Chloe Taylor Moving is a necessary evil. Just like going to the doctor’s or doing your errands, we don’t like to do it but we have to do it eventually. Moving is almost never fun, often exhausting and sometimes straight unpleasant, but it’s quite rewarding—you can finally live comfortably in your new space! If you need to move and want to make this endeavor as smooth and stress-free as possible, here are a few moving tips to follow:
Declutter
One of the best things you can do to make your move easier is to examine all your belongings and select things you don’t want anymore. Take a few boxes or bin bags and start sorting things into toss, recycle and donate piles. This is much smarter than taking them to your new location just to realize you don’t have any place for them. Start from your closet and donate everything that doesn’t fit you in size or style and give it to someone in need. A great decluttering tactic is to ask yourself a question: “Would I buy this again?” If the answer is no, it means it doesn’t serve a purpose in your life and it can stay in the past.
Start early
Most moves don’t come too suddenly and you’ll know about them weeks or even months before the big day. In that case, start packing as soon as you can. Start with seasonal items and items you know you won’t need any time soon. For instance, during a winter move, you can pack your bathing suits, shorts and sundresses and let them wait for the day of the move.
Collect all necessary information
Grab a folder and start stacking it with new addresses, rental documents, purchase papers, contracts and utility information. If you need any of these during the moving process, you’ll know exactly where to look and manage to avoid a lot of stress.
Stock up on supplies
A week before your move, visit your local DIY center or any similar store and buy plenty of boxes, bags, tape, stickers and packing paper and peanuts. When you’re in the middle of packing, you certainly won’t have time to jump to the store and get more tape! Other things you might also need are box cutters, markers, as well as larger moving equipment you can rent (if you’re planning to move everything on your own). If you hire movers, they will probably have dollies for moving furniture, pads and covers and rope for tying everything down.
Book movers and storage
Hiring professionals is always a good idea, especially if you don’t have any type of vehicle at your disposal (and people in big cities like New York often don’t). Luckily, if you find experienced people who offer moving and storage services, you don’t have to worry about transport or heavy lifting. Just make sure to book in advance as much as you can, because you’ll end up with better prices and better timing. If you have some items you don’t want to throw away but also can’t move to your new place yet, renting a storage space is a great and cost-effective idea.
Label your boxes
Once everything is more or less ready for the move, it’s time to pack absolutely everything. Go room by room and label every box with a room sticker and a brief summary of the items inside (ex. Kitchen—plates, bowls, cutlery). If you have a labeling system like this one, your movers will know how to pack everything in the truck and where to place your boxes after you arrive. If you go from one room to the next one without mixing items, your packing and unpacking will be a breeze.
Take care of your precious items
If you have any special items like paintings or sculptures, or even large plants, make sure to read about packing them properly. When moving paintings, use special paper that won’t stick. When moving mirrors, tape an ex over the glass to prevent breaking. Sculptures should go into the box with packing peanuts, etc.
Pack an overnight box
You’re probably not going to start unpacking right after you arrive, so it’s a good idea to have an overnight box with necessities like bedding, pajamas, hygiene products, chargers and other things that will get you through the night, as well as important documents (keep this box with you). Also if something happens to your things, at least you have your essentials.
With these tips, you will avoid a lot of anxiety, stress and even back pain when moving. And you’ll see that moving can be a pleasant experience with a very rewarding end.
What To Know Before Selling House As Is: Professional Realtors Advice
