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Did you know that the average person moves 11-12 times over the course of their life? So while moving to a new house is a stressful process, you’re far from alone.
Because of this, people have come up with tried-and-true tips to make the migration process more manageable and less anxiety-inducing. If you’re looking to pack up and move with as little stress as possible, it’s essential to have a comprehensive moving checklist that works to reduce complications. Read on for the best checklist you’ll find on the web!
Visit Your New Home Before Buying
It’s important to see the house you’re investing in before putting down a deposit. While virtual tours are a great first step, they aren’t a substitute for actually going to your new house and seeing how you’ll live.
Make a note of the home’s layout and how much space you’ll have. Then, decide whether there are enough rooms for you to live a comfortable lifestyle and determine how you will use the space. Visiting your house also lets you see what the community is like to know who you’ll be living near.
Research Professional Moving Services
Once you decide on a house and make a down payment, you can start the process of planning to move. Some people choose to load their furniture into a UHaul and enlist friends to help them move. While this works for those moving within the same neighborhood, it isn’t ideal for long-distance moves.
In most cases, hiring a mover to lift and transport large items is essential. They’re trained in lifting furniture and know how to pack it in a secure way. This can prevent your valuable items from breaking and needing to be replaced.
Budget for Your Move
Moving isn’t cheap- in fact, the average cost of a local move is $1250. Those moving across the country will need to spend even more on moving costs. This sum also doesn’t incorporate the costs of your new living space.
If you know that you’ll be moving, start saving a few hundred dollars a month. It’s best to begin this process 8-10 months prior to your move.
Once you figure out how much you’ll have at the time of the move, figure out where you need to allocate it. How much is going to a moving service? How much will you need to spend on temporary housing?
Knowing these costs in advance will prevent unwanted surprises later.
Book Hotels or Temporary Housing
It’s likely that you’ll need to arrange for temporary housing as you move into your new home. Hotels and motels are usually the best way to go. However, you may want to ask your workplace if they will provide temporary housing if your migration is associated with work.
Make sure that you book these hotels 2-3 months in advance for the best possible price. Be sure that you reserve as many nights as you think you realistically will need to move. You don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you have nowhere to store your items as you transport them.
Line Up Your New Job
If you’re moving because of professional relocation, you already have this step locked down! If not, though, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you have no income after moving. Make sure that you line up a new job at least 5-6 months in advance to minimize stress.
Pack Everything the Right Way
It’s important that you know how to pack household items before moving. You don’t want to accidentally break something by not padding it enough or using an inappropriate box.
Moving companies can help with most packing-related problems, but you likely will need to pack smaller objects on your own. Make sure that you:
- Don’t empty drawers but instead leave items in them to save space
- Use pots and pans to hold smaller items
- Wrap dishes and other breakables in linens, towels, and other soft items
- Use plastic wrap to secure items that may spill
- Use blankets and large straps as padding for electronic devices
- Neatly tie up all electronic cords to prevent damage
- Color code and label all boxes (to find items more easily later)
- Take photos of box contents (so you can easily remember where things are)
- Be sure that everything is secure with straps, velcro, bungee cords, and tape so that nothing shifts around and breaks
All of these tips for moving house are critical because they save your expensive items from being lost or damaged.
If you have unwanted items that you aren’t taking with you when you move, you can have a garage sale. You can donate items that don’t sell or give them away to friends, family, and neighbors.
Migrate to Your New Location
At this point, you can hop in the car and take yourself and your belongings to your new home! This is by far the simplest step in the moving process despite being the point of migrating. Make sure that you have hotels lined up along the way if you’re moving between states- you don’t want to be left stranded without shelter.
Make Yourself at Home in Your New Neighborhood
Buying NY real estate also means integrating with a new community. You already should have done your research to make sure that you live somewhere that matches your values. This makes meeting neighbors and making friends easy- all you need to do is introduce yourself!
Other things to do include:
- Exploring the neighborhood
- Cleaning the new house for a fresh start
- Unpacking all of your belongings
- Changing the locks to make your home more secure
- Finding out when garbage day is
- Checking the smoke alarms
- Changing your address with the IRS
- Updating your driver’s license
- Registering to vote
Enjoy your new home!
Learn More About Moving Into A New House the Right Way
While moving house is a physically and emotionally taxing task, it’s worth it once you’re set up in your new space. Plus, there are ways that you can make it easier on yourself. Now that you know some of these stress-reducing tips from this moving checklist, it’s time to get started.
Our experts are committed to making selling your house a simple, no-frills process. We’re committed to providing you with the insight and assistance needed to find a buyer in New York who’s looking to move in ASAP. Contact us with any remaining questions that you have about planning to move house, selling your old home, and buying a new one that fits all of your lifestyle needs.
