Living arrangements are hardly ever permanent. At some time or another most of us will have to pack, load and re-locate everything we own. And it’s not fun. It takes time, energy, trucks and calling in just about every favor we have to get a 6-foot sofa through a 5-foot door frame. So the best we can to is bear down and try to make the best of a bad situation. Organization is everything to making execution successful.
Make a List – Before you do anything at all, put your thoughts down on paper. Make a list of everything you need and everything you need to do. Write down what services you think you might need, from a car shipping service to long distance movers to storage space. Create another list for supplies, including boxes, tape, scissors, garbage bags, markers and cleaning materials.
Do Some Math – Run the numbers create a moving budget. You’ll need some capital to cover rentals and other costs you may incur. Also, check with the IRS, and find out if your move qualifies you for a tax deduction. If you can write off your moving expenses it might affect your budget.
Get Supplies – Gather all of the supplies you’ll need before you try to start doing any major work. Nothing worse is than getting into a packing groove and having to break it to go find something or other. It often helps to designate a “packing room” to keep everything in one central location. If you need to buy supplies, take one shopping trip with your list to avoid having to “run out” for something you forgot.
Think Outside (Buying) The Box - Before you go out and buy boxes or packing materials, get creative. Ask friends and family and local stores for any boxes they have. You can also try places online like Craigslist to people who are getting rid of their own moving boxes. Just make sure they are in decent condition, the boxes do need to protect your stuff after all. If you want a greener moving experience, look into cardboard box alternatives for packing your good. Gather newspapers or even cloth items that can be used in packing. Sheets, towels and other resilient textiles can be useful in protecting valuables.
Get Rid Of the Clutter – If it’s not making the move, get it out of the way. Give the house a good cleansing of everything that you can throw away. From old papers in drawers to furniture that’s ready to be put out to pasture. Whether you rent a dumpster or just make a trip to the dump, it’s gotta go. If you’re not throwing it away, consider giving it away. Moving is a great time to part with clothes, decorations, kitchen items or anything else you have way too much of. If you have enough, consider using Ebay or having garage sale to make some extra cash.
Hire the Help – Get your services in order. Figure out who you need to hire to get the job done. If you’re moving yourself you may need a rental truck if you don’t have 8 friends with SUV’s. Or for more complicated long distance move you may have to find and coordinate cross country shipping. If you need to store some items you’ll it’s a good idea to rent at a storage facility near your new location. If you want to cut yourself a break, consider hiring a cleaning service to help clean your old home so that you can focus on unpacking at your new place.
Label – Thing are gonna get kind of crazy so make it easy on yourself and label everything. To make each box visually distinct, assign each room a color and use colored tape or markers to label it. Being able to separate your boxes by color will help make the load in much simpler. Also, draw an arrow on each box to signify the top; it could help avoid disaster later.
Power and Post – Moving into a dark, cold building isn’t anyone’s idea of a home sweet home. So call ahead to make sure the power will be on at your new house. But don’t turn off the electricity at your old home for a day or two, just in case you need to go back to clean or grab a forgotten item. And if entertainment is important to you, make an appointment with the cable company because it could be a while before they can come by. File a change of address with the post office to make sure you don’t miss any important mail
The boy scouts have always said it, but being prepared really is the key to a smooth moving day. Planning is a big part of keeping the whole process as stress-free as possible. In the end it’s the little things you think about ahead of time that will make the difference. When you do it right, moving day is still a chore, but it least it can be a controlled chaos.
Jade writes most often for uShip where they offer everything from long distance overs to car shipping in their transport marketplace. Jade has been blogging for many years and has had the unfortunate pleasure of moving several times.
Update - see this guide for information about changes regarding the moving tax deduction.
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