Moving can be a stressful and hectic experience, but it doesn’t have to be! There are some easy ways that you can make moving easier at each step of the process.
Whether you need help preparing for a move, organizing the actual moving day, or making your new house feel like a home, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading for 14 ways you can make moving as stress-free as possible.
6 steps to prepare for moving day
The more prepared you are for moving day, the better. If you can declutter and get rid of stuff before moving, that means fewer things will need to be packed and unpacked. Check out the six steps you can take to get rid of junk when moving and set yourself up for success.
1. Start early
You can start sorting your unwanted items into purge piles before you even list your home. The earlier you start the easier the whole process will be.
2. Set aside enough time
Aim to spend an hour or two planning and then an additional two or three hours per room to declutter and clean. Make sure to plan to spend time on outdoor spaces, too; sheds, outdoor play areas and living spaces are often forgotten until the last minute.
3. Clean out your closets
Set aside any clothes you haven't worn in a year or more. Realistically if you haven’t worn it since last year, you probably never will. If the clothing is still in good condition, pass it on to friends and family or to your local donation center. Anything you decide to keep, sort by seasonality or by category so it’s easier for you to organize your closet when you move into your new home.
4. Dig into storage rooms
If there's something that’s been sitting in a box for years, don’t take it with you to your new place, as it will just contribute to clutter. Instead, get rid of it or donate it. If you're unsure of the donation process, check out this list of common items that donation centers accept.
5. Get rid of large items
Do you have old furniture or bulky items you don’t use anymore? You don’t want to pay movers extra to transport something you already know you won’t need. Plan to purge these before moving day so you aren't left with the task the day you move.
6. Haul it away
Once you’ve sorted everything you want to get rid of, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and we can send your junk packing! Moving already takes up a lot of time, so let us help you clear out those unwanted items so you can focus on other important aspects of the move.
4 tips to make moving day stress-free
On moving day, there might be some unexpected tasks that pop up and could derail your positive moving experience. However, with these four moving day tips, you’ll be prepared for whatever gets thrown your way.
1. Pick the right day to move
Select a moving day that gives you enough time to get the job done. Weekends are ideal as you’ll have fewer scheduling conflicts and can recruit your family or friends for help if needed. Consider taking the following Monday off work to give yourself more time to unpack and get settled.
2. Do a final walk-through of your old home
Before you say goodbye to your property, do a walk-through after all the boxes have been piled up in the moving truck to make sure you haven't missed anything. This is beneficial for two reasons: If you’ve forgotten something of value you can still bring it with you, and if there's anything you don't plan on bringing into your new home you can set it aside for removal or donation.
3. Set aside large oversized furniture
Between your initial decluttering and moving day, chances are you still need to live in the home you're moving out of. Due to this, some regularly used items, like your couch, might have not been included in your original purge. If you know that some pieces of furniture won't be able to fit in your new home or maybe they just aren't your style anymore, set them aside to ensure they don't accidentally get moved to your new home. There’s no point in paying movers to transport something that you already know you won't use.
4. Have junk removal on standby
You’re already juggling so many things on moving day, so don’t have Junk Removal be one of them. At 1-800-GOT-JUNK? we can help save your move by getting rid of any unwanted items. Oftentimes we can give same-day service to help with any last minute moving day emergencies.
4 ways to keep your new home organized
Once you’ve moved into your new home there are four main things you should do to ensure it stays junk free.
1. Sort anything the previous owners left behind
Do a walk-through of your new home and keep an eye out for anything that the old owners may have left behind that wasn’t agreed upon. If these items don’t serve a purpose for you, there’s no reason you should keep them as they will just contribute to clutter.
2. Unpack your items room by room
As you unpack your belongings, do so room by room. This way you can keep track of similar items and get rid of any duplicates or other things you realize you don’t actually need.
3. Get rid of anything that doesn't have a home
Even if you loved something at your old place, that doesn’t always mean it will be a perfect fit in your new home, whether that be based on size or style. Anything that doesn’t have a dedicated home or purpose should be removed. There’s no point in holding onto something in hopes that it will eventually be used in the future, as this just leads to increased clutter.
4. Book a junk removal appointment
The unwanted items you’ve uncovered in your new home should be removed right away. Otherwise, you may move on to another home project and end up with a pile of junk just sitting in your storage room taking up valuable space. If you have too much on your plate, give 1-800-GOT-JUNK? a call and we can remove your items in no time. We can help you clean up after a move, and before if you need it.
For a visual one page printout of these steps, check out our Moving Guide. You can take this guide with you while organizing your move and check off each step as you go.
While corporate moving and relocation moving are slightly different types of experiences, these tips still apply. As a rule of thumb, preparation is key and the fewer number of items you have to move the easier it will be, regardless of what type of move you’re doing.
