Nearly 9% of the population move homes every year, and while this number is declining for multiple reasons, including the rate of rent inflation, which is a major one currently, the average American moves around 11.7 times in their lifetime.
This means that you need to know the best ways to pack up and move home for a stressful and seamless experience that removes all or most of the worry and stress associated with this significant life event.
Let’s take a look at some tips to help you master your next house move.
Plan Ahead
The earlier you start planning, the smoother things are likely to go. This means booking in with your removal company or truck hire as soon as possible if applicable. Early planning allows you to secure the best services and avoid last-minute rush. Companies like prince movers can offer a range of services to meet your needs, and typically moving companies will offer anything from truck rental, meaning you move yourself using their trucks, to full-service moves that have a team to pack up your home for you, move it to your new location, and unpack everything on your new property.
You also need to plan any essential activities, such as time off work, pet or childcare, installation of new services, mail redirects, and more, as early as possible to help you get everything taken care of ahead of time.
Declutter
Moving home is the perfect opportunity to declutter and streamline what you own. You will need to pack everything in boxes for the move anyway, so why not use this chance to sort through your belongings and reduce your load? Decluttering not only lightens your load but also helps you start fresh in your new home.
Remember, it’s not just about sorting out what you don’t want or need; it’s about removing it from the property as soon as possible. Whether you hold a garage sale, donate to Goodwill, or take it to your local dump, get rid of it as soon as possible so it’s out of your way.
Gather Supplies
In the early days, getting what you need together can help you to move forward with the packing process easily, especially if you are not using third-party services to assist you with packing. Packing materials, boxes, bags, labels, packing tape markers, etc., will all come in handy as you pack up your life so you don’t run into any issues sourcing what you need closer to the time.
Have a Checklist
Your checklist is your roadmap to a successful move. It helps you methodically work through all the things you need to do. Start with a master list, then break things down room by room. This way, you can focus on one area at a time, ensuring nothing is overlooked and maintaining a sense of control throughout the process.
Make it as detailed as possible, then break it down and give the dates you need to complete each section to keep you on track. You might only pack one box a day around family life or take advantage of days off to get more, but plan what you need to order around the items you have so you can make some progress, even if it is small.
Label Boxes
As you pack everything, label the boxes so you know what’s in them, you can create lists of the contents and tape them to the box if you wish, but you at least need to have an idea of what is in it and what room it needs, to log in so you can be more organized the other side when you’re ready to unpack in your new property.
Change Addresses
It can be a good idea to set up a mail redirect to cover your moving dates so you don’t miss anything. It can be a few weeks or a couple of months or as long as you are able to, but it’s a good way to ensure you get all of your mail. As soon as you have confirmed the dates of your new property or you have the keys, start the process of updating your address with all essential parties. This is your bank, credit card companies, employers, insurance carriers, medical services, schools, workplaces, etc.
Essential Kit
Having an essentials kit is like having a safety net during your move. This box or bag should contain everything you need to have on you at all times, from passports and medications to kids’ essential toys and snacks. By having this kit ready, you’ll feel more prepared and less likely to be caught off guard during your move.
While you can never predict a smooth house move, these tips can help things run more smoothly and give you the best moving experience possible.
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