If you’re due to move to a new place, and the big day is approaching so fast it’s hard to believe, it’s important to take a step back, rethink your strategy, and make some changes that will take some of the stress out of it. Here are just a few things you should do before the move to ensure the whole process, and the period after, stays as stress-free as possible.
Control your Finances
Money is the fuel that’s going to make your whole relocation possible in the first place. Therefore, it’s essential that you make sure you have a good handle on your moving finances long before the big day. This will save you from over-spending and running into any nasty financial surprises later in the process. First and foremost, set yourself a moving budget, which will cover the moving company’s fees or van rental, packing materials, and so on. This will help you jump on any big money blunders as soon as they start to come up, rather than getting caught unaware.
You should also shop around for movers. It took me calling five movers to find a price that worked for me.
If you’ve got the time, try to come up with a financial plan for living in the new place, checking out utility tariffs and entertainment bundles like the one here. This won’t make moving a breeze, but it can certainly remove one big stress factor from the equation.
Manage Time Meticulously
After your finances, the next thing you should be worrying about is managing the time you’ll spend on making this move happen. This can have just as much of an impact on how quick and easy your move will turn out.
Get out a calendar, and start marking it with deadlines of all the things you’re going to need to take care of. Have the last box packed by a certain date at a certain time, and call any service providers you’ll need well in advance. When it comes to the checklist, keep it personal, and prioritize tasks according to your situation. This will ensure you’re getting the most essential tasks out of the way first, and can postpone or rush through the ones that aren’t all that important.
Regimenting the time ahead of you may feel like you’re just adding more stress to the situation, but you’ll thank yourself in the end.
Ask for Help!
If you’re overly polite, or you just like to take on challenges by yourself, asking other people for help with your move may not have crossed your mind. It’s possible to move on your own steam, but you’ll probably go bald from stress by the time you move in that last box!
If you have any large, awkwardly-shaped, or fragile items to move in, it’s a good idea to splash out for at least some professional removal services. The money you’ll spend could save you from some costly and upsetting damages. However, if you decide you can risk not going with the pros, get some friends and family on board, who you can trust not to bail out at the last minute!
