Did you know that the average person in the U.S. moves close to 12 times in their lifetime?
If you’ve ever moved, you know that it can be stressful. Even if you plan properly, the moving process can still take a lot out of you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t arrange a successful move.
Continue reading for five tips that’ll help you plan a move, whether you’re selling your home after a divorce, starting a new job elsewhere, or doing it for some other reason.
1. Decide What You Want to Take With You
Moving can be easier if you take inventory of what you have and decide what you want to take with you. Get out a piece of paper, write down what you want to keep, write down what you want to sell or give away, and decide what you want to throw out.
Get rid of the things you don’t want. You can donate things that are in good condition to thrift shops or people you know. Another option is to sell these items to raise money. As for the stuff that ought to be tossed out, take them to your city’s landfill for proper disposal.
After doing these things, you’ll have a better idea of everything that needs to be packed up. It doesn’t make sense to move with a bunch of stuff you don’t need or want. That’ll amount to clutter in your new home. So, trim the excess now. It’ll make moving much easier later.
2. Hire a Reputable Moving Company
Moving will be much easier if you hire a reputable moving company. They will have the manpower, vehicles, equipment, experience, and expertise to assist you. You might be tempted to save on moving costs by renting a moving truck and, with the help of family and friends, making the move a DIY effort. But that’ll be a disaster if you find out, for instance, that your rented moving truck isn’t available when you need it or that some of your volunteers won’t be able to make it. That’s the sort of nightmare situation you’ll want to avoid.
If you need to sell your home as part of a divorce settlement, ensure you get a good divorce attorney who can help you make the right decisions and get the best outcome possible. The last thing you’ll want is to have to rush the sale of your family home. But if you need to get out sooner than you want, find a reputable moving company that offers storage options.
3. Start Packing ASAP
Packing will take more time than you think, so start early. Ensure you have enough boxes, tape, packing paper, and other things to pack your stuff securely. It makes sense to get help from people you know during the packing stage.
Ask some family, friends, and neighbors to lend a helping hand, and reward them by ordering some pizza. Are you hoping to get someone else to do all the packing for you? Some moving companies offer that service, but it’ll cost you.
If you’d rather not get stressed out over packing all your stuff, get the mover to do it for you.
4. Make a Change of Address Request at the Post Office
Go to the post office and ensure your mail gets to your new address. You don’t want to miss important mail or have confidential documents end up in the wrong hands. Ensure you make the request before your moving date to avoid disappointment.
5. Make a List — and Check it Twice
It’ll be easier to stay on track if you have a list of things to do. Create a list, add to it as necessary, and ensure you check items off once they’re completed.
Moving can be stressful. But having a plan and getting started asap will make things easier. Putting everything off until the last minute will cause you nothing but headaches. You’ll find moving is less stressful if you hire a moving company to handle the heavy lifting and logistics. You’ll be able to make better use of your time if you get the help you require.
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