Moving is stressful even under ideal circumstances, but when you need to move on short notice suddenly, it’s downright overwhelming. Ideally, with most moves, you would have the advantage of planning months out, but sometimes life happens, and you don’t always have the luxury of time.
If you find yourself having to relocate quickly, here are some tips.
Moving is an arduous process. Doing it in short order makes it doubly difficult. Get started as soon as possible by organizing details:
Organizing helps ensure nothing is left behind, forgotten, or overlooked.
Once a move is confirmed, if planning to work with a professional moving company, compare rates. Moving reservation slots fill up quickly, and getting estimates ASAP will ensure a coveted time is secured once connecting with the right mover. It’s possible to go the DIY route when moving on short notice, but it makes things smoother if professionals do some or all of the heavy lifting. This gives you time to focus on other coordinated aspects of a move, such as arranging utilities, putting in a change of address, school and daycare registrations, medical records, and bank accounts.
Extra packing equates to additional stress and moving costs, so purge the clutter. Plan to get rid of unneeded or unwanted things such as excess CDs, DVDs, books, and knick-knacks. A short order move is also a great time to donate clothing that doesn’t fit, or you don’t wear anymore. Check the soles of all footwear and dump anything with too much wear.
To pack quickly, you will need boxes, moving tape, and other packing materials. Start collecting these ASAP.
Prepare to purchase whatever else is needed, don’t waste time looking for freebies if they aren’t easily attainable.
As soon as you know you need to move, start packing up items you rarely use, making sure to sort out the ones you need to purge. Start in the least used rooms (including attic and basement) or closet areas. Set a goal to pack a few boxes each day. This will make the task less tedious and reduce the stress if not left to the last minute.
When under a tight deadline, it’s tempting just to toss everything into boxes and sort things when unpacking in the new place. This is a bad idea. Take a few extra minutes and label smartly.
Not labeling boxes carefully creates stress on the arrival end of the move, especially when it comes time to find essential items.
Need an estimate for a short notice move? Give us a call today to arrange a free estimate or to learn more about our range of moving services.
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