Hello World! Welcome Friends! Moving is not an easy process, especially if it involves a long-distance move. There’s the sorting and packing, cleaning, and the cost. Because of this, many people become stressed just thinking about it, taking away from the excitement of going to a new place. The good news is that there are several ways to reduce the stress and the expense related to your move.
Plan Ahead
To make your move easier, it’s important to have a plan in place and start early. For instance, securing a moving company early on will allow you to do a proper search and find the one that has a good reputation and the best rates. Additionally, by securing the moving company early, you’ll be able to select a date during the week when the demand is less and enjoy added savings. Starting the process early will also give you ample time to contact the utility and cable companies at your current home and your new home.
Selling Your Home
If you are in the process of selling your home and have buyers ready to close the deal before your new property is ready, this can enhance your level of stress. There are two solutions. First, you can accommodate the buyers by securing local storage units in Culver City if you live or are moving to the L.A. area, for example. Do this for a month or two as needed and stay with nearby family members or in an efficiency apartment. Or, you can move the date to accommodate your needs.
Room-By-Room Approach
Looking at your home’s contents in its entirety can overwhelm even a calm person. Instead, break it down, tackling one room at a time. Start with the basement, garage, or attic, rooms that generally contain mostly items not frequently used. Then move on to the bedrooms, clean out closets, and save the bathroom and kitchen for last.
Decluttering
On a positive note, moving does have its advantages. It gives you a chance to purge your home and dispose of unwanted items and declutter. This will also save you money on the move by occupying a smaller space on the truck. The items you decide not to take with you, you can sell privately, donate, or contact a junk removal service.
Packing for the Move
Most moving companies will add fees to pack your items. If you want to save several hundred dollars, pack the home yourself. The moving companies do have a requirement on the size and number of boxes allowed, per the quote. However, if you follow their guidelines, you can acquire the boxes yourself, in most cases, for free. Packing materials can pad the bill by the hundreds. Instead, use newspapers, towels and even coffee filters to protect breakables and electronics.
Clearly Labeled
You may, in the middle of packing your boxes, look to skip the steps to get things moving along. One step you should not avoid is clear labeling of the boxes. Without labels identifying the contents, when your boxes arrive at your new home you won’t be able to place them in any room without first opening each box. Another necessary step is to secure closures. Large moving trucks travel over open roads for many hours on different road surfaces. A bad job of taping will not end well at the receiving end.
The Cleanup
Once you have the home empty, it’s time to give it a thorough cleaning. Here’s where family and friends can truly lend a hand. Assign areas of the home, making it much easier to complete the job in short order. Then to show your gratitude for all their help you can provide sandwiches or a barbecue for a job well done. It lets you spend quality time together and enjoy a good send-off.
Keep the focus on starting a new life in a new place by finding ways to reduce the stress and the expense of your long-distance move.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Tackle those Home Improvement Projects
The Best Cocktails to Make at Home
Top Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets
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Toodles,
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