Moving across town should be easier than moving a few states away or even a few hours away -- but it is this comparative simplicity that trips some people up. Because they assume their move across town will be easy, many people make mistakes that cost them time, money, and their sanity when moving locally. Follow these tips, and you can avoid common pitfalls.
Don't rule out the possibility of hiring movers.
Many people assume that since the move is short, they don't need to hire movers and can handle the whole process themselves. The truth is, however, that moving across town requires the same amount of packing, loading, unpacking, and unloading as moving across the country. If you have a busy work schedule, a lot of family obligations to juggle, or a house full of possessions, then hiring movers will save you lots of headaches. Since they only have to haul your things a short distance, rates should be pretty reasonable.
Give yourself enough time.
Just like its easy to underestimate the effort involved in moving, it's easy to underestimate the time involved. Don't assume you can do it all in one day, even if it looks possible when you schedule it on paper. Sure, you might finish on time, but there are also so many things that can go wrong during a move that will cause delays. Your movers might be running late. You might have to wait for your landlord to give you keys. You might realize at the last minute that you forgot to clean out the new fridge. It's wise to take the day you plan on moving off from work, and then take the next day off, too, in case you're not finished. If you do get lucky and finish on time, you'll enjoy having that day of rest to recover and start decorating your new place.
Be careful whom you ask to help.
It's great to have people help you move and unpack -- but there's such a thing as too much help. With a local move, you'll have your choice of helpers, so be selective in whom you invite. Don't invite people who you think will be overly chatty and slow you down. Ask a few of your strongest, most motivated friends to help. Ask any more than three to five helpers, and they'll just be tripping over one another.
If you hire a moving company based on your needs, only ask the right friends to help, and give yourself enough time, your across-town move is sure to go more smoothly.
Share14 October 2015
When I realized that my things would be in storage for a few years, I realized that packing efficiently was going to be the key to my success. Instead of tossing everything into boxes and hoping for the best, I worked slowly and deliberately, carefully wrapping knick-knacks and family heirlooms. I didn't want anything to get crushed or damaged while it was in storage. I loaded my storage unit carefully, and made a map of where everything went. It might seem silly, but my careful preparations made a huge difference when I unloaded my unit later. Check out this website for tips on how to pack more efficiently.