Moving to a new home can be overwhelming. From hiring professional movers to organizing your belongings, there are several major factors that prevent you from fully settling in.
Although it’s okay to have a few hiccups along the way, there are several things you can do to make the process go more smoothly.
Use these nine moving hacks to organize your relocation and reduce expenses.
Order Packing Materials
You purchase brand new cardboard boxes for transporting your belongings. But if you’re on a budget, you can always reuse original boxes for appliances and electronics – if you haven’t discarded them already. Reusing old boxes ensures your items will fit perfectly and saves you from having to spend more money on new boxes.
Pro tip: Use Styrofoam to transport glass plates. This prevents the plates from clashing against one another and reduces the chances of breakage during transit.
Create an Inventory of the Items
It is crucial to develop an inventory system that keeps track of all the items in each box. You can use a spreadsheet to do this or manually write everything on a piece of paper. Print copies of the list and attach them to the side of the boxes to help you remember.
Label Your Boxes
Unless you’ve labeled each box correctly, you probably won’t be able to tell which items need to be handled with care. This is why it is important to clearly label each box when you’re packing your belongings. You can also label the designated location of the box in the new home. For this to properly work, you’ll need to walk through the house and take note of where to place each item.
Clean As You Pack
Cleaning your old apartment may be the last thing on your mind, but you should prioritize it just like everything else on your moving checklist, especially if you hope to get your deposit back. This step can take quite a bit of your time and definitely helps to have more people assisting you with the cleaning.
You can also hire professional help to jazz the place up and impress the owner. And it goes without saying that you should remove all nails from the walks before moving out. You’ll need to fill in the holes and then touch up with paint.
Recover Your Security Deposit
Unless you plan on giving it away, get in touch with your property manager or landlord to recover your security deposit. You can schedule an inspection of your current apartment to help the property manager look around for damages (if any).
Schedule a Donation Pick Up
Want to discard heavy furniture and old clothing? You can schedule donation pick-up with a local charity, such as Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Humanity. They will take away your old belongings so you have fewer things to worry about.
Pro tip: Save any donation receipts you received from the charities. They will help you claim a deduction on your income taxes during tax season.
Get Quotes from Three Moving Companies
You probably don’t know what moving companies charge in your area. Interview multiple companies so you can compare their prices and the services offered. Always make sure that the moving company is properly licensed and insured.
Stuff Boxes Containing Fragile Items with Pillows
Worried about fragile items breaking during transit? A good idea is to pack them with pillows and blankets. This step is highly efficient because you can provide extra cushioning for your items so they won’t break as easily and you can pack more items.
After You’re Done with the Move
When you’re done moving into your new rental unit, you should do the following:
● Update your driving license
● Update your bank and lenders about the new address
● Let your employer know of the new address
● Update any organization that may be interested in sending you mail
● Discontinue telephone and internet to the old apartment
Hopefully, this brief guide helped you out and you now feel more confident with your big move. If you need more tips, feel free to get in touch with LVR.
Jivko Stefanov, Content Manager
