The average American moves 11 times in their lifetime.
The chances are that you've moved once or twice, and you have a few more ahead of you.
Whether you're moving across town or across the country, picking up your life and relocating can be a pretty stressful time.
To help you in your next move, we created this checklist of tips to streamline the process.
Before The Move
First things first: make the move more manageable by breaking it up into three sections— before, during and after the move.
Here's what you need to do before your move begins.
1. Prepare to Move Out
As you may expect, you'll have an easier time with this part of the process if you thoroughly plan your course of action. This means understanding when you need to vacate your current residence, how long you anticipate it will take you to pack your belongings, etc.
You'll also need to ensure that your move-in and move-out dates align— otherwise, you may need to find a place to store your belongings if you have to move out before you're ready to move into your new home.
2. Organize Your Packing
This is especially important for those who have a large number of essential items they need to keep track of. You should always be aware of the location of your most important possessions, such as birth certificates and other important documents, expensive jewelry, etc.
You can easily accomplish this by properly labeling each packing box by its contents. You should also take the time to plan the order in which you're going to pack your possessions.
3. Consider Hiring Help
It can be notably difficult to move on your own (and even with the help of a spouse, family member, etc.). Instead, consider whether or not you could benefit from hiring moving professionals to aid you during this part of the process.
For example, it's not feasible to move heavy or unwieldy items (such as a piano) without the assistance of someone who can ensure nothing gets damaged along the way.
4. Take Care of The Utilities
If you've scheduled everything appropriately, your utilities should be in order by the time you move in. But having an issue with your electricity or even the Internet can quickly make your new home an unpleasant place to stay.
Make sure that everything works properly so that you can make the necessary arrangements if there's an issue.
During The Move
While you're in the middle of the process, you may find yourself becoming fatigued. This can easily lead to you wanting to rush through the move as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, doing so can cause you to leave items behind or make similar mistakes along the way. Listed below are ways you can stay focused while the move is still in progress.
5. Get Rid of Unwanted Belongings
If there's anything in particular that you don't want to take to your new home, now is the time to get rid of it.
While it's not recommended to simply leave old belongings in your former residence, you can leave unwanted items unpacked. After you've moved everything into the vehicle you're using for transportation, simply throw everything else away.
Be sure, though, that you don't accidentally group any essential items with belongings you plan to discard.
6. Make Trips as Efficient as Possible
This is especially useful advice if you're driving long distances to your new residence. If you're driving a moving truck out of state, for example, you likely won't have the option to make more than one trip.
Regardless, it's best to make each trip as efficient as possible so that you can complete the process quickly. The longer your move goes on, the more likely you are to make a mistake (such as leaving something important behind).
7. Prepare for Contingencies
You should always be ready to accommodate unfavorable conditions. Poor weather, for example, can make moving furniture an extremely difficult (or even impossible) process.
So, do your best to determine the best possible times to begin your moving process. In general, it's best to start early in the morning so you can avoid traffic, have time to wait out storms, etc.
After The Move
When you've finally finished your move, all you'll likely want to do is relax. But, there's one last set of responsibilities you have to ensure your move concludes on a positive note.
8. Make Sure Everything Safely Arrived
Before you relax, take a moment to ensure that you have all your essentials. An otherwise-pleasant end to a move can quickly go awry if you find that you're missing an important document, for instance.
If you've labeled everything properly, you'll likely have very little trouble with this part of the process. While you don't need to go through every box, it's worth looking through the boxes in which you packed items that are fragile, expensive, etc.
9. Take Care of The Utilities
If you've scheduled everything appropriately, your utilities should be in order by the time you move in. But, having an issue with your electricity or even the Internet can quickly make your new home an unpleasant place to stay.
Make sure everything works properly so you can make the necessary arrangements if there's an issue.
Keep these tips in mind before you start making plans for your next move.
At Brightland Homes, we believe happiness starts at home, and we’re here to help you find the perfect house for you and your family. Fill out the form below today, and we'll get started.
