Changing houses, apartments or setting up a new home after extended travel is an ordeal. I’ve moved on average of every two years for my entire adult life which means that I’ve turned moving house practically into an art form. Every time I moved I always say, “never again!” But we all know that’s false because I know I will be moving again. In fact, I have an impending move next spring in 2023. However, when prepared well, you can move without too much stress. Moving is a stressful experience no matter how you cut it, but with a few helpful tips you can move without too much more trouble than is absolutely necessary.
Get organized
I can’t recommend this enough: start packing early. One time when I moved I literally was packing up the night before my parents were coming to help me move. I’m talking like, I was packing at 5 a.m. and my parents were arriving at 8. It’s not a good thing. Once you’ve planned your move and not renewed your lease or put your home on the market, that’s the time to start packing.
You can start by cleaning out the closets. Anything that is in storage should come out and get packed first. Things that you don’t use that often in the kitchen can come out as well and get staged and ready to pack. If you spend 1–2 hours a night after work on packing, you’ll have less stress when the moving day actually arrives.
It is also important at this stage to throw things out or donate them. Not everything in your apartment or house needs to come with you. I’ve done three cross-country moves and each time it seems like I find something, hold it up, and say, “Why did I move this across the country?” Take it from me and scrutinize everything as you’re packing. If you aren’t using it regularly and it isn’t an heirloom, consider if you really want to move it.
While you’re packing, it’s a good idea to get things in place for the new space. This is important when it comes to packing boxes/bins. Anything you’re going to need right away should be packed in boxes/bins marked for the purpose. That way, you can attack unpacking on the other end.
Personally, I always try to use plastic bins. I like them for their stickability and their ability to stand up to the rigors of moving, especially if I’m moving far. If I’m staying closer to home then boxes can be…
