Smoother Moves

If you’re starting to feel restless in your current location and you think a change of scene could do you the world of good, there is probably only one thing putting you off – moving. Finding a new place to live, packing all your stuff up and moving it across state, or even to another country, is one big drag, but it is necessary if you want to explore new areas and live the life you truly dream of.

Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to ease the stresses and strains of moving so that you experience a smoother move wherever you decide to go. Here are the best tips to help you avoid moving headaches:

Search for an Apartment Online

Using an online apartment finder to find the perfect property, whether you’re renting or looking to buy a new place, will cut out a lot of the hard work. Providing you choose a good website, which has lots of information and pictures of potential properties, and providing that it has a good reputation, you will be able to view every place you’re even remotely interested in without having to travel at all.

Organize Well in Advance

Once you’ve found your dream new apartment, you should start planning your move straight away. One of the biggest causes of moving day stress is and has always been a lack of preparation. So many people wait until the last moment to do all that needs to be done that they end up running around like headless chickens, making mistakes and sometimes even making themselves ill. So, as a minimum, you should start preparing for your moving day at least 30 days before it happens.

Work Out Logistics

Obviously, the most important thing about moving home is how you’re going to get yourself and all your stuff from point A to point B. If you’re moving a fairly short distance, there is a good chance that you will be able to rope in friends and family members who have larger vehicles to help you for the price of a few beers and a nice meal, but if you’re moving further, you will probably need to hire a removal company or international shipping company, depending on how far you’re going. If that’s the case, you’ll want to gather as many quotes as possible, so that you can get the best price, and you’ll want to look at reviews too.  Plumping for a cheap company may seem like a good idea, but that won’t be the case if they turn out to be cowboys who smash your beloved stuff to smithereens, so be sensible!

Keep Movers Informed

Whether you’re using friends or a moving company, it is very important that you let them know exactly what will be involved in your move. If you have some very large, very heavy pieces of furniture, for example, it’s important they know so that they can be aware of any issues or restrictions and put solutions in place before the move day. If you don’t let them know, you’re likely to experience a moving nightmare that it takes forever to sort out.

Start Saving Boxes

In the weeks running up to your move, start saving every cardboard box you come across, whether it be boxes you find at the grocery store or the packaging that your online orders are sent in. You’ll probably still have to buy some additional packing boxes, but you’ll save money and ensure you have enough to safely contain your own goods if you start collecting ASAP.

Assemble a Packing Kit

If you aren’t going to be doing your packing alone, it’s a good idea to put together a packing kit that will enable you to pack as efficiently as possible. In every room of your home, leave a pen, marker, boxes, newspaper and tape. This will keep things moving smoothly without any interruptions and ensure your stuff doesn’t get mixed up.

Write an Inventory

As you are packing every room up, it is always a good idea to keep an inventory. This will ensure that should anything get lost; you will be able to claim compensation, presuming you’re using a moving company.

Find Out Your New Apartment’s Moving Rules

Most apartment complexes have rules about moving, which means that you will have to check out what is and isn’t allowed well before you move. The last thing you want is to travel all the way to your new apartment only to find Sunday move-ins are banned, after all!

Put these tips into action, and you’ll be sipping cold beers with your movers, without a care in the world, instead of running around in a blind panic, on moving day!