It’s hard to believe that a year ago this time I was in the middle of moving from one town to another. Oh, the chaos! My husband came down with the flu and we had 2 weeks in between closings and had to pack everything into storage. Yes, chaos indeed! But we survived, and trust me when I say it was all worth it. We love our new home and community!
Whether you move down the street or another state, moving can be a chore! But, below you will find 9 ways you can prepare for a move, to make things easier. I’m spilling the beans with these tips that definitely helped our move last summer go much smoother in the midst of the chaos. These tips will help you minimize stress and be organized and ready to go on moving day!
The tips listed below are to help you minimize that moving day anxiety and keep you organized for a seamless move. Let’s check them out!
9 Tips to Help Make Your Move Easier
#1 – Ask Friends or Hire Professionals
If you decide to hire professionals or just ask friends to help you move, do so in advance. Try to aim for several weeks before the moving day arrives. That way you know who will be there to help and you can utilize what should be moved first if you are asking friends. If you hire professionals, check to see if they have any specials going on and you may be able to save a few bucks. If you have kids, find a babysitter in advance if they are too young to really help. That can help you and your kids out the day you move!
#2 – Change Address Online
You can change your address online, to save time. It takes a few minutes to do and saves time and ensures your mail will be delivered. If you go into your post office, be sure to do it 2-3 weeks before you plan to move.
#3 – Free Boxes
Check with your local grocery or dollar stores for free boxes. A lot of the time they will save them and give them out for free if you ask. The banana boxes are really sturdy and work great for moving. I also scored a ton of free boxes at my local Salvation Army store since people tend to donate items in boxes.
#4 – Pack in Advance
You can start to slowly pack weeks before you move. Keep the essentials out, but pack up as much as you can in each room to save time.This will make it not seem like such a chore. If you do a little here and there it will really help.
#5 – Label and Color Coordinate
Color coordinating boxes is a huge help. Make sure to label the boxes properly by room such as kitchen, bathroom, master, etc. You can also take it a step further and add colors for each room. At your new house put the color on the top of each door so when people are moving the boxes for you they can drop them off directly into the room it belongs. Yay, less work for you!
#6 – Number Your Boxes
This is a great option. Number your boxes and keep a total count, then when you get to new house make sure all the boxes are accounted for, so nothing gets lost or left.
#7 – Donate or Get Rid of Clutter
When you are packing if you come across things you haven’t used in a very long time, consider donating or getting rid of it. This will make moving easier and you won’t be taking stuff you won’t use, to just shove in a closet at the new house! You can see it as a little spring cleaning! Plus, if you decide to sell it, you can make a little extra cash! I donated and sold A LOT of our stuff in our move since we had to put it all in storage, but I’d do it again even if I didn’t have to store it. I was able to make money on what I sold and purchase new items that fit better into our new space. It was definitely a win!
#8 – Packing Clothes
You can keep your clothes on the hangers and just wrap plastic wrap all around them, to keep them on the hangers. That way when you get to the new house, just pull the plastic wrap off and hang them up. If they are really nice items, put them in a trash bag to protect the clothes even more. You can always store the clothes in your truck or back seat when you move to ensure they are safe.
#9 – Eat Up
Try to get most of your food ate before you move that is in fridge and freezer. Try creating meals to get rid of that chicken in the freezer. That way when you move you will have less food items to keep cold when you are in transition. Then just head to the store and stock up once you are moved in.
No matter how prepared you are, things can and will go wrong. Moving is stressful, but if you do your best, once you get settled in to the new house, it will be worth it. Just breathe, have patience, and get a good night’s sleep before the big day!
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