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Moving to a new place can be exciting and filled with new possibilities for the future. Still, few people would argue that it can also be a stressful, chaotic experience. Whether you’re moving across town or halfway across the globe, any number of things can go wrong along the way. Minimizing problems and potential risks is the key to success. The following tips can help set you up for an effortless relocation.
Never Wait Until the Last Minute
One of the best pieces of advice for a successful move is to get started early. Never wait until the last minute to start planning or packing. That’ll bring about unnecessary stress and frustration. Start the planning and packing processes as early as possible. Ideally, it would be best to get started a few months before moving day.
You can begin by making a list of all the things you’ll need to do by the time you move. That might include having utilities and internet services transferred to your new location and filling out a change of address card with the post office. Scheduling help from professional movers should be added to that list as well. Finding out which schools your children will be attending enters the mix too. Those are only a few of the details you might need to cover. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to add details you might’ve initially overlooked. It’ll also give you more time to deal with unexpected developments when they arise.
In terms of packing, you could also start wrapping and boxing items you won’t need before the move. Seasonal bedding, clothing, and home decor might be a good place to start. Knick-knacks, certain non-essential children’s toys, and rarely used kitchen accessories are great items to pack early on as well. As moving day draws closer, you can slowly whittle away at the rest of your belongings until you’re left with only the basic necessities to pack up during the final few days.
Get Rid of Unnecessary Clutter
Another helpful hint is to get rid of any clutter and unnecessary items you might have lurking in your home. Most people have a lot more of it than they realize, but once you start packing, it becomes much more obvious. As a general rule, if you haven’t used it in a year or more, consider throwing it out. If it’s broken or missing essential parts, get rid of it. There’s no need to hold onto clothes that are torn or that no longer fit. Toys your children have outgrown don’t need to go to your new home.
Getting rid of unnecessary items gradually as you’re packing will greatly cut down on the effort you put into the process. It’ll make unpacking easier too. At the same time, it’ll give you more space to work with in your current home and won’t take up valuable space in the new one. You can throw items away, donate them, sell them online, or hold a yard sale. Just don’t keep them if they’re dispensable.
Stay Organized
One of the reasons moving is so stressful is the sheer chaos it brings about. Things get lost and broken. Nothing ever seems to go as planned. When you get to the new house, many of your belongings inevitably end up in the wrong rooms. Items that belong together tend to get separated, and some important pieces and parts never return.
Staying organized will help to eliminate much of the anarchy. Use labels religiously for boxes, bags, and even large, bulky pieces that won’t be packed. Keep screws, bolts, cords, and other parts with the items they belong to. Consider placing those small, loose pieces in ziplock bags. Write what the pieces belong to on those bags. Then, either pack them with or attach them to their respective items.
Setting Yourself Up for a Seamless Relocation
No matter how careful you are or how well you plan, moving will come with certain problems. Some unexpected issues just can’t be avoided. Still, the points mentioned here will help make your move as effortless as possible.
Start planning and packing well in advance of moving day. That’ll give you plenty of time to pack, organize, and handle all the important details that’ll come into play. Get rid of unnecessary clutter and items you don’t need along the way. Stay organized to make things even simpler. Don’t hesitate to bring in professional movers as well. They can help make the move go much smoother.
