An interesting study has shown that Americans consider relocation to be in the top five most stressful events in a person’s life. No wonder this is so because relocation requires a lot of time, energy, and planning. But if you learn how to organize your move, your relocation doesn’t have to be stressful. With just a couple of professional tips, you will be able to organize your move in no time.
From transporting your car from state to state to packing your pots and pans, there are many things you must think about when relocating to a new state. But if you have a good strategy and plan in place, this undertaking will be without a fuss. You can stop searching for relocation tips, keep reading, and learn how to have a stress-free relocation.
If you wish to know what is the best way to organize a move, the answer lies in an early start and good math. When organizing for a move, early financial preparations should come first. This way you will have enough time to save some money and to arrange other things. Like finding a job, a place to live, and school for your kids. When calculating your budget, you must include living expenses in your city of choice for at least three months. You can easily find out the living cost in your desired city on the website Numbeo – just type in the name of the city, and you will get all the information, from utilities to rent costs. Here is what you must include in your budget:
If you already decided where to live and made your relocation budget, you probably already have some sort of relocation binder. Let’s just upgrade it a bit. First, you will have to do some shopping and buy some labels, stickers, and an actual binder. Next, take some paper and make a list of things you must put in your binder. All the paperwork, budget, and dates should be in there. And don’t worry, a binder will expand in time, so start with basics and build up along the way. This way, you will not get lost in all dates and paperwork, and you will have an efficient move.
If you already organized important documents, this step will not be that hard, but if you haven’t, now it’s an excellent opportunity to get this done. And trust us, one-time organizing documents is all you have to do. Take all your paperwork and start sorting through it. Throw away all unnecessary papers such as expired coupons or bills you don’t have to keep. Here is a suggestion on how you can sort your papers:
If you plan to ship your cars and go by plane to a new destination, here is where you can print out tickets for all family members. On the other hand, if you plan to have a fun family road trip and get to know American cities and famous routes in the USA, you can put all your travel arrangements. Create a plan of your trip, put road maps to work, and book motels in advance. Ensure to print everything you booked and place it with you in your binder.
Relocating a car to another state may seem like an easy task, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth. There will be a lot of paperwork, from registering a car in another state and changing your insurance plan to hiring a car shipping company. Even if you ship your car across the country in the most efficient way with a trustworthy auto transport company, who can give you enough information about how to prepare your car for shipping, you will still have a lot to do on your own. For example, suppose you decide to take a terminal to terminal car shipping, a more affordable option than door-to-door auto transport. In that case, you will have to write down the address of the closest terminal and the time of arrival so you can pick up your vehicle.
When searching for a car shipping company, find the one that can provide you with all the services you might need. For example, if you have to ship exotic auto or sports cars, you would want a company that has an enclosed auto transport option. Or if you have more than one car, a company with an open trailer auto transport will suit you just fine. The same is with a moving company. Find the one that can give you all the services, from loading and unloading to packing and storage. Ask for a free quote from at least three companies and book the one that fits your budget. Ensure to have all the contracts and dates of shipment in your binder.
One of the things you must do after moving is a change of address and transfer of utilities. But not all utility providers work in all states. That is why you have to write down your current providers’ info and check by phone or online whether they work there. If they are not, you will have to cancel your old providers and contact new ones. Ensure you cancel utilities at the old house the day you leave and turn on utilities at the new one the day you arrive. You don’t want to end up without electricity or heat the first day you move to a new home.
Once you book everything you need, it is time to create a timeline of all the dates and things you must do. With a good timeline in front of you every day, you can stop wondering how to organize a move and actually be organized. Ensure to include a packing schedule and shopping in your timeline as well.
Well, the answer to this question is simple – start early and be systematic about it. Go to each room and create “get rid” and “to keep” piles. When going through your belongings, it can be hard to let some stuff go. The solution to this conundrum lies in your determination to implement the simple rule – get rid of all belongings you haven’t used in two years.
Once you start making your piles, it will soon become clear what to get rid of when moving. Do not hold on to items you think you might wear or use someday. Not only will you end up with more belongings to pack, but these belongings will probably end up stored in boxes in your new home for years without you opening them. Also, if you are relocating from house to apartment, you will not have enough space for all your stuff.
Once you create piles in each room, gather them all in one place, preferably in your garage, and start sorting what you can sell, throw away, or donate.
When preparing for movers and your moving day, it is crucial to have all belongings already boxed up, labeled, and ready for shipment. If you are prepared and organized, your movers will load everything much faster. One of the best packing tips we can give you is to start with the packing one week before moving day. First, clear one area in your home where you will do all the packing, start with an area you don’t use that often, and box up belongings you don’t need right now. For example, if you plan to move to a colder climate, you will need a warm outfit and maybe even Alaska car transport. So be assured you put your sweaters and jackets last, so they are the first ones to unload.
If you wish to know how do you organize your house to move, getting the right packing materials is one of the ways. First, you have to buy boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, and last but not least – labels. Make an inventory list of items in each box.
The best way to label your boxes is to use a color code system. Assign a color for each room and label your container with that color. You can also add numbers, too, so you know what part of the room is packed in that container. Put all your inventory lists in a binder and color code them with stickers, and write down on them which room that is. Also, buy sectioned cardboard containers for your glasses and other fragile items.
Ziploc bags are excellent for organizing your small items before you put them in the box. So if you have a bunch of children’s toys, put them in ziplock bags. Your unpacking will be much easier and less stressful. Also, many bathroom items, like makeup, brushes, and pins, can also be packed with Ziploc bags. Watch this video to see how other people used them.
Aside from your boxes of essentials, you will need some necessities with you during your traveling. You should pack a carry-on bag like you are going on a short vacation. Put inside underwear, hygiene products, clothing for one week, phones, laptops, chargers, and of course, your binder.
One of the common relocation mistakes people make is to forget to pack a box with relocation essentials. These are items you will need immediately when you walk into your new home. If possible, put these items in a transparent plastic container and place them on a truck last, so you can open them first at your destination. Also, you can make a couple of containers of essentials with different items inside, for example, different containers with electronics and supplies. Here are some of the items you must have in your boxes of essentials:
Another important part of “how to organize for a move” is making an unpacking plan. In fact, while you are packing, you should have unpacking in mind. The most important for efficient unpacking is good labeling and prioritization of your boxes. While packing them, label each box that you know you will require immediately. Another part of effective unpacking is to set a date when everything will be done. This way, you will avoid dragging this for months. But even if you don’t make an unpacking plan, if you follow our tips for an organized move, your unpacking will be easy and fast.
