How to Prepare Practically and Mentally for a Move

Whether you are moving across the country or just a couple towns over, moving to a new place is bittersweet. You get a chance to start over and explore a new area, but you also have to say goodbye to your life in your old home. Moving is part of life and we will all likely go through the rollercoaster of emotions that relocating entails at least once in our lives. The actual process of moving is not easy, either. You have to box up your entire house, probably hire movers, and transport all of your belongings into a new space. It is definitely a time-consuming and intimidating process, but there are a few things you can do to ensure a stress-free move. Here is how to prepare mentally and practically for a move:

Get Organized

A move is not going to be successful unless you get organized. Make a moving checklist of all the things you need to accomplish before, during, and after you move. You also want to create a packing list before you move that includes everything you need to pack up so you do it in a timely and orderly manner. While you are actually moving, make sure you keep all important documents organized, like passports and social security cards. And after you move, check a copy of that list so you can make sure nothing was lost in the moving process. It is also a good idea to create a realistic timeline for when you want everything to be done. Always build in a little bit more time than you think! 

Prepare for the Move

There are a lot of important decisions that will need to be made in order to prepare for your move. For example, how are you going to pack up everything in your current house? Will you do it by yourself or will you hire professionals? What about a moving company to actually bring your stuff to the new location? Have you considered moving insurance? These are all important decisions you have to make in order for your moving process to go smoothly. For example, if you are moving to the Bay Area and need professional help, Bay Area movers offer various services that will help make your moving experience a breeze. Moving can also be expensive, so preparing for a move beforehand will save you money in the long run.

Pack Up Your Place

After you have gotten organized and prepared all the logistics for the move, then comes the hard part: packing up your house. Packing up everything you own is definitely an intimidating task. You pretty much have to move your entire life into boxes and transport it to a completely different place. To lessen the stress of packing, start as early as possible. The quicker you get to packing up your stuff, the easier the actual moving process will go. Figure out what type of boxes you are going to use and how you are going to store everything. Also, focus on one room at a time so you do not get overwhelmed.

Say Your Goodbyes

Saying your goodbyes to your home is probably the hardest part of moving. Moving is a time-consuming and stressful experience, and often we forget to build in the time to actually say goodbye to our home. Whether you are moving for the first time or for the fifth, it is a bittersweet and emotional experience. Don’t forget to enjoy a final hurrah at your favorite spots, like your go-to Brooklyn pizza joint or your and your friends’ usual happy hour bar. Once you are all packed up and moved out, take a moment to walk through your house for one last time. Say your goodbyes, close the door, and get excited for the next stage of your life in a new place.

We will all have to tackle moving at some point, so it is important to know how to prepare mentally and practically for a move. You are better off being safe than sorry and taking all the proper precautions to ensure your moving process goes smoothly. Follow these tips and you will be moved into your new home before you even realize it.