When you’re moving to a new city, there are so many things to think about. Selling your family home and finding a new place to live, getting your utilities set up and renting a truck or hiring movers are all important steps. But what about the less obvious but equally important details? Thankfully, there are resources out there that can help you prepare for the big move. Preparing for a move is one of the most stressful experiences in an individual’s life.
It is not only a time-consuming process with lots of details to keep track of, but it is also an exhausting transition from one place to another, which involves downsizing your belongings and packing everything into boxes and storage units. Moving can be especially difficult if you have pets, school-aged children or elderly parents who need assistance making the transition. If any of these situations applies to you, keep reading for tips on how to make the move as stress-free as possible.
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Estimate Your Moving Costs
One of the first things you need to do when moving to a new city is to estimate your moving costs. Moving costs will vary depending on where you’re moving from, where you’re moving to and how much stuff you have. Moving Costs will include the following: Cost of Hiring Movers: You can hire movers to pack and transport your belongings, or you can try to do it yourself if you prefer. The average cost for hiring a couple of movers for a few hours is about $100-$200. Long Distance Moving: If you’re moving to another state, moving costs can be significantly higher. Moving by truck can cost anywhere from $1,000-$5,000, depending on where you’re moving from and to. Local Moving: If you decide to hire a moving company, you’ll need to set up an estimate or find a local mover. The cost of hiring a local moving company depends on how far you are moving and the size of your home. Tip: Consider hiring a trusted mover such as JD Movers who will offer a discounted rate if you are flexible with your moving date.
Change of Address
If you’re moving to a new city, you’ll need to change your address with the post office, your bank, the IRS and several other organizations. If you’re moving to a new city, the first thing you need to do is to change your address with the post office. Besides the obvious reason for receiving mail at your new address, you should also do it to ensure that your future voter registration and any other important documents are sent to your new address.
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Don’t Delay Organizing Your Stuff
If you’re moving from a home, you’ll need to decide what to keep and what to let go. Depending on how much stuff you have, you may be tempted to pack everything and sort it out later simply. However, this is not a good idea. If you don’t organize your belongings when you pack them, it could take you months to unpack everything once you’re in your new place. You should also separate items into three categories: keep, donate and toss. Make multi-colored labels and mark them based on the category you want that item to be placed in. You can also use apps to create a virtual moving checklist or packing list.
Make a Game Plan for When You Move In
Depending on when you’re moving, you may have a lot of time to kill before you’re finally able to move into your new place. If you’re moving during a busy time of year, you may find yourself moving in an abnormally long amount of time. Most people would assume that this time would be spent packing and cleaning up their old place. However, it’s important to make a game plan for when you move in. With so many things to do and so little time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re moving. However, if you prepare for the big move, you can make the transition as painless as possible.