Make Relocating Easier

So, you got that big new job and now you have to move across the country. It can be a daunting experience, especially if you have little to no experience with moving. There are things you can do to make the process a bit easier so that when you start that new job you won’t be worn to a frazzle by the move.

Plan Ahead

If you have time before the move, it is always best to plan as far ahead of the move as possible. You will need time to go through all of your stuff and pack it up. You will also want to hire the movers as far in advance as possible. This might seem to be a simple thing, but having the gumption to get started on the process can be a bit tricky. Your packing will be that much easier (if you pack your stuff yourself) if you start early.

Choose Your Services

You will need to decide which type of moving services you will use. These services range from things like rental trucks to moves that are handled by firms like the Allied Moving Company. You might even choose a service that does it all – from packing to loading the truck, the actual move, and unpacking at the new place. Be sure to check costs and fees – even hidden ones – so that you know exactly what to budget for.

In standard moves, if there is a state line that will be crossed, the move will be considered an interstate move and moves of this nature are subject to regulations on the federal level. Costs might be calculated by using a combination of the distance of the move as well as by what the weight of your stuff is.

Lighten Up

Whether you are under the gun to move or you just don’t want to deal with things, it can be a bad thing to pack everything you have and then get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore when you get to the new place. This means that you will be moving stuff you don’t need, which will add weight, cost, and time to the process.

Aside from that, if you put this stuff aside as you pack, you can use it to gain funds for the move by having an amazing moving sale, selling it on Craigslist or eBay, or even on apps like 5Miles and LetGo. If those things aren’t an option, you can still donate the stuff to charity and get a tax deduction for it.

DIY Items

No matter if you are relocating to a new city for a job, if you are tired of living in the same place, are looking for better weather conditions, to be near family, or for anything else, there will be things that you will need to handle on your own, even if you have hired movers to do everything. Everyone has items that might not be worth anything to anyone else but are priceless to them. It might be a vase that belonged to your grandmother, a footstool carved by a favorite uncle, or even artwork by your kids. Find these items and make sure that you pack them up yourself. No matter how good the movers are, nobody will take care of your previous items as well as you will.

There are a few other things you should pack yourself too. They include things like financial documents, birth certificates, passports, jewelry, credit cards, and prescriptions.

Number It

One of the most frustrating things about moving to a new place can be not knowing which box goes where and what is in it. How do you know if this box goes to the kitchen and if the coffee pot is in it? Before you begin packing (if you pack your own stuff), buy a cheap spiral notebook. Each time you pack a box, put a number on that box. In your notebook, write down that number and then list everything that goes into that particular box.

This is also a fantastic way to ensure that everything actually makes it to the new place. As the boxes get unloaded from the truck, you will be able to check them off of the list. If any boxes don’t arrive for some reason, you will know exactly what was in them.