Ultimate Guide to a Stress-Free Move
There are very few things more stressful than moving. It’s no small task to gather up years of life in one home to start fresh in another. But moving doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. With a bit of organization and pre-planning, you can make your next move go without a hitch!
Here are our top 7 tips for a stress-free move. Also be sure to download our checklist to see step by step what should be done in the months, weeks and days leading up to your move: Ultimate Moving Checklist PDF.
1. Start collecting supplies sooner rather than later
You should start packing as soon as your moving date is inked on the calendar. But you can’t very well do that if you don’t have the supplies you need. There is nothing more annoying than being close to your moving date and having to scramble for supplies you need to pack your things. If you plan to gather boxes instead of buying new, be sure to start collecting at least two months in advance. Most local grocery and liquor stores should have boxes to spare if you ask nicely.
2. Clean, clean, clean
Moving is the perfect opportunity to clear through your home and get rid of clutter that has collected over the years. Go through room by room and be ruthless in your purging. Sort everything into piles: trash/donate/yard sale/keep. Notice that we’re not including a maybe pile—try to be as definitive with your choices as possible. That item you’re iffy on is just one more thing that will have to be packed and carted to your new home. And if you’re iffy on it in the first place, chances are you don’t need it.
3. Take your time
If you start packing early, you can stretch it out for months instead of trying to cram all of that work into a few weeks. This is one of the easiest ways to bust stress that typically comes with moving. Start by boxing up little-used items like attic keepsakes or seasonal clothing that you won’t need for a few months. You won’t miss these items, and you’ll be getting a great headstart on the packing process.
4. Hire a reputable moving company
A good moving company can make or break your moving day. Be sure to ask for recommendations from friends and family to narrow down your choices. When you’ve chosen a few contenders, have them come to your home and provide a cost estimate if that is an option. An in-home estimate will be more accurate than their guess over the phone without having seen your home and all the items that will need to be moved.
5. Plan ahead for children, pets and plants
Moving day is already hectic enough, but it gets even more complicated when you throw children and pets into the mix. Plan to have childcare/pet care for your moving day if possible, so you can focus on the task at hand. If not, consider in advance a room where they can go and be away from the work. Also, don’t forget that plants are also living things that will require care when you move. If you’re moving across town, you can simply pack your plants in open boxes with newspaper stuffed around the pot to make sure it doesn’t break in transit. Traveling long distance with plants can be tricky, but if you have to do it, treat your plants as you would your pets. Don’t let them get too hot or too cold, and be sure they have enough water.
6. Clearly label boxes
If you take the time to carefully pack items and clearly label boxes, you’ll be grateful to yourself when it comes time to unpack. It can be incredibly frustrating when you find your dishes in the bedroom because the boxes weren’t clearly labeled. Save yourself time resorting and moving those boxes into the correct rooms by making sure they are done right in the first place. Clearly label every single box with a description of the contents inside and where it will go in the new place. You may also consider using color-coded markers to sort and organize boxes by room. That way, when your handwriting fails, there is another way to easily see what belongs where.
7. Pack a moving day survival kit
Nothing is worse than getting to your new home and realizing that something important (like bed linens!) is packed away and nowhere to be found. Instead, pack a moving day survival box with all of your most important items that you’ll need right away. Be sure to include toilet paper, all of your medications, linens, towels, pillows, phone charger, trash bags, basic kitchen items like plates and silverware, snacks, lightbulbs, etc. You’ll also want to have an overnight bag with a change of clothes and toiletries for your first night, as well as important documents, laptop, jewelry and anything else that's very of great value that you wouldn’t want to be left with the movers. And don’t forget to treat yourself! There’s always room in your survival kit for a bottle of wine (or maybe a relaxing chamomile tea) and a corkscrew to celebrate your first night in your new home.
