The home building process can be an overwhelming and stressful one, especially if you don’t know what to expect before you begin. Once your home is built, and you are ready to move in, moving can become another stressful task that takes over your life. Fortunately, following these five tips can result in a drastic reduction in the amount of stress you experience from moving.
1. Ensure Utilities Are Ready to Go
Once you are ready to begin the moving process, one step that often gets forgotten is canceling your current place’s utilities and beginning the utilities at your new home. Once you know your move-in date, schedule your new place’s utilities to begin right away. This way, you can avoid the giant headaches that can arise when your new place doesn’t yet have electricity, water, or internet ready to go.
2. Declutter Before Packing
Moving to a new house presents a great opportunity to do some decluttering of your possessions and sell or donate those that you no longer use or need. This can help your family get a fresh start upon moving into a new house, and it can reduce the number of items you ultimately have to move.
One way to systematically declutter your home is by decluttering on a room-by-room basis, making piles of belongings that will be packed and moved, those that will be donated, and those that can be sold. Many nonprofits will pick up donation items for free when you have a certain amount of goods to donate, so reach out to local organizations to see if this can be arranged.
3. Pack an Overnight Bag with Essentials
One of the most annoying parts about moving is not being able to find items you need that have been packed away. Eliminate this problem by packing an overnight back with essentials like toiletries, a few changes of clothing, and snacks that you may need to refuel during the moving process. Don’t forget a few bottles of water, too!
4. Save Toiletries with Plastic Wrap
It’s utterly defeating to lose a good portion of expensive skincare products or makeup when they spill or leak while being transported. Reduce the odds of this occurring by removing the lid on your toiletries, placing a bit of plastic wrap over the opening of the bottle, and replacing the cap. This can save your toiletries, and it can also prevent them from damaging the containers or bags they are being transported in.
5. Create an Unpacking Deadline
It’s all too easy to procrastinate on unpacking and getting settled in your new home, and many people leave dozens of boxes unpacked for months. Avoid this fate by scheduling a housewarming party or get together a couple of weeks after you move to create an unpacking deadline for yourself and provide motivation for unpacking your belongings.
In Conclusion
Moving is one of the most stressful aspects of life, whether it’s a short or long distance from your current residence. Fortunately, following some of these tips can help you move more easily and reduce some of that stress.
