Whether you’ve been forced by a career change to move to a new city or location, or your lease has expired, and you simply can’t afford the rent increase, you’ll eventually have to start dealing with the moving process. Many people tend to forget how tough moving can be, especially when you’ve got a lot of stuff or are moving cross-country. In this article, you’ll be presented with 5 tips, from certified NYC movers, that will help make your moving experience as easy and as carefree as it can be.
1. Take Care of Your Budget
Moving can get pretty expensive, no matter if you’ve hired a moving company or are doing it with the help of friends and family. As such, before moving, make sure to budget accordingly, and to keep a record of all of your potential future expenses. It’s best to make this budget at least a few months before the potential move and to give yourself a bit of leeway when it comes to how much you’re going to spend in case unexpected expenses pop up.
2. Make Sure to Choose the Right Movers
If you’re going to call on the services of a moving company, it’s important to know what to look for when picking one. Look for online reviews of the company you’re eyeing, or even better, ask friends or family and go by word of mouth. Know that any reliable moving company will have insurance to protect your goods in case of damage.
Also, it’s important to know that no matter how cheap the initial quote might be, the end price will probably be 5% to 10% higher. While movers might be more expensive than making the move by yourself, having professionals deal with the stresses of moving can take a big load off your mind.
3. Start Packing Early
Don’t just leave this important task a few days before you’re set to move, you’ll probably end up panicking with how much work you’ll have to do. Instead, start packing as early as possible, and focus on trying to pack diligently by, for example, color coding your boxes and decluttering as much of your things as you can. Try using plastic boxes instead of cardboard ones, as they’re better for the environment. Cardboard boxes tend to break after one or two uses and have to be thrown away, whereas plastic ones can last you for a very long time.
4. Donate or Throw Away Things You Don’t Need
Moving is the perfect opportunity to throw away or donate stuff you don’t use or need anymore. It will also help you with packing since you’ll have fewer boxes to move. Make a pile of unused things and once you fill it, go ahead and donate it to the nearest homeless shelter or give it to kids in need. There are numerous charities out there that specialize in dealing with unwanted items and making sure they reach the right people.
5. Maintain a Calm and Collected Attitude
Moving can be stressful, so it’s important to maintain a positive attitude. Start working early so you don’t get overwhelmed, and always take 5-to-10-minute breaks every hour. If you find yourself becoming angry or frustrated, don’t worry, everyone goes through something like that when moving. Remember, it’s a demanding process, and sometimes things will go wrong, no matter how hard you want them not to.
