Relocating is one of the most challenging life events—and it can be worse for newbies. There are a lot of activities involved—from the planning process to packing, moving your items, and unpacking them. In addition to this, you have a family to take care of and other activities that make the entire process hectic. But this shouldn’t be so hard for you when you follow these tips.
Budgeting
Relocating can be very costly. However, this depends on the number of items you have in your home, as well as the distance. Failing to budget when relocating can be very inconveniencing, especially when you start paying for things that you hadn’t budgeted for. Here is a simple guide to creating a budget when moving:
- Transport costs
- Movers cost (if you are hiring a moving company)
- Cost of packaging material
- Child and pet care
- Cleaning materials
- Accommodation costs (of an overnight stay is required)
- Storage costs
- Snacks for those who shall be assisting you
When you have a clear budget for the above items, make sure that you have some surplus cash in case of an emergency. This will help you to get ready for any unforeseen costs.
Declutter your home
The professional Toronto movers from Torex Moving Company say that moving gives you the perfect opportunity to declutter your house. At the end of the day, it won’t make sense to pack, pay, move, store, and unpack things that you no longer use or need. Thus, before you start packing, sort out things that you haven’t used at least for the last one year. You can donate these things to charity if they are in good condition, or throw them away if not.
Alternatively, you can sell some of these things if you are short of money. This will help you to meet your budget. List these items on local or online sales magazines—you never know who’s interested in your items. Doing so will not only bring you money, but it will also make your packing easier. All in all, you might be surprised by the amount of money that you make by selling unwanted things.
Hire professional movers
This might be a costly decision, but it will go a long way in saving you from the stress that comes with moving. Professional movers can take the workload off your back, right from the packing process, transporting your belongings, and offloading them to your new home. Interestingly, they can also assist you in arranging your new home, especially with heavy items like furniture and appliances. All you will have left is unpacking, which you can take all the time that you need. So, if you don’t have the time to pack your items or you don’t know how to do it, consider hiring movers.
Label your boxes
Labeling your packing boxes when moving is essential. It not only makes things look organized, but it also makes it easier to unpack when you get to your new home. Moreover, it protects your items when being transported, as the fragile items can be identified. Also, everything goes to the right room in the new house, thus avoiding confusion.
When labeling your boxed, ensure that you use large sticky labels, as they make the work easier. Besides, ensure that you categorize your boxes, and keep boxes of the same category together. This will help you when unpacking, and also helps in keeping your items safe and intact when transporting them.
Ask for assistance
Relocating can be a challenge, especially people who have never moved at any point in their life. So, you should never be afraid of asking for assistance, especially from your family and friends. There will be someone willing to lend you a hand. Once done with your packing, don’t forget to thank your friends or relatives. A cup of coffee and freshly-baked muffins, cookies, or biscuits will get the job done.
Take some break
Don’t allow yourself to be carried away by the relocation process. It’s always advisable that you take some break—go out for a walk or coffee, just to relax. All you need is to take some time off and stop thinking about your move. This will prevent you from exhaustion—which can be detrimental when moving.
Use mobile storage
Mobile storage is essential, especially when you need some storage space for your current items. These storage units allow you to store items in case your new home is not ready for occupancy, or items that you need to sell but you don’t have a place to store them. When sourcing a mobile storage unit, make sure that you factor in the security of the unit, and also make sure that its all-weather proof. This will ensure that your items don’t get damaged or stolen.