Let’s face facts: moving can sometimes feel like an overwhelming, impossible task. But it shouldn’t have to! If you take the time to prepare and plan, moving can actually be a pretty reasonable experience.
At Morningstar Storage, we’d like to think we’re pretty good at helping people move and store their belongings. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the past 40 years, it’s that you should always help your neighbor. So with that in mind, here’s some advice on moving that will help you avoid rookie mistakes—no matter how many times you’ve moved in the past.
Draw Up Plans and Timetables for Your Move
Before you even put together your first moving box, sit down and draw up a timetable for your move. The earlier you do this, the better. Ask yourself several questions about the move as well as your new home, such as:
- How long do I have until I have to be out of my current place?
- When will I need to shut off current utilities and transfer them to my new home?
- How will I know when a room is completely packed?
- Am I paying movers, asking friends, or renting a truck and doing it myself?
- How long will it take to get internet/cable TV/utilities hooked up?
- When should I start having mail forwarded?
Moving is a big logistical undertaking, even if you’re just going down the street. By planning out your move, you’ll save yourself a lot of headache later on.
Create A List and Check It Twice (Or More)
Whether you’re moving out of a studio apartment or a four-bedroom house with a full, finished basement, the basics of moving are the same: Put things in boxes, tape boxes up, and set them aside. But true moving professionals understand that keeping an inventory while packing and moving is the best way to stay organized. When buying supplies for your move, pick up a pack of permanent markers.
As you go through each room, keep a running total of what items are in which boxes. Clearly label the box with the original room the box’s contents are from and where it’ll be going in your new place. If the box is temporarily going into self storage, make sure that’s listed as well. If you want to get really detailed, you can make a spreadsheet listing the boxes and their contents.
Pack As You Go—Not The Night Before
Just like planning, packing early is a great way to help eliminate moving stress. Think about things in your closet, kitchen, and even living room that you don’t plan on using anytime soon. If you’re moving in the middle of summer and the weather has already warmed up, you should probably go ahead and put sweaters in boxes. Ditto for anything you haven’t used to cook for a while.
In fact, if you’re trying to sell your home, it may make sense to go ahead and pack up the kitchen to avoid daily cleaning. And while most people love movies, there’s a pretty good chance you won’t get the itch to watch Step Brothers before you move. Go ahead and pack up those books, DVDs, and video games. You’ll be too busy to play them, anyway.
Consider Self Storage to Help Smooth Things Even More
As you pack, you may start to feel like the amount of boxes is crowding you out of your living space. That’s where self storage comes in. In addition to helping you with your move by offering all the supplies you need, Morningstar Storage provides ample space to house your belongings during the moving process. Visit us today to learn more about how we can help you with a smooth move, or reserve a space online.
