An increasing number of people are choosing to make big moves. Often away from coastal states to fast-growing, more affordable cities like Nashville, one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, with some 100 people moving to the area every day. So what comes first? Here we provide these helpful tips to prepare for a big move.
Whether you have plans to purchase one of the Louisville homes for sale or make any other long-distance move, just the thought of all the work you’ll need to put into moving alone can be overwhelming, but these tips can help you be better prepared for a smooth transition. If you’re moving to another country, you might be applying for a second passport. Whatever the case, plan ahead.
1. Before You Pack
Before you start packing, go through your home, every closet, drawer, dresser, and so on, to get rid of unnecessary items that you no longer use or find value in. You can sell items on markets like Facebook or Craigslist, have a garage sale, donate items, and give away or trash the rest.
You’ll make some extra cash and have less to move when it’s time. You don’t want to worry about storing junk, and you definitely don’t want to move it into your new place.
2. Take Advantage of Packing Hacks
You can find plenty of packing hacks on sites like Pinterest. Some of the most useful are sure to save you both time and money. Just a few include not wasting bags or boxes by packing things like towels – use kitchen and bath towels to wrap fragile items like your dishes, and bedding to protect a television.
Pack your books inside a rolling suitcase so they aren’t as difficult to move. Bring an “essentials” suitcase for everything you’ll need for a week so that you don’t have to scramble to find a clean shirt when you’re busy unpacking.
3. Hire a Professional
One of the best tips to prepare for a big move is to hire a professional. It’s a massive task to take on alone, especially if you’re moving across the country. There are really two choices when hiring help. You can either hire a professional to load your items into a truck and move it for you, or you can hire a container company.
The container company, such as PODS, will deliver a large container for you to pack. You can keep it as long as you want, for a fee of course. When you’re done packing, the company will move it for you. It will take a week or two depending on how far you are moving, but it will save you the cost of renting a truck and give you more time to pack and then unload.
4. Change Your Address
Before you move, make a list of contacts such as insurance, DMV, and other companies you receive bills from. Be sure you notify them of your move by updating your address with them. Even when you think you have notified everyone, it’s also a good idea to set up forwarding with the United States Postal Service, so that if you have missed something or someone, you’ll still receive your mail.
5. Fix It Up
If you plan on making any major changes to your new home, such as paint, carpet, flooring, or other renovations, consider making those changes before moving in. You don’t want to unpack only to have to move them again when new carpet or flooring is installed. Or to cover your furniture when walls are painted. A hotel may be necessary for a few days after you arrive in your new city while the necessary updates are made, but you’ll be able to move into a place that’s truly ready.
