How to organize an affordable yet stress-free move
We can all agree that moving is not the most relaxed life experience. There are so many things to consider, so many items on the to-do list. And we cannot disregard the expenses. Moving to another location likely implies a new home, too. That, itself, can’t have been cheap. And then there are relocation costs. Regardless of how meager compared to buying a house they are, it is still an additional expense. It’s not easy not to feel overwhelmed at one point. However, despite all the challenges moving entails, especially moving long-distance and moving with kids involved, there are ways to organize an affordable yet stress-free move. The key lies in planning and some research. We are here to help you do both.
Allow yourself enough time
Everything you do in life requires some time. Moving is no excuse. Unfortunately, time is not always on your side. Sometimes, people have to move last-minute and have to act fast. But if this is not the case with you, try to allow yourself about two whole months for planning and preparation.
Over the course of these two months or a bit more, if you have that luxury, you will have to handle a lot. Assuming you have a new home and a new job down, here are the most significant points:
- Decluttering your home
- Purchasing packing supplies
- Packing your entire household
- Disassembling the furniture
- Canceling all your subscriptions
- Transferring utilities
- Hiring a reliable and affordable moving company
- Unpacking and settling down in your new home.
Create a timeline to help you organize an affordable yet stress-free move
Once you know when your moving day will be, you should create a timeline to help you stay on the right track. It will include everything you have to complete in the weeks leading to your relocation and ensure you don’t forget something. So, think about when you should begin packing if your move is a few weeks ahead. When’s the right time to have your mail forwarded and utilities transferred?
A timeline containing all the important steps will make the whole endeavor much more manageable. It will be like a visual representation of your move. When you know that all you have to do is write somewhere as a reminder, you will feel much more relaxed.
Moreover, if you like to be organized down to a T, you can include a few checklists in your timeline. For instance, you can create a packing checklist, a cleaning checklist, a list of where you need to update your address, etc.
Declutter and lower your moving expenses
The first item in your timeline should be decluttering. Firstly, it will help you feel more organized, and when you start packing, you will only pack the things you need, and the unpacking process will automatically become simpler. Secondly, it will reduce your moving costs as moving companies typically charge by the size of the load they need to transfer.
Ask for help
Perhaps you don’t want to burden anyone with your relocation, but remember that your friends and family love you and will gladly give you a helping hand. Also, given that it’s likely they have moved too, they know how difficult it can be. So, don’t be afraid to ask them for some help. For example, they could help you declutter or pack. This is an excellent opportunity to spend some time together before you live. You could even make it fun: order some pizza, play music, revoke some memories, etc.
Moreover, if you have kids or pets, or both, it would be best to keep them away from home on a moving day. As you can already imagine, kids usually don’t make this process easier, especially younger ones. They could have trouble accepting what is happening. Also, they could get hurt in all that hassle. And you will have little time to focus on them.
Hire reliable movers
Of course, you can DIY the whole move. However, think twice before you decide to go down this road. To begin with, consider whether you will really be saving a lot. Without a moving crew, you will likely have to make a few trips back and forth. Alternatively, you will have to rent a truck and storage space, which also costs money. Also, moving companies offer insurance in case anything gets damaged during transport, so you will be adequately compensated. If you DIY your move, you will be on your own in case of any accidents. Not to mention that movers have their own storage units you can rent as a part of their service which can help you organize an affordable yet stress-free move.
Research potential movers before hiring them
When you decide to hire movers, you have to be careful. Unfortunately, there are many scammers out there. Thus, make sure you do some digging. Begin by browsing internet databases and reading through online reviews. If you notice that the reviews are overly positive, that is fishy. It’s possible they are all fake reviews.
So, once you have narrowed down your options to about five companies, ask them for moving quotes. This will allow you to get a feel for the prices and compare their offer with how much they charge, so you can choose the best value for your money. Note that you shouldn’t prioritize the price over quality. And if an offer is too good to be true, well, it probably is.
Finally, make sure you have a meeting with your long-distance movers before hiring them. Ask as many questions as you want, and if you notice that their answers are anything but straight, it’s a red flag. Also, a company that has nothing to hide will not shy away from giving you a list of references so you can check with their previous clients if they were satisfied. Priority is to work with experienced people who are also a part of an insured and bonded moving company.
How to organize a more affordable move
There are a few ways to make your move more affordable.
- Declutter. In other words, reduce the number of things you need to move. Get rid of everything broken and useless, sell or donate everything you don’t need, but someone else may find useful.
- Save on packing supplies. Instead of purchasing new boxes, check if local stores could spare some used cardboard boxes. Perhaps some of your friends or family who has recently moved could give you their used boxes. Also, use the things you have in your home. For example, cupboards, suitcases, duffle bags, and other containers shouldn’t travel empty.
- Move some of the things yourself. There are certainly some items you can bring in your car with you. For instance, an essentials bag containing everything you will need the first few days is a must and can travel with you. Also, if you have space in your truck, fill it up. Most importantly, it would be best to bring your family heirlooms, expensive jewelry, and other valuable items with you. If you have done a good job picking a moving company, you won’t have to worry about anything getting stolen. Still, better safe than sorry.
- Move off-season. If possible, schedule your move during winter. The demand typically dictates the price of hiring a moving company, and given that demand is lower in winter, this could be a way to save some money.
- Do what you can yourself. While there are benefits of hiring professional packers, you don’t need this extra expense. Similarly, if you can clean your home before leaving yourself, this will also save you quite a bit of money.
Don’t worry! It’s possible to organize an affordable yet stress-free move!
Yes, moving is challenging, tiring, and stressful. But good planning and preparation will allow you to organize an affordable yet stress-free move and look forward to the change and a new beginning.