Whether long-distance or just to a different neighborhood, moving can be a complicated and stressful endeavor. This is especially true if you have to do it alone. But you are busy with work, and especially if kids are involved too. So, how do you start planning a local move without the stress? How do you go about it in an easy and efficient way? Here are 6 tips for planning a local move for busy women.
1. Plan well ahead of time
Like most other major life events, such as weddings, anniversaries, or going to college, it is best to start planning the details ahead of time. It’s important to start early so you have more opportunity to adjust when something unexpected happens.
Moving is one of those things that can often come with unexpected complications. That is why it is important to start sorting and booking things early. Moving offers plenty of opportunities for cutting corners or finding cost-effective ways to do things. But you must give yourself enough time to find the best possible way to do things. The difference between a well-thought-out move and a rush job is usually measured in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars and in lots of unnecessary stress.
2. Choose the best time to move
When planning your local move, make sure you consider the exact time of the move. Like other niches, moving is actually a seasonal industry, and some months are much busier than others. This timing can significantly impact your overall budget and how much it costs to ship a car. The summer months, in particular, are usually the busiest season for moving companies. Finding high-quality and affordable help is very difficult then.
So, if possible, it’s best to pick an off-season time to move, such as late fall, winter, or early spring. The weather is not as nice, but the rates of moving companies are much more affordable. They even offer discounts during the off-season to attract customers. And, if you have to move in the summer, planning ahead of time is crucial, so you can book a good moving company before they are all taken.
Additionally, there are variations depending on the time of day, too. Weekends are much busier than weekdays. Even during the busy season, if you can plan your move on a weekday rather than during the weekend, you will have an easier time booking a quality moving company at a more affordable rate.
3. Book the right moving company
Like in any other industry, there are reputable and trustworthy moving companies, and then there are those you should avoid at all costs. There are fully licensed and insured moving companies that offer high-quality services at affordable rates, and there are companies that use uninsured haulers, rented trucks, and operate without valid licensing. Working with a company that doesn’t have valid Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers and licenses from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), for example, is often a big mistake.
Unfortunately, relying just on online reviews or on the company’s advertising isn’t a good way to pick a moving company. Instead, it is recommended to go by personal referrals or professional reviews from reputable sources. For example, Three Movers local services is a moving company that is recommended thanks to their competitive rates, comprehensive services, and excellent history.
Even after getting a proper recommendation, or finding a moving company you like, you should still get a few quotes. This way, you can ensure that you find the best possible services at the most affordable rate. Pricing it out with various companies will give you extra understanding as to what you can expect from a moving company, what additional services you can ask for, and so on.
4. Don’t leave decluttering for after the move
A very common mistake people make when planning their local move is to put off decluttering until after the move. This makes sense from a certain point of view, as you don’t want to get rid of something you’ll end up needing. However, moving things you’ll end up throwing away is simply a waste of time, effort, and money.
Instead, by decluttering ahead of time, you can make the move much easier and simpler. This is another major reason why it’s recommended to start planning this ahead of time.
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5. Plan all additional trips and tasks too
A lot of stress doesn’t come from the move itself, but from all the things around it. There are various additional tasks, such as registering at your new address, getting your car shipped, getting your kids signed up for their new school, and more. These tasks that often catch people off guard and necessitate extra trips and lots of stress.
Planning all of those ahead of time during your local move is important if you want to move easily and without the stress. It’s important to plan your trips efficiently to save yourself a lot of additional and unnecessary back and forth trips.
6. Get help from friends or family
Packing and unpacking, as well as disassembling and reassembling furniture, can be one of the biggest annoyances in moving, especially if you are doing so alone. Many moving companies offer such services too, so you can always benefit from that. However, those cost extra and can still be quite stressful. Especially since you can’t have your eyes on everything at once as it is reassembled or unpacked.
Getting some help from friends or relatives can be a great idea. Even if you’ve still chosen to pay the moving company to disassemble and reassemble your furniture for you and pack and unpack your belongings, it’s still a great stress relief to have a couple of close friends with you too.
