September is one of the busiest months of the year for moving and with September 1st right around the corner, I thought I’d share some helpful tips on how to make your move less stressful.
I’ve moved three times within the past four years and each time has been it’s own kind of nightmare. I’ve learned some things over the years though about how to manage the move and minimize the stress.
Make a list (and check it twice). I’ve always been one to make lists and making one for my move has always been helpful. Keep a list of everything you need to do for the move. Include everything from getting boxes to forwarding your mail and utilities to your new apartment.
Organize. Seriously, organize everything before you move. Pack everything ahead of time. Label your boxes with the name of the room they correspond to. My first move we spent half of the day packing things up and organizing and I learned the hard way that it’s much easier to organize everything before the day of the move.
When in doubt, throw it out. My roommates and friends always comment on how I always throw things out. I even threw out my roommate’s Christmas tree during a move (Sorry, Jon!). But my penchant for tossing things has always been somewhat of an asset in the long run. If you have no use for something in your new apartment or have no sentimental connection to it, get rid of it. No need to carry unnecessary boxes or clutter the moving truck. Speaking of moving trucks…
Get a moving truck. Or use a moving company. With being such a busy month for moving, order ahead and avoid the long lines that Budget or U-Haul are sure to have. Long lines never put anyone in a good mood.
Rally your friends. The more people helping, the less stressful and less time-consuming your move will be. My friends and family have always been incredibly helpful when it comes to moving and if your gratitude isn’t enough, it’s amazing what people will do for some pizza and a case of beer.
Get your bills in order. Nothing will add more stress to your move than unpaid bills. Make sure you have paid your security deposit and your first months rent. Better yet, talk to your landlord and see if he’ll let you pay your rent online. That’ll be one less hassle you have to deal with when it comes to moving into your new apartment.
