It’s probably no surprise to you, dear reader, that moving is stressful. But did you know that research has shown that moving is often more stressful than a divorce or breakup? Yep. But we have some good news, there are things you can do to make moving suck less. Namely, enlisting a professional mover. Moving inevitably comes with stress, and it’s better to know what to do about it than to let it harness your move. Read on for tips to make your move less overwhelming and learn why hiring some help is totally worth it.
Forward Your Mail (ASAP).
There’s a lot of details that go into moving. Some of them may seem minute – like say, going to the post office and making sure everything’s in order.
Luckily, you aren’t required to physically go to the post office and have any human interaction. Although if filling out a physical form is your jam, changing your address can still be done at your local post office.
To change your address online, just visit the USPS website, select the “Quick Tools” tab and click on “Change My Address.” Once you’ve selected this tab, you’ll be redirected to the USPS Official Change of Address form. From there, you’ll enter the old address, new address and the date you wish to begin forwarding your mail. There will be a $1 charge to change your address online. This $1 charge to your credit card will be used to verify your identification to prevent fraud.
Of the same token, don’t forget to contact your bank and change your billing address so you’re not left standing at a gas pump wondering which zip code to enter.
Start Small.
When prepping for a move, it’s easy to think of the long list of things that need to get done, fret about it, and then ultimately end up doing nothing at all. Avoid paralysis by analysis by doing something – anything. You don’t need to pack up your entire house in one day. But you do need to start somewhere.
Still feel like you’ve got no clue where to begin? You can start by by boxing up your out-of-season clothes (or anything else you don’t anticipate needing in the near future).
Generally, it’s recommended that you start packing at least three weeks before your move. Making progress, no matter how small, is important.
Get Rid of Anything You No Longer Want or Need.
Go through your stuff and say farewell to anything you haven’t used in a year. Doing so means there’s less stuff to pack, less to haul and less to unpack. Win, win, win.
Use three boxes to stay organized during this step. For each room you plan to tackle, bring one box for stuff you plan to keep, one for stuff to toss and one for stuff to donate or sell.
Organize Your Boxes by Necessity.
Not being able to find things you need, like your toothpaste or erm, the wine opener, can put a damper on celebrating a successful move. You almost certainly have a few things that you can’t go without for a night, so be sure to avoid packing those until the very last minute, and then stow them in a box or tote bag in your car for easy access.
Set Up the WIFI and Utilities in Your New Place.
In our new work from home age, WIFI isn’t a luxury, but a bare necessity (and to be honest, it felt like one before). Sometimes, it can take a few days for your new accounts to get set up, so remembering to contact all of your utility companies before a move is essential.
Fortunately, transferring WIFI services from one location to another is pretty simple. If you’re staying with the same internet provider, just give them a call and they’ll transfer your existing services and router to your new place. If you’re switching providers, contact them beforehand to have the gear delivered so that you can set it up when you get there.
Stay Organized.
Keep the nuts and bolts that go with your furniture in labeled, zipped bags, and tape them to the piece of furniture they go with. Label all of your boxes so that loading up the truck and unpacking is easier. Keep running lists of what’s done and what still needs to be done.
Understand That There May Be Hiccups.
No matter how well prepared you are, things might still go wrong. Once you think you’re done packing, you’ll probably realize that there’s a ton of other things that need to be done. It’ll probably take longer than you like to prepare for a move. Come moving day, everything may not go perfectly. That’s okay. Accept that it’s just a part of moving and hire a trusted mover to make your move easier and your load lighter.
Don’t Go It Alone.
Hiring experienced, reasonably priced movers can make your relocation a far less stress-inducing event.
Moving everything on your own is a recipe for injuring yourself. If you have to spend the money you “saved” on opting for a DIY move on physical therapy and massages to relieve your relocation-related injuries, you probably won’t end up saving any money at all. Your body and mind will thank you for hiring movers.
When you hire Colonial Van Lines, you’ll get:
- Reliable, friendly and experienced movers.
- A plan customized to fit your needs and budget.
- A free transparent rate quote.
- Affordable options tailored to fit any lifestyle.
At Colonial Van Lines, our moving services are always reliable, and highly professional. In addition to our transportation plans, we offer fully customizable moving plans, long distance moving services, end-to-end services, packing and unpacking services and storage services. Contact us today to get a free, no obligation rate quote for your move to find out why hiring a mover is the answer to all of your moving woes.
