Moving house can be exciting and arduous all at the same time.
Statistics from the US Census Bureau taken in 2014 reveal roughly 12 % of the population moves each year. The research was based on the number of people that moved between 2012 and 2013, and the numbers are likely to have gone up since.
If you belong to the group of movers, whether you’re in the middle of the process or just dipping your toes and considering your options, you’re likely to find the tips below useful.
Take your time
OK, so the process stressful of selling your old home and choosing a new one is behind you. It’s been hard (it always is), but you did it right, you got the most out of your old home, whether it’s the asking price or that number you had in mind all along, and got a good deal on the new one.
What now?
Well, what lies ahead is perhaps as arduous – it requires just as much thoughtfulness and planning. On top of that, it calls for physical work.
The good news is – you have time and you can relax. We get it that you want to be settled in and get to that point where the new space feels like home, but there rushing things is the no. 1 reason people make mistakes while moving…mistakes that might end up causing weeks or months to correct.
A carefree move should be planned weeks ahead. When inspecting new abodes, take pictures on your phone; they will be useful when mapping out where to put things after the move.
So – take your time and don’t put a negative spin on the process, it makes it so much harder. Relax and enjoy the process of creating your new oasis.
If Possible, Leave a Gap
A few days before handing over the keys to the old place, try to get access to the new residence. While it is not always possible to travel between locations, especially when moving from county to county or across state, there are things that can be done to facilitate the process.
First things first
Connect the internet. You will probably need web searches more than ever during the first weeks of moving in, and yet service providers need as much as three weeks notice to provide a connection.
Surrounded by Empty Space: First Night in a New Home
Chances are you’ll be going back and forth more than a few times; probably even spending night in your new home before you move permanently.
Furniture movers can cause all sorts of hassles – you’ll need a pinch of luck to end up with a company that will honor all the deadlines. Even if your belonging arrives safely, it could be days before all is unpacked.
Packing a box with essentials to take with you such as pajamas, toothbrushes, tea and coffee, towels, and toilet paper can make your move just that little more seamless.
Temporary Sleep Solutions Need Not Be Uncomfortable
Every kid remembers summer camp on an air mattress; low enough to be a yoga mat and deflating half-way through the night.
Technology introduced into air beds has improved their overall comfort. An inflatable bed stands out among portable temporary beds, it’s far superior to any foam or futon sofa, both in terms of comfort and convenience – it’s only a matter of choosing the best air bed for your situation.
Think about your space and make sure that the size you’ve chosen is a good fit – most of the best air mattresses come in queen and twin size and are 18-22 high. It’s easy to just get the first one you find online and read positive reviews about, but take a moment to consider the fact that, when all said and done, this might be you the bed that you keep for that empty guest room.
Get the New House Cleaned
While the new residence might look clean, is it up to standard?
Windows are often overlooked, likewise the tops of pantries and cupboards. Carpets will need steam cleaning. Don’t forget the filters on heaters and cooling systems need attention as well. It is easier to clean a home while it is empty.
Pest Inspection
Cleaning a house is also the time to look for mouse dropping and cockroach infestation. Single dwellings in warmer areas will need termite inspections. For complete peace of mind, this job is best left to professionals.
Moving Out: The Plan and Considerations
Do you really need it? Items that have not been used for months or years may never be missed. Likewise old white goods and broken furniture can cost you money in moving and storage. If it is tired and out of date in the old house, chances are it will look worse in the new one. Donate it to charity or throw it out.
Choose the pieces that you’ll move yourself
It’s common, sense but it’s also a common mistake trusting the movers with the fragiles, like mirrors or that expensive mirrored piece of furniture you just got last year and paid a small fortune for.
While you might replace a simple mirror, if any of the fragile pieces have special worth, either objective or sentimental, make a list of things that you won’t let the movers touch. The cost of renting a U-haul is nothing if the alternative is some of your favorite pieces being damaged or broken.
Write a checklist of what furniture and items go where in the new location.
Make a complete checklist for the move. It should be as detailed as possible.
Save money and look online for boxes. Many people sell them after unpacking. Big and small boxes are needed, small for heavy items, large for things such as clothes, and bedding.
Label each box with colored tape, a different color for each area for the new location.
Zip lock bags are a must when moving. A lot of furniture requires dismantling and reassembling. Screw drivers, Allen keys, along with scissors and dust clothes should be packed in the one carton. Nuts, bolts, and screws are locked in individual bags with the name of the furniture they belong to labeled in felt pen.
Children and Pets
If at all possible, children should be looked after by family or friends away from the fuss. Pets are particularly stressed when finding themselves in a new location; new territory; new smells; different terrain.
Security – Who Has Keys?
Even though you have the keys to your domain, Realtor agents, cleaning services, friends of former owners, trades-personnel; any number of people could have duplicates of the keys you have. Installing new locks is must for many who really want to make the new house ‘their own’.
If it is not practical to fit new locks, door chains may be of some help, though security experts are quick to advice that door chains are not locks and can be defeated.
A simpler idea is a rubber or wooden wedge pushed under the bottom of the door. Depending on the floor surface, a wedge could be the difference of keeping an intruder out.
I-have-to-move vs. I-get-to-move
We know that the circumstances that surround can make it impossible to enjoy it. But, in most cases, you can make a conscious decision about the angle you approach the process.
If the angle is “I-have-to-move” the journey will be filled with frustration, but if the angle you choose is more of a “I-get-to-move” that will shift things. Try to change the gear in your mind to the later approach and the move will be a joy that it should be.
