll also save a lot of time this way.
Unpacked boxes may provide valuable information that you may glean from their contents. Take images of any difficult electrical connections so you can reassemble them more easily. Having a floor plan for your new house can provide even more specificity to your strategy.
And, if you’re on the lookout for a penthouse for sale, you’ll still want to take a look at those floor plans.
6. Get Professional Movers
It will cost you a little more money, but you’ll save a lot of time and effort in the long run.
To save time and avoid the hassle of lugging heavy boxes up and down flights of stairs, you could consider hiring a professional moving company to handle the task of transporting your belongings to your new home across the nation.
Professional movers don’t have to be prohibitively pricey. Be careful to compare prices from a number of different providers, and don’t be afraid to say so. Make sure to tell firms you’re comparing prices before signing a contract.
Consider joining a moving truck that’s headed in the same direction as yours if you can. Thus, the price will be reduced. In the end, make sure you are aware of your rights and that you have enough insurance.
7. Request the Help of Your Friends
It doesn’t matter if you employ movers or not; you will still need assistance moving things from your old home to your new one. When relying on friends to assist with your relocation, be sure they’re fully on board with your endeavor.
It’s important to have them lined up early on. It’s preferable to move on a weekend when most people are off work if you need assistance. If you have assistance, make a strategy for what each person should do before they come.
8. Take Care of Your New Home
Most of your house improvements and cleaning may be completed considerably more quickly if you start them before you move in.
Whether you’re renting or buying, you’re sure to have ideas for your new home. Even if you only want to give the property a fresh coat of paint or do some basic repairs, do so before you move in.
Planning a Move: Ultimate Moving Tips
Moving can be a hellish experience if one doesn’t prepare well. We hope that our guide on how to plan a move has given you a solid foundation on what you need to do.
You can integrate those eight tips into your current moving plan. Also, you’ll want to check out our lifestyle and home improvement sections for more tips on design and decor.
