Moving is never easy, so it’s important to take steps to make the transition as stress-free as possible.
Before the Move:
- Be sure to let your utility company know you’re moving at least a month in advance. The sooner you do this, the easier it will be to transfer your bills to your new place.
- Change your address at least two weeks before moving. This includes all bills, magazine subscriptions, amazon deliveries, credit cards, bank statements, etc.
- Consider hiring a moving company. If you have a lot of fragile furniture and other belongings, it might be worth the investment. A local company, Bellhops, will match you with drivers and loading crews with just your zip code, property details, and preferred dates.
- Make your last grocery shopping trip two weeks before moving. This way you’ll be forced to use the food you have instead of having to throw it all away when you move.
Keep the Essentials Separate:
- Be sure to pack the things you don’t use often first. This includes out of season clothing, decorations, and non-essential dishware. This way these things will be in separate boxes and you’ll know you don’t need to unpack them as quickly.
- Pack the items you’ll need within the first day or two in a clear bin. This includes things such as toilet paper, scissors, phone chargers, eating utensils, and select cookware. The clear bin will set itself apart from all of the cardboard ones and allow you to see what’s inside.
- Pack an overnight bag. When you first get to the new place, it’s more than likely you’ll be too tired to unpack most of your belongings. Keeping a bag with a change of clothes, toiletries, and anything else you might need for your first night.
Saving Space While Packing:
- Wrap your breakables in clothing. You can wrap your dishes in shirts and sweaters and your glasses in socks. This way you’ll save space in boxes by fitting two things in one and you’ll save money on bubble wrap!
- Keep your drawers full! Many people empty their dresser drawers when packing, but these are essentially boxes themselves! Wrap them in stretch wrap to keep things from falling out and you’re good to go!
- Take advantage of your suitcases, laundry bins, and other baskets. Fill them with clothes and other items to save on boxes –you have to transport them anyway, might as well make use of them!
- Make sure everything is labeled. Include what room the box goes in and a general list of what’s inside. This will cut down on guesswork and make finding things much easier as you begin to make your new house a home.