At some point in your life you will experience the pain of moving, and orchestrating the move from one home to the other can give anyone a mini panic attack. Some people move way more often than others and already have all their tricks to make the daunting day go by a little smoother. But for the rest of us novices, rather than playing it by ear and hoping a catastrophe doesn’t happen, here are some quick tips to keep in mind.
Take care of the details
After your big move, the last thing you want to do is have to think of all the menial little details and tasks that still have to get done like changing your address. So before you even start your move towards your new home, save yourself the annoyance by taking care of all of that first. Remember to notify any important contacts that you may have, especially if you don’t want just anybody getting their hands on your private stuff, such as your bank statements or that subscription to your “special magazine” ; )
Make a list
If you’re anything like my manager, lists are as essential to life as water. I actually think she would go crazy if it weren’t for her lists! (Just kidding don’t fire me… =) ) For something as big as a move, making a list should be essential for you too. By keeping yourself organized and writing all the tasks that have to be done, you save yourself a lot of headaches in the long run. The move will seem less daunting if you break down the big move into smaller tasks, set a deadline for each of those task, and then cross each one off as they are completed. Honestly, nothing feels as good as crossing off something on the list…or so that manager insists! Also, it’s a good idea to keep a record of everything that you pack for insurance purposes (if you’re hiring a mover) or just so you know where everything is and not freak out when your waffle iron goes missing.
Plan Ahead
Along the line of creating this master list of your move, you should also write down (either on your list or directly on the box) where each item should go. Assuming you’re going to be packing kitchen stuff with kitchen stuff and bedroom stuff with bedroom stuff, it helps if you know which box goes into which room. If you hire professional movers, they will bring those boxes directly to where you specified. Of course it’s hard to entirely visualize where every single piece will go but planning ahead and having a general sense will only make unpacking and setting up your new home that much easier!
Packing
Don’t underestimate the amount of boxes you will need for your move. It’s always better to have too many (and simply recycle them afterward) rather than too little and then having to do a mad scramble of stuffing your clothes into anything with an empty pocket of space (vases? Maybe not the best idea). Guestimate the amount of boxes you will need and then times that by about 20 percent, also keep in mind that you mind want to set aside a few boxes for last minutes items such as your toiletries, bedding and clothing. Utilizing the drawers in furniture such as dressers is also a good idea, but make sure that they you’re not putting anything like 10lb bowling balls that break your back and your furniture.
Do not book your movers for 8am!
Here’s something that not enough people know. Let’s say you’re new house is “closing” on a Thursday -this does not mean that your home will be ready for you to move in at 7am on Thursday morning. Let’s put it this way, your lawyer has to actually make it into the office first, file the closing of the deal, contact the bank, the bank will then have to transfer the funds to the seller’s lawyer, that lawyer has to approve and make sure everything is legit, and only when funds are in the hands of the builder will you finally get the keys to your house. Factor in all the coffee breaks, lunch breaks, nap time and internet surfing, you might not even get your keys until mid-afternoon. The last thing you want is to have all your stuff in a moving truck with nowhere to go, so save yourself the headache and heartache and book for the next day. Final tip: try not to book your closing for a Friday. If anything gets delayed you could be homeless all weekend!
Moving day doesn’t have to be a big chore. Starting this new chapter of your life should be something to celebrate and be excited about. Take heed of some of these tips, as well as asking a few friends for some help, and maybe that giant pain in your lower back side will not have to be so severe. Once the move is complete, you can sit back, relax, enjoy your new home and pop a bottle of bubbly! It’s just that easy…kinda.
