Whether you’re moving for the first time or you relocate on a regular basis, moving can be a major source of stress. After all, packing up your entire life and putting roots down in a new place is a major life event! At the outset, there’s plenty of excitement as you imagine a fresh, new start. However, that excitement can quickly transform into anxiety as you realize the tremendous amount of planning and preparation involved in the moving process.
At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we know moving isn’t easy. But we also know that with the right information, the process becomes far less chaotic and stressful. Below, we’ve outlined a few simple tips that can help you achieve a low-stress relocation.
Embrace a Positive Mindset
Perhaps this tip sounds a little woo-woo or rah-rah, but it really does work. Only you have control over the mindset you choose to maintain throughout your moving process. You can choose to be optimistic and excited about your new adventure, or you can decide to be pessimistic and glum about all the work you must plow through. It’s all up to you.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Time is one of the greatest sources of moving stress, and that’s because most people don’t give themselves enough of it. Though a completely stress-free move is more daydream than reality, allowing plenty of time to plan and prepare for your relocation can eliminate a considerable amount of stress.
So how much time should you need? That depends on several factors. Here’s what you’ll need to consider when allocating time for your moving process.
How Big Is Your Home?
Smaller studios and one-bedroom apartments typically require about two days to pack up. A two-bedroom home or apartment generally requires three to four days for packing, and a three-bedroom home usually requires five or six days to pack. If you’re moving from a larger home, allocate additional days for packing depending on the number of rooms you need to tackle.
What Will You Do With Unused Items?
Decluttering and downsizing before your move can help reduce moving-related expenses, as well as the amount of time necessary for packing. If you’re planning to sell your unused items, either in a garage sale or online, be sure to set aside additional time to conduct your sales.
Will You Hire a Moving Company?
Give yourself adequate time to research reputable moving companies and acquire cost estimates. Summer is the busiest season for residential movers, so if you’re planning a summer move, select your moving company as early as possible to secure the time slot you want.
What Odds and Ends Do You Need To Take Care Of?
You’ll need to set up utilities at your new home, change your address in multiple places, clean the home you’re moving out of, and tie up random odds and ends. Make a list of these tasks as early as possible, along with an estimated timeframe necessary to complete each task.
Bottom line: The more time you give yourself to prepare for your move, the less likely you are to discover last-minute, must-do tasks that inevitably add stress to the moving process. If you need help planning, definitely check out our 8-week moving timeline for ideas!
Stay Organized
Organization is paramount if you want your move to be as low-stress as possible. As soon as you know you’ll be moving, start creating your move timeline and checklist. You’ll need to create a system for keeping track of moving-related expenses, important documents, and any appointments related to your move. You’ll also need to:
- Sort your possessions and cull any unused items
- Purchase moving supplies and packing materials
- Create inventory lists for everything you plan to pack
- Locate original receipts for your valuables in the event they suffer damage during the move.
- Notify your bank, the post office, and utility companies of your impending address change and discontinue service, if necessary.
When it comes to creating a moving checklist and timeline, what works well for one person may not work at all for another. For more helpful tips on staying organized during the moving process, as well as what you’ll need to plan for, check out our moving resources.
Create a Moving Budget
If there’s one thing people stress over more than anything else, it’s money, and move-related expenses are no exception. To save yourself from surprise expenditures during your relocation, consider creating a moving budget to help decrease financial stress. A few things you’ll need to consider include:
- What quantity of moving supplies will you need?
- What’s the cost of hiring a professional moving company?
- Do you plan to purchase additional moving insurance?
- What time of year do you plan to move? (Seasons often affect the cost of a move)
- Will you hire professional cleaners?
- Do you need childcare or pet care on your moving day?
- Will you lose income during the move as a result of taking days off work?
- Do you need to rent a storage unit?
You’ll also need to set aside funds for emergency expenses that you may not be able to predict. As soon as you know you’ll be relocating, take some time to list all the moving-related expenses you can think of, as well as their estimated costs and you’re planned budget for each.
Consider Renting a Storage Unit
Moving tons of stuff can be stressful in and of itself. If you tend to be a collector of things and the mere thought of packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking all that stuff tends to stress you out, why not get a storage unit?
When you rent a storage space, you will, of course, need to pack and transport the things you plan to store. However, you won’t have to deal with them on the tail end of your move. If you’ve never had a storage unit before, be sure to check out 12 Things You Need to Know Before Renting a Self-Storage Unit.
If you plan on storing anything that may be prone to temperature- or moisture-related damage, you’ll also want to educate yourself about the benefits of climate-controlled storage.
Ask for Help When You Need It
Moving is TOUGH. It involves tons of planning, organization, and physical work, all of which can burn anyone out in a hurry. And when you feel burned out, stress inevitably sets in. No matter how small or big your move, it’s important to remember: You don’t have to juggle everything on your own.
If you’re feeling overly stressed, it’s likely in your best interest, both mentally and physically, to ask for help. Friends and family are often happy to assist with moving, and you can show your gratitude by paying back the favor when they need help with little tasks or a big transition.
What if you don’t have nearby family or friends whom you can ask? A professional moving company could very well become your new (temporary) best friend.
Hire a Professional Moving Company
Last but certainly not least, consider hiring a professional moving company to help reduce your relocation-related stress. Hiring professional movers and packers not only eliminates a massive amount of packing-related stress but also ensures your possessions are safely and securely packed and transported.
What’s more, because liability coverage comes standard when you hire a professional moving company, you’ll enjoy additional peace of mind knowing your things are well protected. Moreover, residential movers offer supplementary moving insurance above and beyond standard liability coverage, which provides additional compensation in the event your possessions incur damage during transport.
Looking for a Reputable Moving Company in Minneapolis or St. Paul?
At Ace Moving & Warehousing, it’s our goal to help you make your move as low stress as possible. Whether you’re looking for local movers or long-distance movers, we offer a comprehensive collection of moving services and storage solutions to fit virtually any need and budget.
To learn more about how we can make your move as stress-free as possible, give our team a call at 763-755-2045. You can also feel free to reach out to us on our contact page or request your quick moving quote online.