Moving to a new town; new house or apartment can be one of the most stressful things you may have to do in life.
Most people must move due to their employment requirements; college or a family need. All of these changes cause many people to make poor decisions when it comes to moving.
I’m writing this blog as a friend of mine is currently moving and I know the pain he’s suffering as he’s trying to wrap up things in one location, while starting new things in another location.
The biggest concern is the additional expenses that go hand-in-hand with moving. Do you move your possessions on your own, or do you hire a professional moving service to help you?
If you choose the “do-it-yourself” model, you’ll be responsible for packing everything; renting a truck; loading said truck; driving it to your new location; unloading the truck and unpacking your items. It is a lot of hard work and labor.
If you choose to hire the professional, most will pack; load; haul and unload your possessions saving you time and wear-and-tear on your body. This is the easiest method, but it can be expensive. The best way to hire a moving company is by a referral. Talk to friends and family members and see if they can recommend a local, professional (and ethical) moving company that you can hire.
My friend who is moving is taking the “do-it-yourself” approach. However, as he prepares to move, he has decided to host a garage sale and sell off most of his possessions rather than move them (especially heavy furniture). He says some items are old and he’d rather sell them at a low cost and not have to move them to a new location. Instead, he’ll buy new furniture at his new place at a later time.
If you choose the “do-it-yourself” model, try to get some friends and family members to help. You can take your time packing boxes (don’t make them too heavy) and offer to buy pizza for everyone who helps you load up your truck. Maybe someone will offer to drive the truck for you!
With either approach, the best way to prepare for a successful move is by planning ahead. Pick your moving date and work backwards. Give yourself enough time to pack; turn off utilities; forward your mail and rest a little bit on the packing and unpacking side of things. Don’t hurt yourself!
Moving is not fun, but if you take proper steps and good planning, you can help alleviate some of stress that is caused by moving.
