Moving is always a stressful event for anybody. Even if you’re moving out of a crummy apartment and into a beautiful condominium or executive apartment with walking trails, a playground, a fitness center and other perks, the moving part will still be difficult. Take a deep breath, focus, and follow these tips to make it as easy as possible.
- Make a plan. Create a plan before you do anything else. There are a lot of things to remember when you’re moving, and your stress levels will be much lower you have a plan in place for what to do first, what to do second, what to do last, and what not to forget in all the busyness.
- Decide about getting movers. Is it better to move yourself or to hire professionals? This is one of the first things you should decide as you make your plan. You’ll want to make sure of your budget, and once you’ve done that you need to find out what kind of help you can count on. Will you have lots of friends and family to help you on moving day? Are you comfortable with renting a truck or moving van? Do you have a lot of kids and pets, and on moving day will you need to be keeping track of them or will somebody be willing to babysit? These are all factors in making your decision about whether to hire a professional.
- Sort through all of your stuff and throw away what you can. You need to decide what you’re planning to get rid of before you start moving. Don’t forget to go through all your storage spaces. You should start this phase of the project very early, and all you need to do at first is simply divide everything into two piles: the pile you’re keeping and the pile you’re getting rid of. If the pile of things that you are not keeping gets too big, consider a garage sale, a donation, or even the storage.
- As moving day arrives, sort items by room. Once everything is moved into your new townhouse or apartment, the part nobody tells you is how long it takes to unpack. You can make this process a whole lot easier by packing everything up according to room. If you have things labeled with colored duct tape, you make it very easy for movers or friends to put your boxes straight into the correct room. If you are very ambitious, you could label the boxes, not only with the color corresponding to the room you want, but also with a number. Number one tells you this is the box you want to open first for that room.
- Make sure that you get all the right supplies. If you’re still some months away, you can start collecting used boxes now. This will save you time and money going forward. You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of packing tape on hand, colored duct tape if you’re planning on marking things, some sharpie markers, and, of course, food and water for you and any helpers.
- It is possible to have a positive experience. While it’s true that moving is difficult, it’s not impossible for you to have a rewarding experience. Don’t let the move sneak up on you. Make lists of everything that you need to do and divide them by weeks and days so that you have plenty of time to do everything. Once you’ve decided what you’re not keeping, clear out the clutter as fast as possible. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Nearly everybody has been through at least one move and knows how hard it is. Ask your friends and your family to help you, and make it easier for them to say yes by putting a limit on the time you’re asking of them.
Moving can be stressful and difficult, but if you prepare in advance it can be rewarding and positive. Make a plan, make a budget, organize what you’re taking and leaving, and keep your eyes fixed on the prize: that new life in a luxury apartment.
