5 Ways to Ensure Your Move is Stress Free
Moving is one of the most stressful events one can take on. Packing, planning, purging and organizing is no easy (or fun) task. However, you don't need to age 40 years in the process! Simply follow our list of 5 ways to ensure your move goes as smooth and stress-free as possible. Let's start.
1. STOCK UP
Start collecting newspaper and boxes as soon as possible. While you can use bath and kitchen towels, as well as blankets to wrap fragile items, you won't have enough for everything. If you live in an apartment building, there's usually a stock pile of newspapers in the lobby. If you're moving from a home, start collecting the daily newspaper. You can also try rounding up old newspapers from your local coffee shops.
Finding boxes is easier than you think. Try Craigslist or Kijiji. There's tons of kind people willing to give away free boxes in excellent condition. You can also try your local liquor store for smaller boxes, or grocery store for larger boxes. If all else fails, you can always buy a few from a storage supplies' store.
And, don't forget to stock up on extra garbage bags! They're perfect for moving clothing and shoes.
2. HIRE A MOVING COMPANY
As soon as the move out / move in dates have been set in stone, start looking for a professional moving company. Do not wait until the last minute. Especially during the summer months as you run the risk of not being able to book a reputable mover.
Now, you may be tempted to do the move yourself, but you'd be setting yourself up for a long, stress inducing day. Unless you've got a crew of keen "Tough Mudders" to help with the move, hiring a professional moving company is the way to go.
Start by simply asking friends and family for recommendations. If the search comes up empty, try Googling movers in your area. Look for companies that have more than a few reviews, and are active on Social Media. You'll want to see first hand who the movers are, and how they will be handling your belongings.
3. PURGE
Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll purge after you move. Remember, less things to pass equals less stress.
First off, start with your junk drawers. You know, the ones where you place everything from random receipts to old keys, pens, buttons, and whatever else you come across. We all have one! These are things you don't need, so start there.
Then, months before packing, go from room to room, and evaluate all your belongings. Every single item in your home will placed into one of the following categories: keep, donate, purge or sell. And If you've been thinking of selling big items such as furniture for a while, now is the time to do so.
4. MAKE A TO DO LIST
There's a million things you need to do whilst packing, but that doesn't have you drive you nuts. Writing everything down on a to-do list will help you to stay organized, on schedule, and in the process, calm nerves.
Ticking items off a list will help you to feel accomplished and give you that much needed boost of adrenaline to keep you going. A to-do list really is a small, but essential part of keeping your sanity amongst the insanity that is moving.
5. HIRE A CLEANING COMPANY
If you've ever taken on the gigantic task of cleaning your home after you move, you know how strenuous it can be. If you haven't, here's the thing: a move-out clean is different than a regular clean. You need to wash the walls. The baseboards. The blinds. The cupboards. And the list goes on. Basically, every little nook and cranny needs to be cleaned and spotless.
For an inexperienced cleaner, this can take at least 2 days. Not to mention, you're going to need some serious time to recover. Do yourself a favour and hire professional cleaners to come on the last day!
LAST WORDS: DON'T STRESS
With a little bit of planning and organization, the typical "pull out your hair" move can be avoided. Simply follow the above steps and you'll be well on your way to an (almost) stress-free move. Before you know it you'll be enjoying your new place, unpacked, and settling into old and new routines.
