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We are in the peak of moving season. Spring and Summer are the ideal time to move for most because of the weather. I mean, who wants to move in the snow, right? In fact, when I moved, during the process of blending our family, we chose early Spring. If I learned anything from that experience, it was that starting early is key. It’s the difference between having an organized move or being stressed. I’m not promising that you’ll love moving, but what I can say is that if you follow our 5 step guide you’ll ease the stress of your relocation experience.
The purpose of this guide is to help you ease the stress that’s associated with moving. The key is preparation, if you take the time to plan now, before you move in, you will be saving yourself so much time - and so many headaches - come moving day.
Start Early
Okay, the decision has been made, you’re relocating. Maybe you’re getting married or maybe your job is requiring you to move. Regardless of the circumstances, I want to acknowledge that relocating comes with a mixture of excitement, stress, and even sadness. So, where do you start? The first and most obvious step is choosing a move date. The time you choose to move can affect prices and availability. For example, you'll get a better deal by moving on a weekday and by avoiding moving during busy times like the first or last week of the month. Even if you’re relocation is a corporate-sponsored move, starting early will guarantee that your desired dates are most likely to be available. Typically, people book vanline services up to one year in advance. If possible, start the process at least 6 months in advance.
Create Moving Folder
While you have the option of paper or digital, we strongly recommend curating a digital moving folder. Depending on the dynamic of your family, it gives quick access to key information. You’re moving folder should hold your important moving paperwork such as: a checklist, quotes & estimates, contracts, insurance information, and receipts. Also, make sure your important personal documents (passports, social security cards, and birth certificates) are kept in a safe place. Once you make them digital, shred or recycle any documents to reduce your packing later.
Pro Tip: Avoid paper clutter by making your moving folder digital. You can use Google Drive, Evernote, or another electronic file on your computer to hold your documents.
Abby Lawson of Abby Organizes, is one of my fellow professional organizers and just so happens to be a Evernote guru. Check out her blog for tips and tricks on how to use the app.
Calculate the Cost
Now that you began the process, you need to create a budget. Even if you receive a corporate benefit, more than likely, there will be out-of-pocket expenses that will arise. Some typical moving expenses to consider are:
The Move
Moving supplies
Moving truck
Labor (movers)
Maintenance
Repairs
Cleaners
Recycle & Disposal
Miscellaneous
Gratuity
Travel
Registration & Licensing
When calculating your budget, it is crucial to determine how you're going to move everything. There are a variety of options from doing it yourself to hiring full-service movers. Your decision will be dependent on your circumstances; however, in my experience, DIY moving adds up and, in some cases, it is less expensive to hire help.
Pro Tip: Leave some flexibility in your budget. You'll probably encounter unexpected expenses along the way.
We offer full-service and al a carte relocation services to best fit your needs. Learn more about The Modern Move.
Space Planning
We will be discussing space planning throughout this guide but first we will talk about it from the perspective of a cost-effective move. When relocating to a new place, if possible, identify oversized items that will NOT fit into your new space. It is easy to think during such a stressful time “I’ll deal with it later,” but keep in mind that the moving survey will be based on the items that you want moved. What does this mean? It’s cheaper to downsize prior to your pack and load. Not to mention, it reduces the carbon footprint.
Even if you’re going the DIY route, the size of the truck, the packing material, and the labor is still effected by the amount of items you decide to take. If you know you’ll be reducing the size of you space, discard and donate upfront.
Pro Tip: You can obtain the estimated square footage of your new home from your real estate paperwork or by asking. If you're relocating out of state and not able to personally visit your new home before your move, request a virtual tour.
This is part one of a guide that I'm confident will ease the stress of your relocation experience. If you’re moving in the next 6 months and you have questions, feel free to contact me and stay tuned for the next part.
Kimberly
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