Moving can be a pain. A major pain.
Between gathering up all of the extra newspaper, bubble wrap, and boxes you can get your hands on and trying to figure out how to box up all of your treasured items and family heirlooms in a way that ensures that they’ll arrive safely at your new destination, the whole process can be exhausting. Mentally and physically.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
By doing just a few simple things prior to the move itself, the whole process can be smoother and relatively stress-free (there are, after all, some stressors that are outside your control, such as moving trucks that don’t show up on time or Mother Nature throwing a curve ball come moving day). What are these moving hacks?
START PACKING EARLY
If you are a procrastinator, having a smooth transition to your next place is going to be extremely difficult. Instead, start packing early—like a month or two before the big day, if possible—reducing the likelihood that you’ll forget to pack something or that you’ll pack an item haphazardly, increasing the likelihood that it will break.
Starting early also gives you time to acquire all of your packing materials, which means less you have to buy. So, save all of those grocery store circulars you normally just recycle and set aside the boxes that once held all of your Amazon deliveries so they’re ready to go when you are.
KEEP A FEW DIFFERENT LISTS
It’s not uncommon to have some confusion and chaos while moving. You are after all, packing up everything you own, which means that nothing is readily accessible, and you have thousands of things on your mind about what you need to take care of now, what you have to do later, and on and on.
One way to keep this chaos to a minimum (and to give you a bit of mental clarity) is to create a few different lists. Here are a few to consider:
- Items I don’t want to forget to pack – such as the garden hose out back or all of your nightlights
- Utilities or services I need to cancel – think electric, gas, water, and garbage
- Utilities or services I need to move – your internet or cable/satellite service
- Utilities or services I need to start up – again, electric, gas, water, and garbage
- Places I need to notify that I moved – the post office, your bank, retirement accounts, etc.
Add items to these lists as you think of them. This keeps your mind clear for other, more mentally demanding tasks while also decreasing the odds that you’ll forget to do something.
WRITE ON 2 SIDES OF EACH BOX
Though this may take a bit more time up front, you’ll be glad you did it. Why? Because when you’re trying to figure out where the box goes at your new home, you won’t be standing there turning it in circles just to find the one side that you wrote on.
Ideally, these two sides should be next to each other (such as the front and right side). This keeps you from having to flip the box completely around before identifying its contents and where it needs to go.
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR MOVERS
Whether you’re paying a company to help you move or enlisting the help of family and friends, take good care of the people who are breaking their backs to get your things from point A to point B. Plus, a little kindness “encourages” them to handle your things with greater care.
A few ways to thank them for their help include:
- Buying them lunch
- Having their drinks of choice on hand (if you’re unsure what that is, a sports drink is always a good choice because it helps them replace the electrolytes they lose in their sweat)
- Giving them some cash or prepaid credit card to either help offset their fuel expenses or to enjoy a nice meal once the move is done
If you’re short on cash, even a simple “thank you” or “thanks for all your hard work” can go a long way.
Moving can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these four moving tips and you’ll be one step closer to making your transition to your new home more stress-free.
