Moving can be stressful, especially if you can’t afford to hire professional movers to do the majority of the work for you. If you plan on moving, one of the first steps to take is to figure out your budget. Ask yourself, “What price house can I afford?” as well as what additional costs you’re likely to incur throughout the moving process.
Keep in mind that even if you don’t plan on hiring professional movers, there are many costs to consider when moving your household goods, such as packing materials, truck rental fees (if applicable), fuel and more. A 2018 study conducted by the American Moving and Storage Association found that only 22% of people hired professional movers, 33% rented a moving truck, and 45% moved without any assistance at all. While it’s going to take some planning and effort, it’s certainly not an impossible challenge.
By following these suggestions, you can make that move a whole lot easier.
Declutter
Before you even start packing, get rid of any rarely used and unwanted items. Don’t hold onto clothing you haven’t worn in the last year or anything you’ve been saving until you lose 10 pounds or go on that long-awaited trip.
You can make extra money by holding a garage sale and posting items to online markets. Any leftover items can be donated or discarded. This is an important step that makes moving much easier. You don’t want to pack, move, and unpack items that aren’t necessary for your new home. For obvious reasons, it’s much easier to get rid of things before the move, rather than after.
Stay Organized
Keep everything as well-organized as possible when packing. Pack room by room and clearly label every box with space the items came from and what they are. When you’re unpacking at your new home, it will be much easier to find things and figure out where each box should go, decreasing much of the stress that’s common after a move.
Pack a Suitcase
Even if you aren’t moving very far, packing a suitcase full of items you’ll immediately need can be very helpful. Think clean clothes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other personal care items as well as items like paper plates, cups, and bowls, plastic utensils, snacks, paper towels, all-purpose cleaner, a box cutter, and trash bags. It can serve as your ultimate “unpacking kit.”
Rent a Moving and Self Storage Container
Renting a large moving container through PODS or Pack Rat will allow you to take your time packing. The container is dropped off right onto your driveway, and you can keep it for as long as you need, paying monthly rental fees in the process. Once you’re finished packing, the company will pick up your container and move it to your new home. Containers are particularly helpful if you plan to move a longer distance.