It’s always an exciting experience when moving to a new apartment – very common in 2022, especially for Millennials who cannot afford homes — especially if you’re shifting to another state or city. However, what begins as a joyful process can easily turn into a nightmare when you start packing everything. Choosing what to carry to your next life and how to move them can be very stressful.
It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve moved before or if you’re in the process of selling your home; the fact still remains that you’re not a professional in that department. Therefore, it’s recommended that you invest in the services of professional local movers to make your work easier. And if you have too much stuff for your new place, you can always grab a Giant Lock Box to store your things during or after the move.
Keep reading to learn more about this and more hacks for a successful local apartment move.
Consider early preparation
Moving doesn’t happen impulsively. It’s something that you’ve probably thought about for months and finally made up your mind. While making these plans, you need to give yourself a few weeks to pack your things and make other necessary arrangements before the day.
So, what are some of the things you should do during this preparation phase? Start by setting your budget. It’s one of the most basic tasks in any moving project which, unfortunately, many people overlook. To avoid unnecessary sticker shock and frustration at the end of the whole process, it’s imperative that you calculate the total expected expenses even before you decide on when to move.
Doing this will give you enough time to plan your finances and ensure that you start the process with a sufficient bank account balance. Among the things you should include in your budget are transport costs, packaging materials, house cleaning services, and an extra amount for miscellaneous expenses. It’s also advisable to have enough cash to cover, at least, three months of rent for the apartment. This way, you’ll have an easier time settling in your new location. (2)
As part of the preparation, you’ll want to find a reputable local mover or rent a moving truck that offers affordable services. However, it’s essential to know that hiring experienced movers can be challenging. With many professionals in the market, picking the wrong moving company for your relocation is easy. To avoid that, there are things you should consider when finding the right one. You should verify your prospects’ experience and reputation by reading online client reviews and checking their websites for more information.
Watch out for possible red flags too. A typical example is a moving company that seems hungry to receive money upfront. When you encounter this kind of company, it can indicate that the one you’re dealing with isn’t a legitimate business. Lastly, ensure the movers are licensed and insured to handle a hassle-free move, call the utility companies to confirm when they’ll be setting up your new apartment. Having this information will help you decide on the best day to move.
Get rid of the old or unused stuff
What determines the amount of pressure you’re likely to experience during your next move is the number of things you need to pack. Generally, if you’re moving to a big local apartment, space is less likely an issue during the transition. For example, if you’re a college student moving to an off-campus apartment, you will probably have enough space for your belongings.
However, even if you stay in off-campus student housing, you will still need to consider the number of belongings you bring to your new place. Besides, you don’t want your apartment to be filled with unnecessary stuff, creating an uncomfortable environment.
If you’re planning to live in a luxury student apartment like the one near the University of Manitoba, make sure to bring only the belongings that perfectly suit the place. To learn more, click here or visit reliable websites for more information.
Now that you’ve decided to remove your old stuff, it’s time to tackle the necessary steps to ensure a seamless process. For instance, while preparing for the day, it’d be prudent to organize your belongings and separate those that no longer play an important role in your life. Old electronics, for instance, can fill your packaging bags yet you might never unpack them once you’re in your new home.
So, unless they form an important part of your private museum, you might want to toss, recycle, or donate them. This applies to all other things that you own. Take your time in this process to avoid throwing away some belongings unnecessarily. While at it, you might also want to create a temporary storage unit for those things that you’re not ready to let go of, at least not yet.
Pick the right strategy for your packing process
Packing your things is the most time-consuming phase in the whole process. Therefore, to do everything right and save time, decide on the best plan. Regardless of the option you take, the safety of your belongings should always be your priority.
That said, here are some tricks you might want to consider:
- Use pots in place of bags: If you have large pots, it’d make sense to pack small items in them. Putting spices, gadgets, and other small products in these pots rather than wrapping them in different bags. This will save space and reduce the bulkiness of your luggage.
- Carry the dresser drawers as they are: Another way of saving space is by securing the dresser drawers with wrapping bags rather than removing the clothes and packing them separately. Apart from saving space and time, this will also make your unpacking work easier.
- Use suitcases to pack heavy items: This is another hack that might not seem too significant, but it’ll help you in the long run. The advantage of using your suitcases to carry heavy items is that their wheels will enhance their movement from room to room or to the truck. (1)
- Use color codes: Labelling all boxes allows you to identify the items in them. You can make this process even easier by color coding the boxes to match their corresponding rooms. This way, you’ll easily know where each box should go.
Be ready for the day
The moving day can be very tiring given the number of tasks that will be awaiting you, including working with moving companies. Therefore, make sure everything is in their respective boxes before the day comes. This will allow you to focus on moving things from your old home to the new apartment. It’s also important to contact all relevant parties a day earlier so that you can all be sure of the starting time.
If you have young kids, have a plan for them on that day to avoid distractions. You can let them stay with your relatives or friends to relieve unnecessary pressure.
Another thing to consider on this eventful day is snacks. You can pack a cooler and stock a few easy-to-grab items to keep your energy levels high throughout the day.
Lastly, if you’re moving out early, In some cases, you may have leverage to ask for moving costs from your landlord since you are doing them a favor by moving out early.
Conclusion
Moving to a new environment is all fun until it comes to the packing process. First, make sure you keep an open mind about your new home. Next, if you don’t have a plan in mind, your whole experience can be more stressful than it should be. To avoid such pressure, you should prepare yourself weeks before moving day. Contact utilities companies, and find a reliable and affordable local mover.
It’s imperative that you begin packing your belongings early enough to avoid last-minute frustrations. Sort your items according to importance and get rid of those that no longer play a vital role in your life. This way, you’ll save time and space. While sealing and labelling your boxes, you can use color codes for easier identification.
