8 Tips for a Stress-Free Move
The closings on the sale of your former house and the purchase of your new home are scheduled. Thanks to information from the Seller's Net Sheet, you know how much free cash remains to cushion the cost of your move to the new dream home.
Moving is one of life's most stressful events. In addition to finding a mover and the packing and unpacking, you must cope with the potential sorrow and depression of leaving a home where you have put down roots and the apprehension of the unknown.
Implementing these eight tips before, after, and during the move will help you and your family deal with the stress of moving.
1. Select Movers and Confirm Your Schedule
Whether across town or across the country, the physical transportation of your possessions is the first task to complete.
How you choose to move — DIY by renting a van and relying on friends to help or contracting with a moving company — determines the time, care, and effort you will spend transporting your possessions from one place to another.
Moving alternatives include local or long-distance movers, household or specialty movers, full-service, or à la carte. You might need to store furniture for a time or ship automobiles.
Consider alternatives, request quotes and schedules of each vendor, and select the one in whom you have the greatest confidence. Be sure to ask about insurance coverage and company policies regarding lost or damaged goods.
Before making a final decision, check the Better Business Bureau, social media sites, and other consumer rating agencies about complaints or comments.
2. Declutter and Discard
An upcoming move is a perfect opportunity to declutter your life and get rid of the old, outdated, and no-longer-used items you've collected (and let gather dust) over the years.
Begin with your storage areas. Sell, give away, or trash anything you do not use or foresee using again along with items of no sentimental value. Do not bring them to clutter up your new home.
Separate the items in old boxes or bags by their intended disposition, so they are ready for their final location. The smaller items to be sold can be liquidated in a yard sale, while more expensive possessions can be sold on Amazon or eBay.
3. Prepare Your New House Moving in
Ideally, after the closing and home inspection, you will have a period between the previous owner's move from your new home and your move in. That period is an excellent opportunity to prepare the new house before it is filled with furniture, people and boxes.
Consider completing each of the following before move-in day:
- Arrange the connection of the main utilities: Naturally, the first utility companies to call are the power and water providers. Don't forget about internet or cable, too.
- Get new locks or rekey the existing locks: You never know who the previous owners may have given a key to, and you will have peace of mind if you get new ones.
- Do a deep cleaning: Cleaning floors, windows, and the inside of closets and cabinets will ensure the house is spotless before you occupy it.
- Repaint as necessary, resurface floors, and replace fixtures: Install detachable toilet seats and swap out showerheads. You'll appreciate having these new.
- Clean the dryer vent: This is especially important to do before you hook up a dryer.
- Check your home's filters: This includes furnace, AC, and water. Replace them as necessary. Buy a few extras, and note the sizes in a homeowner file. Make sure smoke alarms work.
- Locate your fuse box and main water valve: This will keep you prepared in case you need to turn off the power or water in an emergency.
4. Organize for Packing
Be prepared with an assortment of boxes, packing supplies, and tools. Tall wardrobe boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters, pillows, and clothes that need to remain hanging.
Keep a "moving file" with copies of any important information that you might need the day of the move. The file should contain such items as the moving contract, insurance information, and phone numbers you need to install or uninstall home services.
5. Say Goodbye
Give yourself the time to say goodbye to your almost former home. Host a party, visit friends, and walk through your neighborhood. Remember the good times, and allow yourself to relive them one more time. This will also help transition from the old to the new and give yourself some time to enjoy the moment.
If you have children, help them say goodbye, too. Plan special evenings to visit their favorite ice cream shop, restaurant, or playground. Remember that they feel the same loss, if not more so than adults. Kids require special handling during a move; they'll need time and patience from you.
6. Pack Early
The more you can pack ahead, the less stress you will have on moving day. Smaller items unlikely to be used before the move or clothes stored for the next season should be packed first. Consider replacing your plates, glasses, silverware, and pots and pans with disposable utensils and carry-out meals so you don't have to worry about packing those at the last minute.
Create a system to minimize confusion. Number each box you pack and list its contents to be confirmed when unpacking. Designate a color for each room in the new home. As each box is packed, put a colored sticker on it to designate the room where it will be unpacked.
Ask for help. Most people have experienced a move in their lives and understand how hard it can be. Ask friends and family if they can spare a couple of hours to help you sort, pack, or move. Packing day is also an excellent opportunity to spend time together.
Fill sturdy handled-shopping bags with bulky closet items such as shoes, sweaters, belts, and jeans. The bags will be used to fill the bottom of the wardrobe boxes before you add hanging clothes. Tightly pack hanging items to ensure they stay on the hangers during the move. Do not fill the larger boxes with too many items that makes them challenging to move.
Consider living out of a suitcase in the days immediately before the move to eliminate some packing. Ideally, the last items you pack before the move are your everyday bedroom and bathroom belongings.
At some point during the packing process, organize your first-night essentials, and keep them easily accessible. Having your needs readily available after the movers leave will make the moving experience and the first few nights in your home less stressful.
7. Protect Valuables
Keep important papers, phone numbers, and valuables such as jewelry and family heirlooms with you. Check your homeowner's insurance to verify that they are covered during the move, and update your homeowner's insurance policy with information about your new home.
If you have a home warranty or service plan, update that policy as well.
8. Coordinate the Move-In
If not you, someone you trust should meet the movers at the new home. Immediately put a colored sticker on each room's entrance, matching the colors used to pack the boxes. This visual sign shows movers where to put things. When the moving begins, be available to confirm that boxes and furniture are placed in the correct rooms.
Check each moving box against your inventory list as it is carried inside. If a box or household item is missing, notify the moving crew, and check inside the moving trailer together to ensure it is not left by mistake.
Leave the refrigerator upright on its final spot for at least 3 full hours before turning it on after the move. This delay ensures that any oil that might have flowed into the cooling lines returns to the compressor where it is needed.
When the movers leave, inspect each moving container for visual damage or any other signs of apparent mistreatment. If you find broken or damaged goods, note the specific injury in your inventory list, and contact the moving company. If you were prudent enough to choose trustworthy movers, the dispute should be resolved quickly in your favor. If you are not satisfied, exercise your consumer rights, and file a complaint against your movers.
Final Thoughts
Moving can be stressful, especially if you wait until the last minute to take care of the necessities. Tempers can grow short when fatigue and frustration build, often erupting in shouting matches between movers and clients or between clients. The event expected to be a milestone becomes a millstone instead.
The best advice to someone anticipating a move is to not procrastinate. Plan your move and spread the effort over days, if not weeks. Follow these suggestions, take care of yourself and your family physically and emotionally, ask for help even if you don't need it, and enjoy your new home.
