If you’ve moved so much in life, you must have by now realized a pattern that involves excitement along with, hard work, stress, and sometimes frustration. This is the real scenario that surrounds any kind of move. But truth be told, it shouldn’t be so. Actually, everything about a move should be nothing but exciting. There is more to be gained by moving than the fear that comes from it. First and foremost, you’re about to start life afresh in a new location, make new friends, and explore new opportunities, not forgetting the opportunity to decorate your new space just the way you like it!
Before you think that this article is about painting a negative picture of moving, let’s consider those who have never moved before. It’s expected that they may have a tiresome, stressful, and rough transition. Anything is bound to happen and it’s not a wonder that most people would find moving overwhelming. Moving out?
To ensure that your move is as smooth as it can get, here are eight ways to make moving less stressful.
1. Plan Ahead of Time
A lot can go wrong without a good plan and strategy. The thing is, moving can be expensive and there are also so many things to do. It’s imperative to set a budget that you can stick to by figuring an approximate amount of how much you’re willing to spend. This brings us to the next important point – picking a mover!
2. Pick your Moving Team
If you’re planning to move, you’ll be surprised to know that there are plenty of others with the same idea in mind. The ideal moving days are during weekends and over the holidays. This can make it extremely hard to find a moving company if you’re on a tight schedule or within a limited timeline. It’s therefore advisable to book in advance to avoid being caught out in the heat of the moment.
There are so many choices out there, but only a selected few may be qualified to handle your moving needs. For instance, some may do all the packing and loading, along with transporting your stuff to your new home or destination, but they sure will not clean your apartment after moving. This is often called “end of tenancy” cleaning and may end up costing you rent deposit or a huge chunk of it if you lived in a rented apartment. In this case, Michael from Royal Cleaning says that it’s important to find out more about the services of your moving company and whether they’ll do the cleaning for you. If not, you may want to hire a separate cleaning service at a small cost.
Other important factors to consider when finding a mover may include:
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Hire a moving company in your area
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Consider their charges
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Get written estimates
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Avoid companies that ask for large deposits
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Check for licensing
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Check for insurance
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Opt for moving companies with additional services such as special care on special cargo, the type of equipment used to perform tasks, and storage
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Check the moving company’s track record
3. Prepare a Moving Checklist
With everything going on, it can seem like you have a lot on your plate. This makes it even easier to forget things. To avoid this, it’s imperative to prepare a moving checklist on everything that needs to be done before moving. Some of the smartest things you can do before moving include arranging your mortgage details, finding a school for your kids, notifying your employer, changing your utilities, and moving your address.
4. Clear Unwanted Items In Advance
Decluttering your home in advance not only saves you time and stress, but it also helps save money. Remember, you don’t want to pay transport on things that you’ll end up disposing of upon arrival in your new home. There are various ways to get rid of unwanted items, some of which include recycling, donating, or organizing a yard sale. By so doing, you’ll achieve a manageable load, saving you and the moving team tons of hours that you’d have spent packing and unpacking.
5. Pack Early
While it’s true that most moving companies will offer packing services, it comes at a cost for some. These are unnecessary costs that can be avoided if you pack on your own. In essence, you know how much it costs you to buy those fragile kitchen supplies. You’re the only person in the world better positioned to handle them with the care they deserve. If it seems like a lot, friends and family can offer a hand as a parting gift to you! However, don’t let them work on empty stomachs! Additionally, packing is a process that takes time and plenty of effort, which is why it’s recommended that you start early.
6. Find the Time to Clean Your New House
Your excitement can be cut short right after arriving at your new house and finding it in a messy condition. While the new house could have received a cleaning before exchanging hands, it’s imperative to give it a thorough deep cleaning in advance! Hey, you don’t know what was happening there before you! While it’s a good idea to consult with the landlord on a few things, here are a few things you may need to take care of before or upon arrival in your new house;
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Changing the locks
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Replacing the toilet seats
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Replacing the HVAC filters
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Hiring a pest exterminator
7. Pack a Survival Kit
On your moving day, it’s important to have a survival kit containing all the essential items you may require on the way to your new home. These may include food, drinks, snacks, toiletries, phone chargers and the like. Just think of anything you might need without having to break your wallet. In addition to this, ensure that the survival kit is easily accessible to everyone in your family.
8. Take It Slow
The moving day can be extremely exhausting and this is every mover’s worst nightmare. But then again, it depends on your preparations and having realistic expectations. Before the moving day, you may be tempted to put sleep on a back burner, but in reality, it’s only going to affect your efficiency and alertness. It’s, therefore, important to go slow on things that are out of your control, take care of yourself by eating healthy and drinking lots of fluids, and most importantly, to get some sleep while you’re at it!
Now, moving is a part of life — it’s bound to happen to you at some point in life. The best you can do is to be prepared with the best moving hacks and ideas you can get. By exploring the above information, you’re sure that your move will be less stressful… not to forget, you have the option of treating yourself to a spa after an exhaustive move!
