Any move, whether that be one that takes you across town or has you moving across the country can be a bit unnerving. You have so much to do and not enough time to get things done. Therefore, it is important that you be organized or risk having everything come down around you. Here’s how to prepare for your move.
- Fight Inertia. Your moving date is set, so get moving. You can feel overwhelmed and out of control, what can cause paralysis or inertia. You must decide to move forward and avoid those things that can hold you up. Get started early and you won’t have to deal with added stress later on.
- Purge your inventory. You already know that some items will move with you while other items will be sold or donated. It is important to separate these items as soon as possible and either sell or donate what you don’t need. Simplify your life and you will have less to deal with later. You will also save on your moving costs.
- Set aside time. Know that it can take weeks to get everything packed, so allot enough time to get the work done. Pick up boxes, packing supplies and related materials to begin packing at once. Schedule time to get the work done — you can’t do everything on weekends and you may need to take some time off from work to compete your packing.
- Ask for help. You and your spouse will handle the bulk of the packing. Your children should help too, even youngsters. Set aside time to do group packing. And if you need outside help, turn to family members and friends for help. You might also ask people to take your children and pets for the weekend to concentrate on the work at hand.
- Find a great mover. There are any number of moving companies that can handle your move. However, there are only a few that truly rise to the top. Here, you don’t want to cut corners — only work with a mover who is licensed, well recommended and will cheerfully share referrals. Get in-home estimates, evaluate prices and obtain “binder not exceed” estimates for the work. As soon as you find the one that you want, then hire them.
- Keep it light. Boxes may be able to hold a lot of stuff, but if it is too heavy it will be a burden to move. Endeavor to keep weights between 25 to 30 pounds or less. The heavier the box, the more likely someone will be injured in transit. Use a bathroom scale to weigh these items.
- Create an inventory system. You may be worried that something will get lost while in transit. The best way to handle this is to mark and label boxes for the appropriate room. For instance, if your youngest child has eight boxes going to his new room, then mark boxes as 1 of 8, 2 of 8, 3 of 8 and so forth. Labels can be color coordinated too, making it easier for the movers to put each box in the right room. You should identify content too by marking each box as “toys” or “books” or “clothes” as appropriate. Create an inventory system that makes sense for you.
- Make notification. You should begin to notify people of your move about one month before your moving date. That means calling your doctor, dentist, school officials and veterinarian to secure the required copies of the paperwork. You should also notify your bank, creditors, utility companies and anyone else that has a need to know about your pending move. Lastly, complete a change of address form with the USPS.
Making Your Move
Your move will soon be here! Get to work early and you won’t feel terribly stressed as you make your move. This is especially important if you are leaving the area as you can bid your friends goodbye before you start your new life elsewhere.
