Moving someplace new is not usually a fun experience for a lot of people, and there’s a good reason for this.

Packing, planning, and cleaning can be time-consuming and hectic.

Here are five things to know before you move. Applying these tips will help you stay on top of the chaos that comes with moving out. Moving into your new home should go off without a snag.

1. Assess Your Expenses and Duly Adjust Your Budget

Moving costs can add up fast. Whether you decide to go the DIY way or hire a professional, moving expenses can be huge- that’s why you should take your time and plan for them carefully.

Here are essential factors to keep in mind when doing your estimations:

How much stuff you have

When you move, almost all your household items will add to the moving expense. Professional movers, for example, charge based on the size and weight of your items. The more things they move, the more they’ll charge you.

Even though moving yourself may seem to be the better option, the same holds:
The more items you have, the bigger (and more costly) the truck you’ll have to rent. Also, don’t forget the time and effort of having to carry things here and there.

You can cut down on costs by putting some of your things on your vehicle’s roof rack. Be careful doing this however, this can lead to you easily losing stuff along the way.

The time of the year you intend to move

Summer is the peak moving season, and it’s steep moving prices are usually a serious deterrent for many. If you plan on moving when the prices are high, always make a point to get quotes from different movers. This way, you’ll get the best services and prices available.

The distance you’re moving

Compared to short distance movers, long-distance movers are usually more expensive. Also, meals, lodging, and gas should be considered when moving to a relatively distant place.

2. Give Yourself Ample Time to Get Rid Of Unwanted Stuff

Sure, the process of decluttering is never easy for most of us. Letting go of stuff you feel attached to or believe will have practical use makes the process even more difficult.

Here are tips to make the whole decluttering process as easy as it can be

• Go room by room and identify stuff you don’t need.
• Stash all the things you don’t need somewhere out of sight like the garage or the spare bedroom.
• Once you collect the pile of unwanted stuff, you have to decide on how you will get rid of them. You could opt to sell it, throw it away, or give it away. It all depends on how your stuff looks and what it contains.
• During your home purge, always take your time and to think about what you need and what you don’t.

3. Pack a Box With All You Need for Day One

One of the most stressful parts about moving is packing. But there’s good news; it doesn’t have to be all so hectic. A smart approach is to gather the supplies you’ll need for the first day in your apartment in a well-marked box. These include toilet paper, first aid essentials, towels, bedsheets and diapers, and a stuffed animal if you have an infant.

As for the rest of the items, label each box by room and common functions. Doing this will make it easy to track your stuff during the transportation process and while you unpack at your new home.

Also, don’t forget to start packing each box with a layer of padding. You could use bubble wraps or newspapers for this. After doing this, put the heaviest items into the box first. Lastly, consider numbering each box and keep a list of all the numbered boxes. This way, you’ll tell if anything gets lost or is stolen on the way.

4. Transfer Utilities and Services Beforehand

A seamless move is more than just getting your stuff from one place to the next. You will want to ensure that your utilities are properly set up to switch on the lights and go online when you arrive.

To be on the safe side, plan for your utilities three weeks before the move. Doing things last minute will leave you confused and frazzled, especially if you incur extra charges or wait for new services to be installed or turned on.

Additionally, ensure that you check the meters of your old place and write them down. In case of any discrepancy, you’ll need to have that information at hand. Once you move into the new apartment and the utilities are sorted out, tune into some relaxing music and enjoy a hot shower.

5. Arrange for Pet/Child Care During the Moving Process

The moving day is usually quite stressful, which can make young children fussy and act out. Of course, this will make everything even more tense.

If you have young ones, ensure that you hire a baby sitter for the day. It can even a good idea to get a relative or friend to watch over them. Taking this step will help you focus on the busy day.

Bottom Line

Moving to your new apartment is a hectic process that is bound to take longer than you expect. However, using these steps will help make the entire process a smooth sail.