Changing homes always generates a certain level of stress due to the change in surroundings and the concern about adapting to a new neighborhood.
Set the Moving Date
The first step to a less stressful move is to establish a date. Keep in mind that moving prices are higher on weekends and during the summer.
If possible, try to have your new home available a few days before the move. This way, you can make any necessary touches, such as painting a wall, cleaning, or doing some repairs. Imagine having to paint your new house with boxes everywhere and actually living there. It’s a chaotic situation and one you should avoid whenever possible.
Hire the Moving Company in Advance
As soon as you have the date, start researching moving companies in your area, their reputation, and the services they offer. Ideally, one month before the move, you should have already decided which company to use and have a contract with them. This guarantees the availability of the company you want to hire and saves you the inconvenience of having to hire an unknown company at the last minute.
Create a To-Do List
Once you have a date, begin creating a checklist of all pending tasks. It’s advisable to divide the process into several phases, such as before the move, moving day, and the first few days in the new house.
You can keep your checklist on your phone through a mobile app, which allows you to have it handy in case new tasks arise. Alternatively, you can use paper or a whiteboard at home. Remember that the more specific the list, the more useful it will be.
Deep Clean Your Home
The cost of a move depends on the quantity of items you need to move, so it’s an excellent idea to declutter your possessions before moving. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, consider tackling one room at a time.
If you’re having trouble deciding, use the following questions as a guide:
When was the last time you used it? If it’s been more than three months, you can probably do without it.
Does it hold sentimental value for you? Not all items have a practical purpose; some are kept purely for their emotional significance.
Did you even remember you had this item? If you didn’t even remember you had it, it might not be as important as you think.
After deciding which items won’t accompany you to your new home, determine what to do with them. You can sell, give away, donate, or recycle them.
Gather Packing Materials
If you’re doing the packing yourself instead of hiring the moving company for this service, start collecting packing materials such as boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and others.
To save money, you can obtain boxes from supermarkets and stores rather than buying them.
Pack Room by Room
This could be the most stressful part of the process because you’re packing while continuing your daily life. To simplify and optimize this stage and avoid feeling overwhelmed, pack one room at a time, starting with the rooms you use the least.
Include this stage in your checklist, but remember to be specific and set a deadline for each room to ensure you don’t leave it for the last minute.
Moving experts recommend packing heavy items, such as books, in smaller boxes to prevent them from becoming too heavy and difficult to transport. Additionally, remember that delicate items like glassware and dishes should be packed using appropriate protective materials like bubble wrap.
Prepare a First-Night Kit
Imagine arriving at your new home after a day of moving, and everything is in boxes. You’re too tired to start unpacking that night, but what will you eat, what clothes will you wear to sleep, and how will you brush your teeth?
To avoid this scenario, prepare a suitcase or box with the essentials for the first night. Include phone chargers, clothing, and personal hygiene items. You can also include some non-perishable snacks.
Label Everything Appropriately
You don’t want to start your life in your new home amidst the chaos of not knowing where anything is. You can avoid this stress by using a system to identify boxes and packages, such as using a different color for each room in the house.
Each box should indicate on the outside which room it belongs to and even list the items stored inside. Don’t forget to label boxes containing fragile items. This will make the unpacking and organization process in the new house much smoother.
Secure Valuables in a Safe Place
Important documents and valuable items like jewelry should not be moved with the rest of your belongings. Instead, store them in a secure location that you’ll have easy access to.
It’s a good idea to scan documents and upload them to cloud storage for easy access.
