Packing up your life into cardboard boxes and schlepping it across town or across the country
can be a hassle. But, as Huffington Post suggests, you can make your move a lot simpler if you
plan ahead. Here are some easy ways to help make moving day easier.
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Purchase a Home
Before you begin the moving process, you’ll have to buy a suitable home. Carefully consider
neighborhoods, school districts, and how much you can afford to spend. Once you’ve set your
home-buying budget, it’s a good idea to get preapproved for your mortgage. Preapproval will
allow you to close faster and make you a more attractive buyer as sellers will be less concerned
about the sale falling through.
If you’d like to lower your interest rate, you can pay for points which involves paying a fee to
your lender at closing. While this action is favorable to many home buyers, it may not be a wise
investment depending on the loan type and how long you plan to stay in your home. You can
calculate how much money you’ll save (if any) with a mortgage points calculator.
Pay a Pro
If your budget permits it, and you have a lot of stuff to pack, consider hiring a professional
moving company. Consumer Reports recommends selecting a company with good references
and making sure they’re properly licensed and insured for damage.
Movers are well-trained and know the best methods and techniques for packaging and shipping
your valuables. Their inventory process ensures you won’t have boxes that get knocked around
in a friend’s truck or get left behind at the old place by mistake. You’ll avoid the potential for
mishaps and injuries.
Get Organized
If you’re going it on your own, create a checklist and start packing well in advance of moving
day. Pack heavy items in small boxes and lightweight items in larger boxes. Pack your glasses
and dishware in your table linens and kitchen towels for extra padding.
Color code your boxes by room and load them with respect to what you’ll need access to first.
Fill an overnight bag with a change of clothes, toiletries and cleaning supplies and keep it with
you close at hand; these are the things you’ll need as soon as you arrive in the new place.
Look After Your Devices
Before disassembling electronic setups, take photos of how they are configured. This will make
it easier to get everything back up and working in the new place. Use small baggies to store
screws and other hardware, and tape them to the component they were removed from.
Make sure to back up your data beforehand, and if you have manuals it’s a good idea to box
them with their items. Consider removing batteries to prevent them from breaking down (or
exploding) in warm conditions or on bumpy roads. Wrap all electronics carefully in protective
materials designed for that purpose. Some electronic items respond badly to being shaken, so
you’ll want to minimize movement in their boxes.
Know Where the Important Stuff Is
Gather up important documents, such as birth certificates, licenses, passports, wills, insurance
papers, and vaccination and medical records. It’s important to transport these yourself, keeping
them close at hand. It’s better to have them with you than lost in a box you may not open for a
few days.
Ensure your pets’ shots and certifications are up to date, and take pictures of them in case of
emergency. Pet information can manage to get lost on moving day. Microchipping can be
helpful in this instance, so make sure your vet is updated with your new contact information.
Get Help
Hire a babysitter if you have children, and consider hiring a pet sitter if you have pets. With all
that’s going in and out of the house, you don’t want to risk someone getting lost or even injured.
Moving day is usually a little bit chaotic and stressful. It’s always easier if the kids and the pets
aren’t underfoot. If you can’t take children and critters to the sitter, consider enlisting one of your
moving buddies to act as chief child chaser and pet wrangler on the day.
With the right preparations and proper planning, your move will go smoothly and your property
will be protected from damage. You’ll cut down on the time spent unboxing and organizing in
your new home and prevent needless rummaging through unidentified boxes. Prepare your
move in advance, use a checklist, pack items carefully, and identify them correctly for the trip.
This will make moving day less stressful and time-consuming for you and your family.
Image Courtesy Pexels.
