Five Key Steps to the Easiest Move Ever
Moving is notoriously one of the most stressful things you can do. Not only is it a ton of work and a huge financial commitment, but you’re also dealing with the weight of leaving one home and starting a new life in another. It’s a strain on your calendar, your wallet, and your emotions.
Whether you’re moving for a new job, moving in with your partner (or away from them after a breakup), or just looking for a change of scenery, you should take the opportunity to appreciate (if not savor) the big event—and avoid succumbing to fear, stress, and regret throughout the process. If you want to make the smoothest, least painful move possible, follow these five essential steps, as outlined by moving experts.
1. Start planning as early as possible.
Long before you ever put a single item in a cardboard box, you need to plan your move. And I mean every aspect of it. It’s more complicated than you think, so start early and set aside some time. Shanayqua D’Sa, head of content marketing at Attic Self Storage , notes that pre-planning is “by far the first and most important step.” It should include budgeting, comparing moving companies, considering whether you need a temporary storage unit, purchasing packing materials, and more.
Set a budget
The budget should be your main focus. It may include: truck rental or moving company, insurance, fuel, labor costs, packing materials, overlapping rent or mortgage payments, storage space, utility transfers, cleaning fees, repairs (old or new property), and food and/or lodging during the move. The costs for all of these will vary depending on your needs, so take some time to sketch out different scenarios.
Once you have a budget, increase it by 10 to 15 percent, says Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co. “Leave room for the unpredictable,” he says. “We see a lot of people plan for a truck and labor, but forget about the expenses they create.”
Be realistic and you’ll avoid surprises. Nick Friedman, co-founder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving , advises, “The more labor you need, the higher your overall costs will be. For local moves, many companies offer flat rates based on time and labor, but it’s important to make sure these rates match your actual needs. Choosing too many services can lead to overpaying, while choosing too few can leave you in a bind on moving day.”
Start by figuring out what, if anything, you’ll do yourself and what you’ll outsource. Moving companies can help with everything from packing to disassembling furniture, but each will likely have additional costs. Figure out what you want before you call companies, so you don’t get a quote for something you don’t really need help with.
Find the right movers
This brings me to the next step: researching moving companies. Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage , advises prioritizing reliability and reputation as much as price: “Pay attention to how long the company has been in business, as a solid track record usually means smoother operations.”
Call several places and be honest about everything, from the scope of your move to any special considerations, like unusually heavy furniture, tight hallways, or lots of stairs. Get multiple estimates and put everything in writing. Ask for a detailed cost breakdown to figure out whether gas, ladders, furniture packing, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and more will add to your expenses. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, ask for proof of licensing and insurance, Friedman advises. If a company won’t answer your questions directly and provide you with documentation, cross it off your list. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers , also warns against “getting sucked in by lowball prices.” Any estimate that seems “too good to be true” almost certainly is. Avoid companies with excessive upfront deposits – usually more than 25% of the total cost – and read plenty of customer reviews before signing any contracts.
2. Declutter before moving (or packing)
Several professionals I spoke with made the same point, and it’s worth repeating here: Declutter before you move so you don’t waste money moving things you don’t need or want to keep. ( Here’s a more detailed look at how and why to declutter before you move .) As a general rule, you should start this process a few weeks before your move. At least three or so weeks will ensure you have enough time to think about what you really need to keep and donate or sell what you don’t need. If something breaks or is rarely used, consider keeping it as you move into a new phase of your life. A few weeks will give you time to make a list and sell things to raise money for the move, but set a deadline for when you’ll donate what’s left — you don’t want a pile of junk lying around when the movers arrive.
This can add up to extra expenses. D’Sa notes that if you’re significantly downsizing, you may need to budget for a small dumpster for everything you need to throw away. Still, it’s worth it: All of my experts agreed that decluttering is the single most effective way to save money and mentally prepare for your move. You’ll also get a head start when packing, simply by getting a clearer picture of everything you own.
3. Pack like a pro, even if you can’t pay for it
Like planning and decluttering, packing will begin a few weeks before your move. I realize this isn’t always possible, but try to start as early as possible. Waiting until a few days before your move, or worse, the day the movers arrive, can lead to chaos. Movers can help you pack, but they’re usually expensive. Evan Hawk, co-founder of MakeMyMove , warns, “Packaging always takes longer than expected, so start early, especially with seasonal items or things you don’t use on a daily basis.”
