It’s no surprise that a house move is a stressful and overwhelming endeavor for many. Amidst decluttering, packing your entire house, hiring a moving company, and dealing with other paperwork, there are endless chores and details to think about.
As shown by a recent statistical study conducted for 1,000 respondents, 45% stated that moving houses was the most stressful moment in their lives, whether it was a local or interstate move.
Thankfully, a local house move can be much quicker than a long-distance move. As you’re traveling a shorter distance, your furniture and boxes will spend less time on the road, and you can relocate into your new home much more quickly. Nevertheless, the overall preparation, time, and effort needed for both a long and short-distance move are fairly the same.
Ultimately, moving to a new home may not be easy, but there are ways to help make the moving operation less stressful. Here are eight ways you can prepare for a local house move and stay organized.
- Create a moving checklist
Many people often skip this step as they’d like to have their list of tasks memorized. However, it’s not guaranteed to work every time. To help you stay organized without forgetting any detail, create a moving checklist. Some of the essential things to include in your checklist are:
- Ordering packing supplies
- Contacting utility companies
- Setting mail forwarding serves
- Reserving temporary storage options
- Other moving-related tasks you shouldn’t forget
You may create a moving checklist traditionally (pen and paper) or digitally. As you complete each task, cross it off to track your progress.
- Get additional help from professional movers
Part of your moving preparation is getting help from professional movers. Although you can choose to have a DIY move, it can be harder to pull off as you’ll be doing everything yourself. When hiring professional movers for the moving day, take your time to research the local movers in your state. You can get referrals from your family or friends who’ve experienced moving to the same location as you. Once you’ve listed down your potential moving companies, compare their quotes to help you make a decision.
- Declutter your current house
Moving can be an excellent time to declutter and eliminate things you no longer use. Decluttering will help decrease the items to put into the moving truck and give you a fresh start in your new home. So, sort through your things and decide which ones to donate, sell, give away, or dispose of. With fewer things to pack and move into your new home, the easier and quicker the whole moving procedure will be.
- Gather all the needed packing supplies
With the few items and furniture pieces left, you may have a better idea of the number of things you’ll need to pack and move. At this point, you can start gathering all the packing materials and boxes you’ll need. You can get as many boxes as you need, as it’s better than having to run to the stores in the middle of packing just to purchase more, which is a waste of time.
You can also use an online packing calculator to help you have a more accurate estimate of how many boxes and other packing supplies you need. If you hire a moving company, it can provide you with the necessary packing supplies as part of its services.
- Pack as early as possible
According to statistics, 48% of respondents said that packing up is the most stressful and challenging aspect of moving, while decluttering and sorting through which stuff to pack or throw is the second one (47%). Thus, to lessen the stress of packing, it’s recommended to start packing as early as possible. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to pack every room and not miss anything.
Ideally, you can start packing the off-season items. For example, if you’re moving during summer, pack your winter clothes and other winter-related items. Additionally, if you need help packing up the entire house, especially if you’re moving alone, you may use the packing services offered by your chosen moving company.
- Pack a separate bag for essentials
Besides packing your household belongings, make sure you and the other household members pack a separate bag for your essentials. These are the things that you’ll need during the first few days of staying in your new home. Some items to include in your bag are:
- Basic toiletries (toothbrush, shampoo, etc.)
- Chargers for your devices
- Medications
- Change of clothes good for at least three to five days
- Important documents
- Cash and other valuables
- Anything else you’ll need during the first few days in your new home
Of course, don’t lose this bag among the other items during the move.
- Label all boxes
Labeling all the boxes you’re taking for the move is essential. This way, it’ll be easier for everyone to recognize the contents of each box without having to open them. Labeling your boxes will also make it easier to unpack once you’re in your new home.
- Set a plan for your children and pets
You must have a plan set if you’re moving with pets or children. Remember, moving can be stressful for kids as, for them, it isn’t about moving all their things to a new house. It can also mean leaving their friends, teachers, and other familiar comforts. So, have a plan to prepare them for the upcoming move. Explain to them your reasons for moving in words they can understand so that they’ll know what to expect. You can also let them pack their toys and belongings to help them adjust and cope with the change.
For your pets, you can temporarily leave them with a pet sitter or any friend or relative they recognize so that they won’t be stressed out during the moving day.
The bottom line
A local house move may be stressful, but the following tips can help you prepare and start in the right direction. Now that you’re aware of how to get ready for a move, you may start implementing your plan. Don’t forget these tips for your upcoming move so that you can successfully settle into your new home very soon.
