According to University Hospitals, the five most stressful life events are the death of a loved one, divorce, moving, personal injury, and job loss. If you’re moving out after a divorce, you’re experiencing two of them at once. That’s some pretty high anxiety to deal with. At Colonial Van Lines, we like to keep anxiety as low as possible. So, we have a few tips to help you get through it all.
Tips for Moving out During a Divorce
First, let’s get that stress in check. Breathe deep, move around to get those endorphins flowing, and then check Pinterest for encouraging quotes on divorce, such as, “And they lived happily ever after. Separately.” or “Instead of single as a status, I prefer independently owned and operated.” Then let’s get on to the moving part.
Don’t move out after divorcing until the papers are finalized.
Remember, when you are going through a particularly bitter divorce, anything you do or say can, and will, be held against you in a court of law. That includes moving out of the house before the papers are finalized. Leaving the house before the divorce papers are signed can be legally construed as abandoning the family. Your spouse can use that to get the house, the kids, and more.
Take Inventory
Once the divorce is final, figure out what’s ‘his’ and what’s ‘hers.’ If you can’t agree with your ex on what belongs to who, refer to the court’s decision. (Typically, the court will decide to sell the disputed items and split the profits between the two of you). After you know what stays and what goes, set your belongings off to the side to be moved.
Get Rid of Sentimental Items
Start downsizing for your move by getting rid of all of the “ex-related” stuff gathering dust in the back of your closet. The less you have, the easier (and cheaper) it will be to move, and the less you have to remind you of your ex, the easier it will be for you to move on.
- Get rid of photos of your ex.
- Consider keeping the news of the breakup off social media to avoid unwanted attention.
- Take a tour of the house to figure out what you’ll need to replace and how you’re going to replace it. (i.e. If your ex took the pots and pans, you’ll need to get your own set.)
- If you’re not ready to deal with the sentimental belongings now, put them aside until you are.
Book the Movers
The sooner you book, the better. Look for a licensed, insured moving company with stellar reviews, flexible packages, affordable pricing, and sympathetic staff.
Packing for Your Move
Don’t be afraid for ask for help. Look to the capable arms of a professional moving company to assist with the packing, and the loving support of friends and family to keep spirits high. If you don’t have the budget to hire movers, secure your truck rental early and gather a few reliable friends to help you with the heavy lifting.
Decorating Your New Place
Free at last! Free at last! And time to decorate! Too soon? We get it. After a divorce, you may not be in the best frame of mind to decorate. But do splurge on a few new things to lift your spirits a bit.
- If you’re not ready to decorate just yet, a drawing from your kids can be your temporary piece de resistance.
- Paint your bedroom in a color that reflects your personality.
- Buy bedding that will make the room feel new and fresh again.
- Never underestimate the decorative value of a few well-placed tchotchkes! Flowerpots, lampshades, and artwork can create a lovely mise en scene.
- The Salvation Army is the new Apres De Guerre! Go shabby chic for cheap to achieve an overall elegant effect.
What to Look for in a Moving Company
At Colonial Van Lines, we may not be able to tell you what to look for in your partner, but we can tell you what to look for in a moving company. Here are some qualities that let you know when the chemistry is right.
It Stands by You
When you’re moving after a divorce, it’s more important than ever to have a moving company that really has your back. At Colonial Van Lines, we stand by our customers from the beginning of their moves to the ends, from packing to transport to storage. Count on us to be where we say we’ll be, when we say we’re going to be there, and rely on us to answer your questions truthfully and knowledgeably.
They’re True to Their Word
At CVL, we’re not like all the other moving companies; we’re different. We would never say one thing and then do another. Whereas some companies sweep you off your feet with an attractively low rate, only to add service fees and hidden costs to the final contract, Colonial Van Lines offers our free rate quotes, so that you pay exactly what you expected to pay.
It Gives You the Personal Attention You Deserve
When you call us, the first thing we do is listen. We want to know who you are and what makes your move unique. We assign you a personal moving assistant who takes careful note of your moving information, so you know you’re getting the personal attention you deserve. Our moving professionals will tailor a moving plan according to your specific needs. You tell us your budget, and we adjust accordingly.
It Does the Hard Work So That You Don’t Have To
While you work with Colonial, we dedicate ourselves to making your life easy. We do the packing, the driving, and we take care of the heavy lifting. Our experienced long-distance moving crew knows the routes to get your belongings coast to coast, state to state, and north to south efficiently, safely, and affordably. We’ll pack your most delicate belongings with the greatest of care and lift them into our trucks with the greatest of ease.
Offers Security
Whether it’s short term storage that you’re looking for, a long-term storage commitment, you can depend on Colonial Van Lines to provide a spacious, secure, state of the art facility to store your belongings. If you’re looking for security, look no further than our clean, climate-controlled units and trustworthy patrol team.
It’s Flexible
At Colonial, we’re over the idea that our desires are most important in the relationship. Instead, we offer flexible packages that conform to your needs and your moving budget. Choose from our single item packs, our kitchen packs, and our full-service packs available for your packing convenience. Our storage options include full-service storage, storage-in-transit, residential and commercial storage, long-term, and short-term options. We design our flexible service plans to keep our prices low and our customers at the forefront.
And Now You Can Say “I do” to a Reliable Mover
Maybe not, but you sure can hire us. Whether you’re moving out after a divorce, or just moving, Colonial Van Lines will make sure you’re well taken care of. Contact us today for our free rate quote; it may be the beginning of a wonderful relationship.
