Leah Etling says it’s possible to move without stress. Check out her tips and leave a comment with some of your own.
Few tasks in everyday life are more stress-filled than the idea of packing up all your worldly possessions and moving. But this is a great chance to maximize organization in your new apartment.
Work the process backwards so you can get happily settled in your new place, making it the best organized home you’ve ever lived in.
Where to start:
Today
So, you’ve decided that you’ll be moving to a new place. You probably haven’t decided where you’re going yet, but you are going to give notice to your landlord and start your rental search.
You might think it’s too early to pack or get organized, but, in fact, the time to start that work is now.
- For the first two weeks prior to the move date, you should spend 15 minutes to 1 hour working on cleaning, culling and organization daily.
- Make it a goal to rid yourself of all clothing that you haven’t worn in the last year and all household items that you haven’t used or enjoyed in the last 9 months.
- If you’d like to make some cash from your unwanted possessions, plan a garage sale for two weeks prior to your move.
- Don’t have enough stuff to sell on your own? Knock on a few nearby neighbors’ doors and ask if they want to participate, too.
- Don’t want to take the time to do this? Donate to charity – this will leave you feeling good about helping others and further reduce stress.
As you sort through your things, you’ll start feeling more organized. During this process, categorize everything, using designated bins for items that logically go together. Keep a notepad handy and make an approximate count of how many boxes it will take to move the things you’re keeping.
Two weeks out
Now it’s time to plan the move itself. By now you should have found your new place.
- You may need to rent a van or a truck, so make reservations for that service today.
- Hiring a professional team? Call around for several quotes to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
- If you’re using volunteer labor, line up their services now. Be sure to bribe them with dinner or drinks and call in any favors from the last time you helped someone else move.
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- Check the weather and make sure you won’t be moving in pouring rain, snow, or extreme heat.
- And, line up a cleaning service to professionally clean your place after you vacate.
- Procure your boxes since you’ll be packing soon. Always get more than you think you need.
Ten days out from move day
Time to start packing. Just as you did with the culling and organization process, work on this every day.
- By two days before the move, you should be down to only your essential possessions that need to be packed.
- Clearly label each box with what’s inside and what room it belongs in. This will help maximize the efficiency of your movers or volunteers.
The big day
Get a good night’s sleep before the move and be up early to pick up your rented van or greet your moving team. Now it’s all about manual labor. Be sure that, as the organizer of your move, you are pitching in to help – no one likes a friend who orders them around and doesn’t carry boxes, too.
Working smartly will further reduce your stress. Your biggest challenge will be at your new place. Optimize your storage areas to make sure your new home can be as efficient as possible.
Congrats – you’ve moved stress free!
About The Author
Leah Etling is an apartment lifestyle blogger for the RENTCafe blog. RENTCafe offers a great way to find a new apartment anywhere in the U.S. and also offers local event, neighborhood, and home design tips.
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