You’ve bought your new house, and you’re dreaming of your new life there. But there’s one big thing standing in the way of your dream: The move. No matter what, moving is a complex event. Juggling the preparation and packing with organizing the mechanics of moving day can quickly get overwhelming. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t strategies to ensure you have a smooth move. When you make your real estate dreams a reality by finding your perfect home, don’t let it become a nightmare by not preparing for your move.
Follow these tips to have a less stressful move.
1. Ask for Help
Whether you’re hiring movers or planning to ask friends to help you out on the big day, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and do it early. People have plans, and movers might be booked up, especially if you’re moving in the busy spring and summer season or a weekend. Book early so you won’t be left scrambling for help at the last minute.
2. Downsize
Are you planning to replace some of your furniture or realize you have belongings you no longer need or use? If that’s the case, there’s no point in packing those things up or letting them take up space in the moving truck.
Go through your furniture and personal items and decide what to get rid of, and check the websites for local non-profits to see where things can be donated. This will save you a lot of time, energy and effort on moving day.
3. Measure
Speaking of furniture, for whatever furniture you plan to take with you, make sure you measure it and the space you plan for it to go in your new house. Many real estate deals will include a visit or two to your new place, especially for this purpose, so take advantage of those days and measure your new spaces. The last thing you’ll want is to lug your furniture onto the moving truck, unload it at your new home, get it inside and then find out it doesn’t fit.
4. Make Plans for Kids and Pets
If you have small children, consider hiring a babysitter or leaving them with friends or family on moving day. Moving day is complicated enough dealing with the logistics without looking after small children, so ask around for someone to watch them.
The same goes for pets. If moving is stressful on humans, it’s even more so for pets. Make arrangements to have them stay with friends, a pet sitter or even a kennel so you know they are safely out of the way and can have a day of play rather than getting stressed out.
5. Treat Your Movers
It doesn’t matter if you’ve hired professional movers or relied on the help of friends and family, making sure everyone knows you appreciate the help is essential. Have cash on hand to tip movers, and make sure you’re well-stocked with snacks and a cooler of cold drinks to make sure everyone stays hydrated and nourished during such a busy day.
Preparation is key to reducing the stress involved in moving. Implementing these tips will help your move go as smoothly as possible.
Also read: Smart Tips on Shopping for Modern Furniture
