7 Steps to Make Your Move More Amazing!
Although it may sound pretty straightforward to move locally, relocating short-distance does not guarantee you an outright success. And while it is mostly true that local moves are usually planned, organized and performed easier than long-distance interstate ones, any type of relocation has its specifics and should not be underestimated.
In fact, the failure to recognize the significance of local moving alone may get you into certain troubles before and on moving day.
To help with your local relocation, we have compiled some great moving tips so that you handle the upcoming move the best possible way.
1. Begin Moving Preparations ASAP
It’s vital that you start the necessary preparations as soon as your local move has become imminent. Check out this week-by-week moving timeline (LINK TO OUR TIMELINE) and devise your own checklist of the things you need to do before you can finally settle down in your new home. As you cross out each completed task, you will see how your personalized moving timeline will greatly help you to stay on the right organizational track.
Try not to approach your move too casually. You may be thinking, “I’m only moving short-distance so I’ve got plenty of time.” Keep in mind that the fewer days there are left till moving day, the quicker time seems to pass by, and you should never get comfortable until the whole moving affair is over.
2. Prepare Packing Supplies
For a successful packing experience you need good boxes of assorted sizes.
If you have decided to pack by yourself, logic dictates that the first thing you need to do is to get yourself plenty of packing materials.
Yes, you’ve guessed it right – it’s all about the boxes. You’ll need clean boxes of assorted sizes, in good condition, with sturdy bottoms and available covers. You Move ME is your very best option for packing supplies (LINK TO OUR PACKING SUPPLIES PAGE). We only charge you for what you use, so you never have to play the guessing game for how many to buy. Plus, they are twice as sturdy as the ones you buy from a big box store. However, if you are on a tight budget and want to hunt for free boxes, ask friends, coworkers and neighbors (or anyone else who may have recently moved) if they have any such moving recipients to spare.
Besides boxes, make sure you have enough packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape, color markers, a pair of scissors, etc.
3. Pack in Stages
When packing your household belongings, start from the large pieces of furniture and work your way towards your smaller items.
Even if the time factor is taken out of the equation, packing your entire house in one go just won’t work. Why? Because a second factor comes into play and its name is… space.
Prepare an inventory of your entire house so that you know in advance whether you’ll be taking all of your household items to your new place or you’ll end up leaving some of them behind. Begin the packing process from the rooms you use the least, like guest rooms, basements and attics, and work your way to the ones you use every day. Also, take a moment to prioritize the entire packing experience – think about how the larger items will be packed for moving (furniture, kitchen appliances, etc.) before you start boxing the smaller stuff.
4. It’s Time to Declutter
An upcoming move, even a local one, presents a good opportunity for you to go through your personal possessions and see if there are any specific items you just won’t use in the future. Experience shows that more stuff to pack and relocate means more time and money, therefore time spent on boxing and transporting a useless household item will be time wasted.
The good news is that there are several right paths you follow here. Out of all the items you have carefully sifted through and labeled as unneeded, some can be gifted to family members, friends, coworkers or neighbors, others can be donated to charitable organizations or sold at at a garage sale or online. And should you encounter any worthless stuff, like broken items which cannot be repaired or old ones which nobody will ever appreciate, then it’s best to just throw them away for recycling.
5. Safer for Children and Pets
The safety of your children and pets should be your top priority.
Periods of intensified moving preparation are definitely not the best times for toddlers crying to be fed or comforted, or preschoolers or pets running uncontrollably around the house.
Number one, it’s not safe for them to be in the house at all during such stressful moments, especially on Moving day. If there’s no other temporarily safer place for them to be, make sure there’s somebody else there to take good care of them so that no accidents occur to further complicate things. Ask a close friend or hire a professional specialist to babysit them – it’s up to you.
Remember: Safety Above All Else!
And number two, unsupervised children and/or pets could considerably and undesirably slow down, or even hinder, the relocation process. If you have opted for a DIY local move, then the stress on your shoulders will be even bigger and the last thing you’d want to do is to chase your loved ones up and down your home in an effort to persuade them to behave.
So, your top priority on Moving day, and even before its arrival, should be to ensure your kids and pets are safe and sound so that you can stay completely focused on the numerous tasks ahead of you.
7. Transfer Utilities
Switching your utilities to your new address is an important step of your local relocation.
Yes, even when you’re relocating locally, you still need to transfer your utilities to your new address because the utility companies won’t do it for you. You’ll have to contact all of your service providers (electricity, water, gas, cable TV, Internet, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, etc.) a few weeks before your move and let them know that your address is about to change. Keep records of your switch-overs in case of mistakes. After all, you really don’t want to pay somebody else’s bills, do you?
