Moving is one of the most costly, stress filled experiences most of us go through, and having been raised as a military brat I've gone through more than my fair share of packing and unpacking! Unless you've already found the home you plan on staying in for the rest of your life, you will at some point in the future have to pack up every single thing you own, transport it to a new location, and unpack it all again. But don't worry! There ARE ways to make a move less stressful and more cost efficient!
The first and most important step by far is to get organized! As your moving deadline approaches, start preparing as soon as possible to maximize your time and minimize your stress! Go through each room in your home methodically, organizing the things you definitely want to keep and weeding out the things you no longer have a use for. Set aside a weekend a few weeks before the big moving day to have a yard sale to get rid of all those great items that someone else would love to own, but you no longer want. *BONUS: You can use the money you earn at the sale to offset some of the expenses of the move!* Always keep in mind that the more organized your home is, the easier and faster it will be to get everything packed away properly!
Next, research whether it's cheaper to move yourself or hire a company to help! It may seem counter-intuitive, but there are actually times when it's more cost efficient to hire a moving company! Most of these businesses charge based upon how many items you have and how many vehicles they'll need to use, so this is another area in which the organization you worked so hard to achieve will come in handy. Get a few quotes, and remember that nearly everything is negotiable! If you still find that doing it yourself is cheaper, research that as well! Call around and find out where to hire a truck for the lowest rate. Remember that moving companies have an off-season just like every other business, so if you can plan your move for the fall or winter, you're likely to save some money, and there will be more options available as all the trucks won't be reserved.
Now - the dreaded packing! Remember all that organizing and researching we talked about earlier?
You'll be thanking me for it now! Collect boxes from your office, friends, Craigslist freecycle pages, liquor stores, grocery stores --- anywhere you can get them for free! Then, BE METHODICAL! Go through each room and pack it up one by one. And I can't stress enough the importance of labeling your boxes!!! Purchase the biggest black marker you can find, and label which room the box is from, what's in the box (clothing, breakable items, books, etc), and which side should be facing up to avoid damage to your possessions. Leave out only the things you absolutely know that you will need between the packing and the final move date - clothing and toiletry items that will fit comfortably in a suitcase really about sums it up...you can eat off of paper plates for a couple of days! Utilize old towels, sheets, and clothing to wrap up any fragile items and save the money on packing peanuts or bubble wrap.
And finally - the unpacking! This is actually the fun part for me! Be sure that whether you use a moving company or you're moving yourself that those boxes you so carefully labelled are carried inside and put in the correct rooms right away! You don't want to be unpacking the bedroom and find a box full of dishes mixed in with the pile. Now is the perfect time to find a place for everything, so take your time! Unpack the essentials first, and then go through each room and decide where you want your things placed to make your new home perfect!
With a little organization and effort, a move can be a fun experience that doesn't break the bank!
850.661.1440
Comments(5)