Moving into a new home involves several emotional stages starting with the joyous fantasies of a new place and a fresh start. It’s the perfect excuse to start afresh and make your dreams become reality.
The joy of moving usually becomes a stressful, frustrating mess when the reality of getting things organized, packed and cleaned kicks in. If you’ve ever really thought about it, that’s a heck of a lot to ask of anyone — even trained professionals who move for a living.
When it comes to moving, there’s a lot you need to do, and some of it isn’t at all fun. Things like cleaning up your previous place, packing your stuff, and then organizing your new home. But with a little bit of preparation, you can make the whole process a little easier to handle.
Moving experts rely on simple tricks to make getting out of one place and then into a new one much less stressful.
Here are 5 tips to make moving a breeze in Boston.
Donate and Dump First
Don’t take items that you’re planning to throw away to your new place. Remember, you now have a fresh start. Take the time to sort clothing, kitchen and other household items.
Make three sections: KEEP, DONATE, or TRASH
Whether it’s the wardrobe that you haven’t worn in 10 years (and no longer fits), or an old kitchen blender, go through things and make honest assessments of what you need and don’t need.
Review paperwork – old files and artwork from the kids. Reducing paper can greatly reduce the number of boxes you pack and move. Shred personal data on old paperwork that isn’t needed. For files you want to keep, scan them to flash drives.
Take pictures of the bulk of kids’ artwork just sitting in a drawer and not displayed. This way you have the items for memory-sake but don’t have the bulk of paper everywhere.
Pre-Print Labels
Make pre-printed labels for packing. Use large Avery labels that you can slap onto taped boxes. Pre-print the main rooms of the home: Master Bedroom, Kitchen, Bathroom, Kid’s Room, etc.
Put the labels in a “packing kit” that includes packing tape, box cutters, and permanent markers. Keep the kit with you as you work. When a box is packed, grab a label and circle the room it goes to.
Highlighter colors are also another way to organize packing. Use different colors to coordinate with different rooms.
Make a List
There are a lot of things to do when moving. Packing is just the beginning.
Make a list to stay organized. Some professional organizers recommend going a step further and using a day planner or calendar to set tasks for certain days as the moving date approaches.
Detail when to call utility companies to start and stop service. Note when deposits or escrow deadlines must be met. Set a schedule for packing boxes to break it down into smaller, manageable chunks.
Hire Professionals
Everyone finds certain moving tasks more tolerable than others. Some people will hire a moving company to pack and move everything so they never need to even touch a roll of tape. Other people like to organize their own boxes but may hire movers to transport.
One area to consider getting help is cleaning. By the time the move itself is done, the thought of scrubbing kitchens and bathrooms is overwhelming. There are cleaning companies that specialize in move-outs and even move-ins, preparing your new place before you get there. Other professionals to consider include carpet cleaners.
Change of Address
The number of places to notify of a change of address seems never-ending. Start with utilities a few weeks before the move, setting both cancelations of existing utilities and set-up of new ones. Many utility companies have a waiting period for service appointments. Don’t get caught without hot water on the first night in your new place because the gas, electricity or water hasn’t been turned on yet (this has happened to clients who of ours who did not realize that the propane tank on their new purchase required the gas company to unlock it).
Go the U.S. Post Office and ask for a moving kit, or go through the process online. Doing this ahead of time not only gives you adequate time to notify the Post Office of your forwarding address, it provides coupons you can use during the move for things like cable, moving trucks, storage units, home improvement stores, and other services associated with moving.
Are you getting ready to buy or sell in the Boston area? We can help! Send us a message or give us a call at (617) 657-9811!
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