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If you’re under a lot of stress because you have to move, we hear you. Moving is often a stressful ordeal—physically, mentally, and financially—but it doesn’t have to be as harrowing as it may seem at first glance.
By setting yourself up for a successful move at the start, you’ll breeze through your moving checklist and get things done before you know it. Simply follow these tips and tricks for a successful move-in.
Set a realistic timeline
Procrastinating before a move is a one-way ticket to stress. The last thing you want is to be stuck on your relocation day without boxes and tape, so plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to pack up all of your belongings.
Ideally, you should start formalising the moving process around eight weeks before the big day. This way, you’ll have enough leeway to perform all of the necessary tasks, such as packing your clothes, sorting your items, and arranging for removalists without feeling the time crunch.
In addition, you should inform your utility companies weeks in advance about your planned move. They may also shut off your electricity or water on time, ensuring you don’t incur any late fees.
Start with a budget
If it’s your first time moving, it can be easy to forget that you’re spending a lot of money throughout the way. However, it’s important to keep track of your expenses throughout the entire moving process.
You should create a budget before anything else. You may also include some extra cash for incidentals, such as petrol costs if you have to move far away from home or repairs if something fragile breaks on your way to your new house.
Keeping a budget is also a good way to see where you can cut corners without sacrificing too much. For example, ask yourself if it’s absolutely necessary for every single piece of furniture in your house to make the trip from point A to point B or sell them instead. This way, you can have a hand in planning your budget instead of leaving things up to chance.
Research the area and cost of living
Before you decide on your new home, scout the area around it. Are there any shops nearby where you can buy groceries? Is there a public transport station near your place that can bring you to work or school? If you can’t go there yourself, check navigational maps like Google Maps.
It’s also important to do some research into the cost of living in the area. If possible, look for median housing listings so you can get an idea of how much rent you’re expected to pay.
After making your decision, consider asking for some help from relatives or friends who live in the same city. This is especially useful if they know the area very well and can point out potential pitfalls, such as bad public transport systems or unsafe neighbourhoods.
Get quotes from movers in those areas
While you can rally up a buddy or two to help you carry that decades-old grandfather clock, you’re much better off hiring a removalist. Removals are a lot harder to do by yourself, and they can be dangerous (and expensive) if you don’t have the proper training or equipment.
Before hiring a moving company, make sure you get quotes from accredited movers from Muval for your area. By setting aside some time to compare prices, you’ll have a better idea of picking the right mover for you. You can also request price quotes from multiple companies so you don’t miss out on extra savings.
Take inventory of everything in your home before moving day
It’s a lot easier to track your possessions if you have a list of all the items in your home before moving day. Take inventory of all your important belongings and list everything down on a spreadsheet or sheet of paper.
You can make things easy by simply marking down what’s inside each room. Then, categorise them in order of priority and whether you plan to bring, sell, bin, or donate them.
Once you have your list, check it against the things in each room. If you find anything extra, double-check to see if you can throw them away or sell them.
If you’ll be living in an unoccupied home, search on Facebook for furniture pieces that are less expensive than buying from a store.
For one, you can get discounts by buying secondhand items. Second, this is a good way to get pieces of furniture that are more unique than what you’ll find in big box stores.
The only downside is that you may not be able to inspect these products before purchasing them. To counter this drawback, look for local listings and ask for photos or videos of the product. You can also meet the seller in person to check out the condition of their home before handing over your money.
Host a garage sale
If your old apartment is riddled with stuff you’ve hoarded over the years, consider selling them to your neighbours in a garage or yard sale.
This is also ideal for furniture that’s too worn out to sell but still usable. If you don’t have any stuff that is worth selling at all, this is also a great way to clear up your apartment and earn some pocket change to mitigate the financial blow from moving.
Avoid moving during the busy season
The best time to move is during the off-season. The busy season typically lasts from May to September, so try to plan your move as far away from this time as possible.
During the busy season, more people are looking to hire movers than usual, which drives up the price of removals considerably. You also have less control over scheduling your moving day since most businesses will be fully booked with other customers’ requests.
Additionally, plan your move at the start of the week since most people tend to move during the weekends. This way, you can save some cash—all by being smart with your timing!
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