14 Tips to Make Your Move Less Stressful
Hi, friends.
According to movinglabor.com, a whopping 80% of moves in the United States happen between April and September. And with kids out of school for the summer, June, July, and August are the busiest of those months for moving.
Have a move coming up? Here are some tips to help it go off without a hitch.
If possible, avoid moving during peak season.
Instead, try to schedule your move during off-peak dates ranging from October through March. Movers’ schedules will be more open then, and you might even be able to snag a better rate.
Book your movers several months in advance.
If you have time to plan ahead, book your movers as far in advance as possible—we’re talking several months, if you can. This will ensure that you have a wide range of availability windows to choose from.
Save money by shopping around.
Before booking your movers, request quotes from at least three so you can compare prices. Some moving companies might even be willing to come down on their estimate in order to win your business.
Change over your utilities as soon as you know your move date.
This seemingly small task can easily get lost in the shuffle as you tackle larger logistics. Each call takes only a few minutes, and some transfers can even be done online.
Don’t just have your mail forwarded—change your address.
Mercifully, the USPS makes changing your address pretty easy. But mail forwarding expires after a while, so to prevent future headaches, be sure to contact customer service representatives for utilities providers, magazine subscriptions, credit card companies, banks, retailers, and any other businesses that have your address on file. Don’t forget to update your driver’s license, too!
Toss, recycle, donate, or sell stuff you don’t want.
This step takes some effort, but the payoff can be huge. Comb through your closets, kitchen cabinets, bookshelves, toy chests, attic, and basement to weed out things you don’t want to take with you. (We’re looking at you, never-been-out-of-its-box fondue set.) If you have time and want to make a little bit of money back on previous purchases, consider having a yard sale (or a stoop sale, depending on where you live) or consigning items like clothes, toys, and furniture. Otherwise, plan to donate unwanted items to a charity that offers free pickup.
Plan ahead for trash removal.
Depending on where you live, your municipal waste removal service might require advance requests and permission for the pickup of oversize items. If you can’t put that falling-apart armchair on the curb for pickup, be sure to call a licensed junk hauler who can whisk it away.
Don’t blow your moving budget on boxes.
Sure, those big-brand moving stores can be a handy source when it comes to stocking up on boxes, but they can also set you back a good bit. Score a free supply of boxes simply by calling a few local grocery stores and retailers, or asking friends and family.
Pack smart.
When it comes to packing, the less tedious—and expensive—the better. That means leaving clothes on their hangers (fold them up in trash bags or hang them in wardrobe boxes), wrapping fragile items in towels, t-shirts, socks, and sheets rather than store-bought paper, and using suitcases to transport everything from workout equipment to heavy books.
Snap pics of complicated setups.
Afraid you’ll never remember how to hook the TV up to your fancy sound system? Or replicate that perfect monitor-printer-lamp setup in your home office? Take pictures of the back of your TV, speakers, and computer monitor before you take them apart and pack them up. You’ll have a handy reference guide ready to go when it’s time to set everything up in your new space.
Take pictures of box contents, too.
Can’t remember where you put the cheese grater? Not sure where the remote ended up? Before taping up your moving boxes, snap a quick pic of their contents and you’ll have a complete catalog of your belongings on your smartphone ready to go when you arrive in your new home.
Set aside some everyday essentials.
As you pack up your old space, set aside items you’ll need right up until the movers arrive. Think everyday toiletries, medicines, electronics chargers, work planners and calendars, and a change or two of clothes. That way, you won’t have to go without any important items as you vacate your old space and get set up in your new one.
Arrange other logistics.
Moving into or out of an apartment or condo building with a freight elevator or loading dock? Be sure to reserve it well in advance so you’re not stuck waiting your turn every time you need to move a load in or out.
Give yourself time.
Arguably nothing makes a move more stressful than rushing through it. So, whether you’re packing or unpacking, give yourself plenty of time. You might just enjoy this exciting transition.
Have questions or need some help? Let's talk.
Until next time,
The BRIGS team