Preparing for a move can feel like a never-ending process. To help make things a bit easier, we’ve collected a set of four tips to prepare you for your upcoming move. If you’re ready for a move with less stress, read on.
1. Start Planning In Advance
The moving process is only as difficult as the amount of time you put into it each day. If you wait until the last minute, you will quickly feel overwhelmed and likely miss some necessary steps along the way. To avoid these setbacks:
- Start planning for your move in advance.
- Look for ways to make your move simpler.
- Begin decluttering and getting rid of items ahead of time, so there is less to pack when it’s time to actually move. You will want to declutter as much as possible so that you only end up keeping the items that you genuinely want and need to bring with you.
- Create an organized calendar that outlines exactly when you plan on doing and what step in the moving process you are in so that you can stay accountable and organized as you go.
2. Gather Your Team
Decide early on what your moving situation looks like. Will you be using movers, or will your friend or partner be helping you? Will you rent a truck or have your belongings shipped directly to you? How much money will you need to set aside to budget for these expenses? Are any of your credit cards maxed-out? What moving supplies will you choose to use to package and store your items effectively? These are the kinds of questions you’ll want to ask yourself as you work on gathering your team of helpers and services for your move.
3. Organize Your Trash Pickup Days
Depending on where you live and your current residence type, your accommodations for trash pickup will differ. Some states designate a trash pickup once a year, and others do so more frequently. Some places determine the dates for you, and others allow you to select the dates you want for trash pickup. Look up the specifications for your situation and plan accordingly. Have your items ready a few days in advance, so you aren’t scrambling to find your throw-away items. If you know that you will need to bring some of your things to the dump directly, put this task on your calendar, so you don’t wait until the last minute here as well.
4. Budget For Your Move
Even if you know that your real estate investment will eventually pay for the costs of your move and more, you will still want to think about the costs associated with transportation, supplies, and other essentials of the moving process. For instance, do you plan on driving to your new location, or will a flight be necessary? Will you need to pay to have your car brought to you, or will you need to calculate how much you’ll spend in gas money on your trip to a new place? Create a spreadsheet of all of these costs and total up the amount you’ll need to have set aside in time. Always save more money than you think you’ll need to cover unexpected costs. If your car breaks down on your way there, you’ll have to pay for those accommodations. You never know what emergencies you might need to cover, so be smart with your money and save.
Don’t let the tasks of moving get you down. Follow these steps and handle the process in bite-sized pieces. You’ll be done in no time!