Moving is a part of life, but did you know that it’s one of the most stressful life experiences? Many Americans consider it more stressful than having children and even getting a divorce! However, the trick to minimizing the stress is to plan and prepare. The reality is that moving is part of life, and it could still be an exciting time. This article will share with you tips for moving that will help you get to your new home with as little stress as possible.
Again, your main focus for moving is to keep things as stress-free as possible. Therefore, once you set a date for a move, chip away daily to ensure you get everything done with time to spare. For instance, do your research for moving companies and shop around. You don’t have to choose one at the last minute, and don’t forget to read reviews!
Also, set a reminder to call your utility companies to ensure you turn everything off at the location you leave and to get you going on the day of the move to your new place. Remember to get your packing supplies together, including boxes. Check out this cool packing calculator to estimate your packing supply needs.
1. Donate and Recycle What You Don’t Need
One of our first tips for moving is to think of your move as a chance to get rid of things you no longer want or need. Let’s face it, even if you don’t like to keep things, you probably have some things you don’t need any longer. In the old days, people would throw away usable items, such as clothing, shoes, electronics, and kitchen equipment. Fortunately, the world is moving past that idea, and we understand that it’s better for the planet for us to recycle.
For those living in the southeastern U.S., it’s easy to locate a recycling bin close to your home or even schedule a pick-up. If you don’t happen to live in the southeast, a simple internet search will inform you about recycling in your area. In short, recycling is one of the top tips for moving because it makes a difference. First, it allows you to get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore before a move. Second, you extend the use of the items you recycle—meaning, someone else gets to use it. And finally, depending on the recycling organization you use, you could help organizations in their work to help people.
2. Use Color Post-It Notes to Code Your Boxes for Moving
As you do your closet clean out, you need to start placing items in groups. For example, you’ll want to separate what you’ll take to your new place, and also what you’ll give away. As your boxes start to pile up, things could get confusing. So, buy yourself a pack of colored post-it or sticky notes and scotch tape. As you begin to box items up, place colored post-its on them secured with tape, so they don’t slip off during transit. In short, create a color-coded system, so you know where your boxes go.
For instance, you could use different color post-its for each room in your home. A simple approach is to chose your favorite color for your bedroom and important personal items. You could also ask your family to choose their favorite colors for the boxes destined for their rooms. For common spaces, such as the kitchen, dining room, and living room, use the remaining colors. Finally, you use a specific color, such as green, to designate those items that you’ll get to a recycling center. When you get to your new place, by color-coding your boxes, it’s easy to see which boxes go to which rooms and which belong to whom.
3. Make Sure You Personally Carry the Most Important Items
Ultimately, the chances are that you’ll be using a moving company. While you want to make sure to choose a reputable moving company, it’s still stressful to have your most important possessions out of your hands. So, first, make it a point to choose a moving company that is trusted and bonded. Going with the lowest price isn’t always a good idea. Unethical companies have been known to hold merchandise “hostage” until they get more money. Worst yet, bad moving companies could deliver your merchandise broken, and sometimes, items could go even go missing.
To minimize the stress and any problems, you want to find a reputable mover and make sure to take your most essential items with you when moving. For example, those critical things could include vital papers, such as tax documents, but they could also include precious family photos (especially non-digital one-and-only copies). Also some companies do not move TV’s, firearms, and liquor for safety reasons. For items, such as furniture, which are antiques, if you have a truck, personally take those items to your new home. If the things are too large, it makes sense to invest in a specialized moving company for large furniture or art pieces.
4. Rekey Your New Home When Moving
You may find yourself having to give copies of keys to friends, cleaning services, property managers, and movers. It’s especially true if you move long distances, such as from one state to the next, or even across the country. Because of it, one of our top tips for moving is to rekey your new place when you move. Doing so ensures that no one has access to your new home aside from you and your family.
Unfortunately, you don’t know who could have made an extra copy of your key. Moreover, people who lived at your new place before you move-in could have copied it or, through the years, shared the keys with others. So, the best investment you could make for yourself when moving is to rekey your new place. On the day of your arrival, make sure a locksmith meets you at your new home. Then ask the locksmith to change all of the locks to the house or apartment. Don’t forget to change any alarm system passwords as well.
5. Make Sure to Add Electronic GPS Trackers in Your Moving Boxes
One of the great things about living in the digital age is that tools exist to give you more peace of mind. For example, if you’re moving locally, chances are you’ll have pretty close control of your boxes and merchandise. But, what happens if you move long distance, or even clear across the country? Well, the chances are that you won’t be seeing your boxes and stuff for a few days or even a couple of weeks after you move. Your items may even go to a storage facility for a time until your moving company has a full load for a truck (assuming your items are a partial load).
Electronic GPS trackers make moving and keeping track of your items easy! In short, these small devices connect to your mobile phone. All you have to do is place one tracker inside of one of the boxes (or two), and you’ll know exactly where your stuff is at all times. If you happen to be someone who’s moving overseas, it makes even more sense to invest a little money to make sure you know where your items along the way from country to the next.
Finally, although moving could be stressful, but it’s also another chapter in a new place for you. If you take the time to plan and stay mindful of our tips for moving each day, you’ll do a lot to manage the stress. Remember, all you want to do is to make things as easy as possible for yourself.
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