The 10 Commandments of Moving

Moving to a new home can be a daunting task, but with a little preparation you can limit the frustrations. Planning your move in advance will help reduce the chaos and increase your chances of getting everything done by your move out/move in date. These 10 steps will make your move easier…

Listed below are 10 steps to make your move easier. For greater detail on these steps and more helpful moving tips check out this link.

10. Complete Change of Address details before your move.

Handling your change of address with the post office, bank, utility companies, and other important contacts before you move will take one more thing of your to-do list once you have moved into your new home. A change of address can take some time to take effect, so getting an early start will also reduce the chance of important mail being sent to the wrong address.

9. Make a list and check it twice.

Having a to-do list will not only help you to not forget small steps along the process, but will also schedule dates and dead lines for many tasks. It is also helpful to create an inventory of the items you are moving. The inventory list will help with organization, unpacking, and will be useful for insurance purposes if anything is lost or damage during the move.

8. Get as much packing supplies for free as possible.

Moving does not need to be that expensive if you can plan ahead. Get an idea of how many boxes you may need for your household items. Once you have a general idea of how much you have to move, start hitting your local appliance stores, department stores, and grocery stores. Many of them will have extra boxes that they will break down to recycle. You can make their job a little easier and save yourself some money by taking some of those boxes, packing paper, and bubble wrap pieces off of their hands.

7. Plan as you pack.

Having a basic idea how you would like to arrange your new home will help you pack efficiently. Chances are you will not be organizing your new home exactly like your old home, but it helps to have a plan what items will go where before packing. This will reduce clutter as you unpack and limit the chance of forgetting a needed item in a mostly empty moving box. Taking picture of your old set up before you move is also helpful to remember what items go well together. Photos also help greatly with complicated electronic hook ups.

6. Call up a professional if you need help.

If you are really short on time or are moving long distances a moving company may be beneficial to you. Moving companies can be costly but you can keep the cost as low as possible by planning ahead and getting multiple quotes. A professional moving company will also be helpful with large or expensive items.

5. Call in some favors.

Getting friends to help you move will cost far less than hiring a moving company. Like all the other steps, you will need to plan ahead. Try to schedule the move for a day that works best for your helpers ( week ends are usually best ). Payments for friends will be much easier on your pocket book, and make sure you return the favor the next time your friends need to move.

4. Make sure you are comfortable driving a rental truck.

If you have never driven a larger truck before and you plan to move yourself, it might be a good idea to read up on how to drive a rental moving truck/van. The truck will be much heavier and visibility would be more limited than a standard car. Being more comfortable in the vehicle can reduce stress.

3. Clean the odds and ends.

This would be a great time to clean some items that do not usually get attention. Rugs, slip covers, drapes, shower curtains, and bed skirts are all item that are not on the normal cleaning cycle. Getting these items cleaned up before the move is a good way to reduce the transfer of dust or allergens to the new home.

2. Do not horde.

If you have a lot of items you have been planning to get rid of before you move, do not wait until moving day. Plan a head over the months before the move to eliminate clutter in closets, basements, and storage areas. Getting rid of the items early will make your packing easier.

1. Confirm the home will be available on time.

After you have gone through all this work to schedule your move, the last thing you need is to be set off course by your new home being unavailable. Keep in touch with your Property Management company or realtor as the process moves forward. Having a fallback location to stay pre-planned is recommended when purchasing a home if you have a scheduled date that you need to vacate your current property. You should have less worries if you are dealing with a reputable Property Management Company for a rental home. Rental companies like Real Property Management will work with home owners to make sure the new rental home is ready and available on the listed move in date. Things can be a bit more difficult if you are dealing with the landlord yourself. Periodic communication with the landlord before the scheduled move In date should reduce any surprises before taking possession of the property.