The idea of making moving more efficient ought to have universal appeal. This is one of those things that we all have to do at one time or another, and it almost always ends up being more of a hassle than we counted on. There may be a tight timeline, more clutter than you realized, or any number of other problems. But rest assured, it’s going to be a little bit of a pain. Fortunately, there are at least some steps you can take (some of which you may never have thought of), to make things a little bit easier and more efficient.
Hire Movers!
It’s the most obvious step to take, but still one that many of us are inclined to stubbornly avoid. There’s definitely a temptation to pull off the whole move on your own, or perhaps by relying on the help of friends and neighbors. But professional moving services might just shock you with how quickly and easily they can empty your home of pretty much everything in it. Now, it’s probably unwise to leave the job entirely to movers, because you’ll want to have some handle on how everything’s being packaged. But allowing movers to do the bulk of the physical labor is an easy way to handle the biggest part of the job.
Set Up Trash & Recycling
If you’ve never moved before, prepare to be surprised at how much trash and recycling you accumulate as you clean out your home. A lot of old things you don’t plan on bringing with you can probably be donated; other things, however, are best off being disposed of responsibly. For trash, you can usually rent large bins or even a small dumpster to use throughout your move. For recycling, you may have to get more creative. That said, you can find recycling services that will haul away (and in some cases even buy) scrap metal, old electronics, and even batteries. These are things you really shouldn’t throw out with the rest of the trash, so it’s something to keep in mind.
Label Everything
We mentioned before, when discussing the use of professional movers, that you’ll probably want to have a handle on how everything’s being packaged. Well, the best way to do that is by labeling absolutely every box, container, etc. as you go. An article in Lifehacker also mentioned keeping an inventory of your own, so that you not only organize the boxes but also maintain a list of everything you should find when you start unpacking at your new home. It’s a little bit of extra work, but it’ll pay off when unpacking becomes faster and easier.
Take Time Off (If You Can)
Trying to squeeze in the work you need to do for a move here and there over the course of days or weeks is usually a bad idea. The process can wind up dragging out longer than it needs to, and it’s also harder to stay organized over time. If possible, therefore, it’s a good idea to take a little bit of time off from work if you’re at the point of making your move. Even a day or two on either end of a weekend can make a huge difference in giving you the time you need to get the bulk of the work done.
Ship Things Ahead
Keep in mind, too, that shipping larger items can often be cheaper than trying to move in trucks or on your own. This might mean bigger pieces of furniture and decorations. However, you can also look into vehicle transport if you’re also worried about how and when to move your car to your new home. It’s definitely a load off your shoulders to have these larger possessions ready and waiting for you at your destination, rather than weighing down your list of things you still have to do.
