From the moment you have decided to move, you must take charge of the organization of your move. There are certain steps that should be taken as soon as possible to ensure a smooth move.
Here, we'll walk you through 5 steps to take right from the start — steps you must take before anything else so that the rest can easily line up.
1. Prepare a budget
Moving is expensive, and no matter how you do it, there will be costs associated with it. By preparing a budget early on, it will let you know how much you can afford for your move and allow you to make the right decisions when the time comes.
To prepare your budget, you can start by requesting moving quotes. Asking for quotes early on is not important only for your budget only but also to ensure you have as much choice as possible. Movers are often booked months in advance. The earlier you ask for quotes, the better it is. Create a folder on your computer with all the quotes you received, which will be useful later.
You can also have a look at truck renting companies or moving container companies. This way, you can compare your options and have an idea of what fits your budget best.
When preparing your budget, plan a cushion. You never know what can happen, and having a cushion can reduce the stress if, unfortunately, you would need it.
2. Book your movers or truck
Once you've made your budget and have an idea about how much you can afford, it's time to book. If during the previous steps you have requested many quotes, it should give an idea of the company you would like to hire. Comparing quotes is a very important step before choosing your movers, and you should do it carefully, but once you have selected the one you want, you must act.
Whether you choose to hire movers or to only book a truck, we recommend you book as soon as you can to make sure they are available on your moving date. This is especially important if you move during the summer months because it is high season.
If you think you’ll need friends or family to help you out, this is also the best time to ask. By asking them in advance, they will be able to reserve the day for you. Plus, nobody likes to be asked for a favor like this only a couple of days in advance!
3. Sort your belongings
Moving is the best time to sort your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need and that only accumulates dust.
To do that, you can start by creating a list and add every object that you feel you don’t need. You can separate them by items to sell and items to give away.
If you have any valuable objects or furniture you no longer want, this could help pay for your move. However, if you have other objects that you feel are not as valuable but are still in good shape, consider donating it to charities or to friends and family who might have a use for it. Donating feels good, plus it facilitates your move.
4. Tackle the paperwork
Nobody likes paperwork, but when moving, you want to make sure everything is done properly. By doing it in advance, you won’t have to worry about it during your move, plus you’ll have time to make sure everything is well done.
Among other things, you’ll have to make your address changes. This can take some time, however, it is necessary to, even if you think you don’t receive much mail. Several changes of address are required by law, and you must do them as soon as you can.
You also need to have a look at your internet service. If you like your actual internet service provider, you might want to see if they are available at your new address. If so, you can inform them as soon as possible to book an appointment and have the internet ready once you move in. If they are not available, it’s time to do a little research.
There are many internet service providers available in most areas, and it can take some time to find the best for you. Moreover, once you have found it, that does not mean that it will be available around your moving date for the installation. Again, you’ll want to contact them as soon as possible to book a date.
All this paperwork can be overwhelming, and it is not always clear where to start. If you need help, there are free services available to help you. They are called moving concierge services and can assist you with many tasks and even do some of them for you, such as your address changes. They are specialists in moving and will know how to guide you through everything that must be done.
Plus, nowadays, there are many moving applications that can help you with your move so you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you need an application for an inventory, to sell items online, or to organize your move, you have it!
5. Pack your boxes
Packing is one the most important steps, and you want to make sure it is well done. If your boxes are properly packed, this will make a huge difference on moving day.
If you have a couple of months before your move, you can start by packing items that are out of season and that you know you won’t be using before your move anyway. If you can do this first, it will reduce the number of things you have to do in the few weeks or days before the move.
Then, when packing the rest of your belongings, we suggest you properly indicate where the boxes go and if there are any fragile items in them. Make sure any special or fragile items are carefully packed. We could tell you to do color code or a complete inventory. Truth is, everybody is different. Do what you feel will really help you and not stress you out more. As long as there is somewhat of a system, such as writing on the boxes, this will make things easier.
Before packing, you can also take pictures of any fragile or valuable objects. This will be useful to show your insurance if the items get broken or damaged.
Conclusion
Moving is not easy and can be stressful. With the right preparation and organization, however, it can be done. The above are the steps we suggest you do as soon as you can so on the big day all you have to do is pack the truck and unpack it.
The more tasks you save for the last minute, the more complicated the move will be. By doing what you can ahead of time, not only is there less stress, but things are done properly.