The average person will move almost a dozen times during their life. Preparing for and making your move can be quite stressful. If you have a move planned soon, a few tips and tricks can help make it easier.
Get Quotes
Whether you are moving in Oslo or your hometown, shop around for moving quotes. You may be surprised at the differences in pricing. In addition to cost, be sure to note what services each moving company provides. Do they help box items, provide packing material, load the truck, or store your items? Getting multiple quotes will help you set a budget and determine how much work you need to do yourself.
Discard Clutter
Before packing, assess what items you have. You should take a serious look at the back of your closets, basements, garages, and more. There is no reason that items you no longer use should make the move with you. Holding a garage sale can reduce your clutter and provide extra funds for your move. Anything that doesn’t sell can be donated or thrown into the dumpster.
Pack Carefully
When you unpack, you will thank yourself for packing carefully. You should use appropriately sized, sturdy boxes. Ideally, you will fill each box completely to keep items from shifting during the move. You can use items like blankets and towels to fill space for a snug fit. It is also vital to be aware of how much weight each box contains. Not only can heavy boxes injure your back, but they can also crush other boxes when stacked. To keep breakables in one piece, invest in quality packing materials. You want each fragile item individually wrapped.
Separate Essentials
Packing, moving, and unpacking is a multi-day job. You should set aside a bag of essentials as if you were going on vacation. Make sure you have easy access to things like some clothing, medications, and necessary travel documents.
Label Boxes
You should label the outside of each packed box. Stating which room the box belongs in helps you and your movers stay organized when unloading the moving truck. You can also mark boxes that need special handling. It’s important to know which boxes contain fragile or temperate sensitive belongings. You can even make a specific content list if you want to be extra organized. Nothing is worse than settling into your new home and digging through several boxes to find what you need.
Select Vehicle
You should select the right vehicle to fit your move. Consider if it is worthwhile to make more than one trip in a small car or truck. If not, select an appropriately sized moving van. A bigger van is not always better. Larger vehicles may be more expensive to rent, harder to drive, and have excess space. Too much space in your moving van will cause items to slide around while commuting. Tipping furniture and falling boxes can be detrimental to the condition of your items.
Plan Route
It is smart to plan out the move itself. You may want to avoid rush hour driving or narrow country roads. Also, consider the distance of your drive. How many hours are you comfortable traveling in one day? If your drive will take more than one day, you may want to research and book hotel rooms along your route.
Update Address
Be sure that you don’t forget to update your address. You will need to do it officially through the postal service. Friends, family, and financial institutions may all want to know your new location. Make a list of all the accounts you have, from credit cards and loans to health insurance. Then you can update all the addresses.
Prepare New Home
You will be more comfortable if your new home is ready when you get there. Before the move, you need to switch all the utilities into your name. You may want to line up phone, cable, and internet providers within the first day or two of your move. Deep cleaning and any remodeling will be easier before your belongings are unpacked.
Try to keep your move as stress-free as possible by being prepared. A few pointers will help you before, during, and after your relocation.