Moving to another state isn’t only accompanied by the joy of a change of scenery, but it’s also a troublesome and stressful event. Learn about the main things to keep in mind if you decide to move.
What You Need for Moving
To cope with all the work, make a plan, scheduling the sequence of actions:
- Get a notebook for fixing different activities. Include notes on upcoming tasks and expenses, and work through lists of belongings to be transported to a new location.
- Start looking for new accommodations. It’s best to take on the issue of renting a house 3‒4 months before departure.
- Look for a shipping company. Pick reliable, trusted, and competent movers.
Remember about personal belongings. Some of them will have to be left for temporary storage or placed in a new home at a later date.
How to Prepare for the Move
Start by choosing a date for the move, and then audit your belongings. Identify three categories:
- things that will definitely move with you;
- things you can sell or give to charity;
- things you’d rather throw away.
Next, you should buy packing materials, pack, and label things. You may need duct tape, boxes, bags, paper or newspapers, garbage bags, marker pens, or a marker.
After packing, write on the tape or box what is in it. Once labeled, when you arrive at your new place, it will be easier to take things apart.
After that, order a car to move your belongings. When deciding on a moving company, read reviews and choose those which have been doing it for a long time.
How to Pack Your Belongings
Get the necessary tools — old newspapers and canvas bags aren’t enough here.
You’ll need a tape measure, screwdrivers, tape, and markers. Using these tools, you can take apart large items, close and seal boxes, mark what is where, and most importantly, measure everything.
Boxes, air bubble wrap, wrapping paper, bags, and vacuum packing are good for packing.
If you plan to transport some things in bags and suitcases, check that the locks and fasteners are secure, or better yet, wrap some tape around them as well. Prepare a bag for collecting trash.
Start packing large items that you use infrequently or that you won’t need urgently. Separately pack and keep close to things that are needed at first, like seasonal clothing, dishes, medicine, and baby supplies. The last thing you should pack is the daily necessities — it’s better to take them with you. There is always a risk that the shipment will be delayed somewhere, and it’s important to hedge yourself in this case.
Follow the logic of packing. Liquid items, like cosmetics and household chemicals, shouldn’t be adjacent to electronics or books. Pack them separately, overlaid with paper and air bubble wrap. Textile items are well packed in vacuum packs that save space.
If you disassemble furniture, gather screws and fittings into a separate bag, sign it, and glue it to the item itself. Don’t combine small parts from different pieces of furniture because it will be difficult to separate them later.
The most convenient way to figure out what to put in a certain place is to write the name and the room where they will stand. In this case, you can ask the movers to bring them at once to the right rooms. As a result, you won’t have to spend time and effort to put everything in its place.
Possible Troubles
The main problem concerning moving to a new state is the lack of basic concepts concerning the correctness of planning and the order of implementation of pre-designed and thought-out actions. All unpleasant situations concerning the process of transporting personal belongings, selecting documents, and finding an apartment for rent can be avoided by making a plan.
It’s necessary to prepare for the move well in advance. Take care of furniture, clothing, cosmetics, appliances, and electronics. Think in advance about their placement.
In a nutshell, there is no right or wrong age to pull yourself together and make your move to a new state. So if you want to try life in a new place, go for it.
