Updated: Sep 29
10 Tips For A Faster And Easier Move.
Facing a move is usually overwhelming and stressful. Often, when you have to move all your belongings from one house to another, they become a huge mountain and you don't know where to start.
Take a deep breath. If you follow these simple organizational steps, it will be easier to undertake this adventure, and you will know everything from how to load the moving truck to how to deal with the inevitable moments of crisis.
Before Leaving the Old House.
Moving, especially long distance moves, is not exactly economical. So before you start packing, it's a good idea to make sure you're going to make the most of the space in the moving truck. Here are the three essential steps when it comes to packing your entire household in boxes:
1. Before packing, clean out. Get rid of everything you no longer like or don't want. It makes no sense to take unnecessary things, the space they take up in the truck is money!
2. Do not empty certain drawers. Leave all clothes or non-heavy items in the drawers and just protect the furniture. This does indeed make them heavier, but as long as the drawers are full of light items (don't fill them with books), there will be no problem. However, if they are too heavy, you can always transport the drawers separately. What is clear is that this decision has a double advantage: you will need far fewer boxes and, once you are in your new home, everything inside them will be easier to locate.
3. Store soft items in garbage bags. Unglamorous? No doubt about it. But it's one of the best ideas during a move. Fill sturdy garbage bags with soft items such as comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. and use them to fill empty spaces in the truck. This saves space and, in turn, protects other items and furniture. To also protect the contents of the bags, use duct tape to seal them. Finally, record the contents of each bag with adhesive labels and a permanent marker.
Before Entering the New House.
4. Paint before you move in. If you've decided to give your new space a coat of paint, don't hesitate: do it before you move in. The most obvious reason is that it's much easier to paint an empty house than one full of furniture. Another important reason to do it is the satisfaction of getting this task off the agenda as soon as possible. Also, if there are other such tasks on your list (changing floors, for example), try to get them done before you move in. You'll save time, inconvenience and effort once you've moved in.
5. Inform yourself before contracting services for your new home. Depending on where your future home is located, there will be more or less options of service providers, such as telephone line or internet. If you have several options, take the time you need to ask and inform yourself well before committing to one of them, since it is possible that the company that offered you such a good service in your old residence does not have the best infrastructure in your new area. It may also happen that the area where you are going to live has a worse cell phone coverage and you may find yourself in the situation of having to contract a landline, although in your old home you were perfectly fine with just a cell phone.
Once Inside.
6. Put 'buy plants' at the top of your to-do list. It may seem silly, but when you've filled a home with plants that you've lovingly cared for over the years, the idea of starting from scratch in this regard is a bit depressing. If you can't take them with you, give them away, but keep your favorite pots, something that will make choosing plants for your new space much simpler, cheaper and more enjoyable.
Once in your new home, it might seem logical to put off buying new plants with the mess you're in, but it's wise to make it a priority. Why? For starters, because houseplants clean the air, which is ideal if you've used paints or installed flooring with volatile compounds. But above all, most importantly, plants will make you feel right at home.
7. Expect to have to make new acquisitions. Every home has its own peculiarities, and as a result, you're bound to need some new things. For example, maybe your old kitchen had a huge island with plenty of space for food prep and even stools to enjoy breakfast, but your new one has a big empty space right in the middle that's crying out for a portable island or an office table and chairs. Setting aside a little money for these types of needs can help you set a realistic budget and stick to it.
8. Throw a few more things away even after you move out. It doesn't matter how thorough a cleaning you did before packing everything up. Sometimes, some of the things you have decided to bring to the new house with the utmost conviction turn out not to fit in the new space as you had hoped. Try not to let that frustrate you too much and take it as a fact of life. Sell them, give them to a friend or, if you are really fond of them, keep them. But only if you have space to store them.
9. Face it: crises in times of moving are normal. Moving is not exactly a bed of roses and, many times, it is not done for fun. It means leaving behind friends, family, schools and jobs to start an unknown adventure. Even if the new home looks amazing, emotional crises and moments of overwhelm and stress are a completely natural reaction to such a big change in our lives. When the time comes that you or one of your loved ones needs to vent, offer a shoulder to cry on. Afterwards, find something fun to do or explore your new city - it will keep you going!
10. Finally, give yourself time to get used to the new situation. Freeing up your schedule a bit and dedicating some time to this adjustment period can be very necessary, especially for families with children. Give yourself at least a week or two to catch your breath.
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