Moving Tips

Moving locally can be just as much of a hassle as moving long distance without planning ahead. The physical aspect of moving or relocating homes can be done in a matter of hours, but it still takes several days of planning, check listing, and researching to prepare. When you plan ahead, the actual part of moving will go much smoother.

When transferring utilities to a new address you should keep a log of the start dates for each utility. Setting the date to move into a new home will be much easier when you know you will have the utilities you need turned on (water and electric). It’s okay to go a few days without a phone or cable, because you’ll be busy unpacking and settling in anyways. It’s also smart to allow the utilities to overlap, and to not shut off electric and water at your previous address for a few days after you have moved into your new home if you are moving locally. This will make it easier if you plan on traveling back to finish cleaning up your old home.

When planning a move, packing is the biggest hassle of it all. Rather than waiting until the last minute, you should begin by choosing a designated room or area to store packed boxes in and packing up items that you do not need. Packing can begin even a month before you actually move. Be sure to properly label boxes regarding the contents to take away the guess work when moving. Marking which boxes contain fragile objects is important, and so is marking which room the box will belong in. This way, when you move into a new home it will be much easier to unpack items and put things where they belong.

Pets are important members of the family, but they can also be confused by a move and sometimes act out. By beginning packing early, you will be helping your pet adjust to ‘things disappearing’ and a pile of boxes stacking up. If this happens too quickly, a pet may panic. During the actual move, it is a good idea to leave a pet with good friends or family because you will not be able to calm down a pet or give it attention while you are busy packing and unpacking. A pet is more likely to adjust to a new home when you can give that pet attention as it adjusts, so you should keep a pet in another home for a few days until you are settled in yourself.

Moving vehicles come in many forms, sizes, and prices. It’s important to shop around and choose which moving vehicle works best for your individual needs. A large moving truck can move anything from a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment to a small house in a single trip. A small car trailer can move items from a small dorm into a first apartment. A rental cargo van is ideal for moving smaller items from a studio or one bedroom apartment into a new home. Rental cargo vans are much more affordable than larger moving trucks, and can also be easier to drive if you are inexperienced with driving large vehicles. Even when driving a rental cargo van, the safety techniques needed to drive a large truck are just as important. However, a cargo van is more comfortable for a person who is used to driving smaller vehicles.