Moving is frequently a part of significant life transitions, such as moving out for the first time on your own, purchasing your first house, downsizing after your children leave home, or starting over in a new place. As exciting as it may be, relocating can be stressful as well. You’ll have to create a budget, pack (and unpack) your belongings, and deal with the mountains of paperwork and unforeseen difficulties that come along with it.
If you’re relocating more than once, the approach will be a bit different each time, with its own set of unique obstacles to overcome. You can plan your relocation from start to finish with guidance and recommendations from local movers.
1. Plan Your Packing Well
Start packing up things you don’t use daily and store them in a place you don’t frequent often. Sort your boxes by room using colored tape or labels, such as yellow for the bedroom, red for the living room, green for the kitchen. When you move into your new house, mark the doors of each room with a piece of painter’s tape and a corresponding-colored dot. The moving staff won’t have to ask you where each box is going, saving you time and energy.
The top and at one side of the box should list the box’s most important contents. With this method, you may unpack your belongings in a more orderly manner, putting the dishes and cups away before the ice cream machine, which you will only use sometimes. Remember to label boxes with “FRAGILE” in darker ink when they require special care.
2. Preserve Your Priceless Assets
Purchase a small fire- and water-resistant safe if you don’t already own one. This is where you should keep your most valuable possessions, such as jewels and critical documents. It’s a little cost to pay for precious mental peace. Instead of giving the safe to the local movers to handle, keep it with you.
3. Preparation for an Overnight Stay
Make sure everyone has enough supplies for the first 24 hours in their new home by giving them each a bag to fill with their personal belongings. Also, don’t forget a change of clothing and a set of pajamas, toiletries, and more. Include a bag for your pet if you have one. Put a few days’ supplies of food and snacks, as well as their pet’s dish, bed, and favorite toy, in a box or bag that they can quickly get to.
4. Put together a Moving Day Survival Kit for your family
Make a family emergency survival kit in addition to the individualized bags for each member of the family. Water bottles, snacks, bandages, and a second phone charger are all good additions to have on hand. While unloading and unpacking boxes, keep an eye out for anything else you may also need to grab fast.
5. Make sure you have fresh sheets and towels
Doing a load of laundry, the night before you move may not sound like fun, but when moving day is through, everyone will appreciate being able to take a hot shower and sleep on fresh bedding. Use an additional extra bag or even a huge garbage bag to store them instead of a box, and then toss it in the trunk of your car to take it with you.
Put down some old bed linen or drop cloths on crucial traffic routes to deter people from littering. Before hiring local movers, make sure you check with them to see if they provide packing services.