While you can probably get a few free boxes from local companies, it’s a good idea to just buy them (big hardware stores usually have the best prices). Rimeris recommends buying high-quality tape, “markers you can actually read,” and sturdy boxes, all of which are “worth every penny.” Mindy Godding, president of the National Association of Productivity and Organization Professionals , advises buying all the boxes so they’re all the same shape and size and easier to pack. You can cut down on your spending on protective supplies, Godding says, noting that packing paper works just as well as bubble wrap or pre-made liners when it comes to protecting your fragile items.
Renting crates can save you effort, but it’s worth it.
If you don’t want to buy boxes, you might want to consider renting reusable plastic crates. A number of companies, both local and national, will deliver these crates to you before your move and pick them up when you’re done. They’re stronger than cardboard boxes, stackable, uniform, and returnable, making packing a breeze. Uhaul , RentalCrates.com , and Perfect Crates all offer this service, so compare prices for your exact needs.
Get creative
Godding suggests placing plastic cups around fragile items like figurines and clearly labeling any boxes that contain anything fragile. Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ , adds that you can use household materials like towels and linens to cushion fragile items while packing, and Thiam Behdarvandan, founder of Let’s Get Moving , suggests packing heavier items like books in rolling suitcases, as the wheels make them easier to transport.
Photos are your friend in this process. Take photos of boxes as you pack so you know what’s in each box if you need something in an emergency. Also take photos of things like the cable configurations behind your TV so you can set everything up more easily.
Beller and Charles Chica, co-owners of CT Best Movers , recommend keeping your clothes on hangers and draping a trash bag over them. When you arrive at your new home, cut a hole in the bag, thread the hangers through it, slide them onto the rod, then cut the bag off. ( Here are some more tips on how to pack so that things are easier to unpack . )
Have a system
Pack room by room and room by room, working in order of urgency, and designate one “essentials” box from each. These boxes, which will contain things like toothbrushes, soap, pajamas, coffee pots, plates and silverware, and anything else you might need for the first few days in your new home, should be loaded into the moving van last, unloaded first, and opened on the first night there. Making sure your essentials boxes are easily accessible will make settling in much easier. (Keep a knife or scissors handy so you can open them.)
4. Do all the necessary research online before you move
It’s easy to get so caught up in the physical process of moving your stuff from one place to another that you can forget about what comes next: living in a new place. Especially if you’re moving to a new city , there are a lot of things you’ll need to check off to get your new life in order.
Many of these tasks can be done online, so do your research and get as much done as you can before you move. Start by making a list of all the different tasks that need to be done at your current address. You may need to make repairs to get your deposit back if you’re renting . Review your bills and memberships: Cancel your gym membership and any other local recurring payments, like transit passes that automatically renew. Set up mail forwarding to receive all mail that comes to your old address. Cancel utilities. Contact your doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and other providers to see if they can direct you to the new area and provide copies of all your important records and documents. Forward your prescriptions to the new pharmacy.
Now turn your attention to your new location. Set up utilities and the online billing you’ll need to pay them, update your driver’s license details if necessary, research your car’s re-registration deadlines, and contact your insurer (hopefully your new area will have lower rates). You can even start looking for local doctors, dentists, or any other professionals you’ll need in the short term after moving.
5. Stay informed throughout the day
The final step is the big one: It’s time to move. Even this part still comes down to planning and budgeting. Jordan Sakala of laborhutt.com suggests moving on weekdays and in the middle of the month when demand is lower, and making sure you’re ready and packed before the movers arrive. If you’re not ready when they show up, you may be charged an hourly rate while they wait for you or pitch in to speed things up. Be sure to let the movers know about heavy furniture or tight quarters ahead of time so they arrive with all the necessary tools, or you may find yourself waiting (and paying for it) while they run to get it, or worse, being told they can’t move it at all.
On moving day, even if you hired a full-service moving team and outsourced almost everything, it’s a good idea to stay and supervise so you can answer any last-minute questions. There are some things that movers won’t touch , so it’s your responsibility to coordinate their transportation. Get a written list in advance of what your company won’t handle, but in general, be prepared to take care of your own jewelry, delicate valuables, identification, medical records and medications, hazardous materials, plants, and pets.
Before you leave the house for the last time, check the place and make sure you know exactly where the boxes of “necessities” you packed are. Once everything is ready, set off on your journey to your new home – hopefully feeling inspired rather than exhausted and drained.