10 Tips to Make Moving Less Stressful
You just signed all the paperwork and keys to your new home are in your hands. Congratulations! Buying a home can be super exciting, but it does come with a lot of stress. Now that the new home is bought, the challenge to move everything from your current home can seem like a daunting task. There are a lot of factors to consider: what movers to hire, when to move and what items you want to keep. We’ve got some tips that may help in making this major accomplishment a little better. Check out our 10 tips to make moving less stressful.
1. Start Early
Waiting until the last minute is never a good idea. As soon as you have locked in a move-by date, start going through your current home. It can seem overwhelming, but if you break it down room-by-room, it’ll make the task seem more manageable.
Take some time (and even put it on your calendar if you need to) and figure out what you want to keep, donate or throw away. Your home has accumulated so many things over the time you’ve lived there. You want to avoid having to throw things into a box because the movers are on their way.
You just signed all the paperwork and keys to your new home are in your hands. Congratulations! Buying a home can be super exciting, but it does come with a lot of stress. Now that the new home is bought, the challenge to move everything from your current home can seem like a daunting task.
2. Set Your Budget
Moving can be expensive. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on movers, packing supplies and any other tiny details that can quickly add up. You can find moving calculators online that can give you an idea of how much the move will cost.
Here are some ways to reduce costs:
- Find free packing supplies by calling retailers for unused boxes.
- Get a quote from at least 3 moving companies in order to find the best price with the right options for what you need.
- Be flexible on move-out day if possible as some moving companies have cheaper rates depending on the time and day.
3. Make Lists
Whether you like Excel spreadsheets, apps like Trello or the standard pad and pencil, make a list of everything that needs to get done. There are a lot of moving parts when moving. Keeping yourself organized will help keep you on track and reduce stress.
Share the list with anyone involved in your move including partners, friends, family and even the kids if they are old enough. Break down the list into things that need to be done before the move, after and with the new house (such as repairs or upgrades if needed).
4. Pack Smart
There are a ton of little tips and tricks to pack efficiently so that your items arrive in one piece. Breakables should be packed in bubble wrap close together to avoid moving around.
Depending on how far you are moving, you could get away with leaving clothes in drawers, taking them out and moving them separately instead of packing them in boxes. You can also leave clothes in hangers and cover them in garbage bags to keep them from getting dirty during the move.
5. Set Up Change of Address/Utility
One small thing that doesn’t take that long is to set up the utilities in your new home as well as a change of address. Both of these things are essential and one less thing to worry about.
Research if you want to keep the same utility company or change it (if you can and want to) early on. You don’t want to be doing this research or making those phone calls after you’ve moved into your new home.
6. Ask for Help
Whether it’s yourself moving or a family with kids and pets, asking for help is always OK. If you have kids or pets, ask a friend or a family member to take them for the day. It eliminates you having to worry about looking after them while they have fun and play.
For a more costly, but hands-off approach, consider movers that will pack up all of your belongings and move them to your new home. Some companies have this option for moving to a new state and it takes a lot of the stress away.
7. Pack an Overnight Bag
After the movers have left and you stare at the mountain of boxes, unpacking is the last thing you want to do. Set aside an overnight bag with bathroom essentials and a change of clothes (for everyone in the family) while packing closets and drawers.
While the boxes will be there the next day, at least for the first night you’ll have some clothes and bathroom necessities. They’ll be easy to access and help you get that restful sleep that everyone needs after moving.
8. Communication
Open communication is going to be key in making sure everyone that is helping or involved (either directly or indirectly) is on the same page. Loop in your boss at work about your big move so they know you won’t be as available. Talk to family and friends and see if they are available to help.
It is also helpful to communicate how you are feeling about the move. Whether it’s feelings of overwhelm, sadness, fear or happiness, expressing those can go a long way in making a move less stressful.
9. Practice Self-Care
It’s so easy to get caught up in the marathon of packing and organizing that our mental health and physical health suffers. Be good to yourself by eating well, getting good sleep and taking breaks when you need to.
Stock your new refrigerator with good food to eat so that when hunger strikes, you’re able to fuel your body with something nutritious. Take breaks when you need it, and go outside when you can and take in that much needed vitamin D.
10. Accept that Moving is Stressful
Studies have shown that moving can be more stressful than going through a divorce or becoming a parent. Accepting it for what it is and knowing that it is temporary can help your mental health.
Moving while also working full time is not only challenging but can take stress up a few notches with deadlines needing to be had as well as packing boxes and organizing rooms. Take a deep breath and know that this phase will soon pass.
Bonus Tip: The New Home Fairy
For families, it’s not just parents that are under stress when moving, kids are as well. Introduce the concept of a New Home Fairy. Buy a little fun toy that is left by the fairy in the kids room. It’ll help make the transition a little easier for them and get them excited about the new house!
As we said before, moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in your lifetime, but it can also be one of the most exciting things a person can do. We hope these tips will help ease that stress a bit and make the process of moving go a little more smoothly.
