If you’re worried about an upcoming move, you’re not alone. Most people feel some anxiety when it’s time to move to a new place, and the further away you’re moving from your old home, the more anxiety you may feel. But you can make your move go more smoothly; even big moves are easier with some planning ahead of time. You can make your big move easier and less stressful with these five essential steps that will help you prepare.
Make a List
It might seem too simple, but a moving checklist is your jumping-off point to make your big move a success. It will help you organize your thoughts first, so you can organize your move after. Your list will help you to establish a timeline and work out your plan of action. If you have lived in your home for several years, it might shock you how much stuff you’ve accumulated. You’ll want to take your move step by step – especially if you are planning to move a long distance.
Decide on a Professional Moving Company
Calling a moving service is the next step. The reason you’ll want to call a professional moving company at the beginning is that many companies have tight schedules. You don’t want to get prepared for a big move and find out that no movers in your area are available. You can call several companies to discuss the household size you’re moving, as well as any special items. Calling and establishing a move-out date far in advance also allows you to compare companies and get the best price.
You will also want to decide exactly how much you want the professional moving company to do. You might want them to handle everything from start to finish. Alternately, you may want to have the convenience of a professional mover but save some money by packing yourself and having everything ready for the movers to pick up on moving day. You’ll also need to discuss with your movers if you need to transport a second car or another vehicle that you cannot tow. If you wait too long to ask about these things, the resources may not be available or come at a very steep cost.
Declutter and Organize
Once you’ve nailed down a move-out date and made arrangements with movers, it’s time to declutter and organize your stuff. Make yourself a schedule and go room by room, taking a hard look at your things and deciding what will move with you and what should go. You can recycle or trash items in poor condition. Call your waste services about scheduling large item pickups.
Items in decent or good condition can become part of a garage sale if you have the time. If you have a free weekend and your city or HOA permits it, you can make some decent changes to put towards your move. You can donate anything that doesn’t sell or even post items on a local or neighborhood giveaway group. As you go through each room and begin to sort items, it might surprise you how much you end up letting go of. Pre-sorting your things will help you to keep track of everything during the move.
Think Ahead About Your New Space
Your plan might be to bring your current furniture to your new home, but that isn’t always a good option. There are several apps and tools you can use to determine if your things will fit into your new space. Try to get measurements for the main rooms so you can figure out if your big furniture pieces will fit the way you envision. Plotting out where everything will go ahead of time will save you a lot of grief later. If things don’t fit, you won’t go through the trouble and expense of moving it and you’ll have time to sell it.
Get Your Moving Supplies
If you get ahead on grabbing your moving supplies, you might be able to score them cheaper than if you wait. A lot of giveaway groups often have moving boxes and extra supplies available so all you need to do is pick them up. But even if you are planning to purchase your moving supplies, buying early is still a good idea. You might think you know how many boxes and rolls of tape you’ll need, only to find you are woefully unprepared. Additionally, if you buy your moving supplies early, you can start packing non-essential items well before the move-out date.
Make Your Big Move a Success
Whether you are moving a room or an entire household, planning your big move is your key to success. If you follow these essential steps to prepare, you’ll avoid a lot of stress and heartache in the moving process. You can make your new start after a big move better by staying organized and focused. Master your big move and start looking forward to your next new chapter.
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