Tips for a Stress-Free Move

Moving into a new house or apartment can be an exciting time in your life. With a new home, you can indulge your creative whims by redecorating your living space, which you may have been reluctant to do in your old house. In addition, a new home gives you a unique environment to explore, something that can give you a sense of excitement if you have become accustomed to your old surroundings.

However, moving is a large and complicated undertaking; if you do not plan for it properly, it can cause a lot of problems and induce a lot of stress in your life. Fortunately, by following just a few simple tips, you can avoid a lot of the troubles that befall other people when they move to a new location.

Have A Plan

If you try and start preparing for your move a week in advance you're going to be way behind schedule! In most cases, you should start packing, decluttering, organizing, and making arrangements at least 8 weeks in advance. Get a moving checklist and stick to it! Remember, a successful move is a well-planned move.

Get Organized

The key step in planning a move is to determine which items you actually want to take with you. In all likelihood, the dimensions of your new home will be considerably different from your current residence. This is especially true if you are downsizing and moving to a smaller home. Furniture that worked well in your old space may be out of place in your new home. If some of your pieces of furniture simply won't fit in your new residence, you should consider selling them or giving them away.

Declutter and Remove Junk

This advice also applies to items that will not fit the decor of your new home. If you are planning to redecorate, there is no reason to bring items that will clash with your new style. When you go through all the trouble of moving a heavy piece of furniture only to find out that it doesn't match the other items in a room, you end up wasting a lot of your precious time for absolutely no benefit whatsoever.

Forward Your Mail

Of course, there are other logistical issues that must be considered during a move. When you live in a location for a while, there are many things that you might take for granted, such as mail delivery. Set aside a date specifically for forwarding your mail and changing your address with the postal service as well as your banks, credit cards and subscriptions. You should also set up a specific time to cancel or move accounts for your utilities, cable, Internet and similar services.

For the unprepared, moving can be a very stressful experience. However, by planning ahead and heeding some of the tips mentioned above, you can make your next move a hassle-free endeavor.