Moving into a new home or apartment is supposed to be an exciting process, however, it often turns into a difficult and stressful situation, especially for first time movers with no idea of what to expect. Although booking moving trucks and packing everything into cardboard boxes may sound complicated, it doesn’t have to be! A little bit of planning goes a long way while moving, so if you’re thinking about finding a new place, take a look at the checklist below to get some tips on how to plan your next move.
Attribution: Good Housekeeping
1. Minimize your stuff – The bulk of moving revolves around packing up all of your belongings and get them from one point to another. Thus, it makes sense that less stuff equals an easier move. Although you likely will need most of the things you already have, there may be stray belongings that are no longer necessary. Do you really need all the clothes in your closet? Do they even fit you anymore? What about those books from that one class 3 semesters ago? Or that really ugly mug that your grandma bought you for Christmas? There may also be items that you needed while in your current home, but won’t once you move into your new place. For example, things such as televisions, microwaves, and couches may have been useful in your old house, but won’t be necessary in your new one, especially if you have housemates who already own furnishings and don’t mind if you use them. These are all things that you may want to consider getting rid of prior to your move. Apps like Letgo and websites such as Craigslist can help you sell your stuff. Facebook Marketplace is also a good option. Alternately, you can do it the old fashioned way and hold a yard sale, or consider donating your items to a nonprofit such as Goodwill.
2. Plan for packing – Before you start packing, plan out the process. First, devise a strategy for how you will pack. Will you pack according to room or purpose? How many boxes will you need? Will you use all boxes, or for some items, will it make more sense to use bags? Keep in mind that you will likely want to pack necessities last, and that you may need additional packing materials such as bubble wrap, newspaper, or blankets for items that are fragile, sharp, or scratch easily. Also, for larger items and pieces of furniture, it may be helpful to pack with an additional person who can provide an extra hand. Once you have these logistics figured out, you’re ready to start!
Attribution: The New York Times
3. Space it out – Packing can be exhausting, and it is easy to become overwhelmed at the sheer amount of stuff that needs to be done. Because of this, it is helpful if you space out the packing process over 5-10 days. Doing this allows you to go at your own pace, and contributes to fighting the moving stress by ensuring that there are breaks while packing. Additionally, it helps you stick to your packing and organization plan. The challenge with spacing out packing tends to be procrastination, and saving it all until the last minute often results in disaster. Apps like Sortly allow you to create to-do lists and can keep you on track with packing.
Attribution: Pinterest
4. Find a way to move – While packing up your things seems simple enough, finding a way to get those things to your new place isn’t. If you have a car, you can load things up and move them yourself, however, you’ll likely have to make multiple trips, and this strategy isn’t very time efficient. Additionally, larger items likely won’t fit in your vehicle, unless you regularly drive around a large box truck. Hiring a moving company to provide a large truck and some movers is often the best option, however, this can be extremely expensive. If you lack a car, and don’t have the money to hire a moving company, you can always try and see if you have any friends with a vehicle who are willing to help you. This works best if you have two friends who own cars and are willing to drive, and a few more who will help you move. Nevertheless, don’t expect convenience – this option is also time consuming, and requires a lot of hard work. Although your friends likely be willing to help you with no strings attached, you can always take them out for pizza or ice cream to thank them for their help. Regardless of how you decide to move your stuff, make sure you make plans in advance for moving day.
5. Unpack necessities first – Once you’re finally moved in, you will still have to clean your new place and unpack all your stuff. If you created a solid packing and organization plan, and stuck to it during the packing process, it should pay off in this stage of the move, however, unpacking can still be difficult, and it’s still recommended that you space it out over time. Start with the necessities – mattress, bed sheets, toothbrush, and clothing – and then start working your way through boxes with less important items. When it’s all finally done, sit back, relax, and enjoy your new home!
Read over our tips, but still want more help? Consider checking out our resource pages, where we collect articles, blog posts, and more on topics related to off-campus housing, including moving!
Recent Comments