10 TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE MOVING
According to a study completed in 2015 among 2000 adults, moving is so tough, it actually tops the list of life’s most stressful moments, beating out divorce and starting a new job!
Moving can indeed be overwhelming, however there are ways to survive the process without prematurely growing (more) grey hairs.
Below are ten key considerations to manage your stress before, during, and after you’ve boxed up your whole life and moved to your new home.
#1: De-clutter
Clutter is stressful. Get rid of the junk that’s clogging up your closets, and you’ll immediately breathe a sigh of relief. Clear the clutter from your home by organizing things you no longer need into three piles: Sell, Donate and Toss.
Put big-ticket and/or valuable items in the “sell” pile. Snap some photos and list them on eBay, Kijiji, Craigslist, or Facebook. Alternately, if the weather is nice, hold a massive yard sale.
Want to help those in need? Choose among numerous donation centers near you and donate all those items that didn’t sell. Most donation centers will send their truck with a crew to remove donation items from your home. Isn’t it great? Alternately, you might want to brighten a friend or family members’ day by giving them your old hand-me-downs.
Dispose of or recycle all other items. Consider asking your moving company to move large items to city landfills.
#2: Eat!
Here’s the most fun part: Eat through the contents of your refrigerator and pantry. Spend the weeks prior to your move creating “oddball” meals based on whatever happens to be in your cupboards.
#3: Boxes
For several weeks prior to your move, start accumulating a stack of newspapers and boxes. You probably read your news electronically, but don’t worry – print newspapers still exist, and you can usually pick up free copies of community newspapers outside your local grocery store.
Ask your friends if they have any extra boxes from their previous moves. Visit local retail outlets, walk to the back (where the employees unpack the inventory), and ask if you can walk off with a stack of boxes. Costco stores typically keep a steady supply of boxes in-store.
If you’re willing to splurge, however, you might decide to buy boxes and/or professional packers to help you with the most tedious task. Sparta Movers will provide packing supplies at low prices and deliver those at no additional fee when you purchase packing services.
#4: Dedicate time for packing
The most stress-free way to tackle your packing is by blocking off enough time and focus exclusively on that single task. Find a babysitter who can watch your kids (or save the money and ask a friend or a family member to do that).
Request a day off work, or clear your schedule for the entire weekend. You’ll achieve more by packing continuously for several hours rather than on and off in short bursts of time.
One of the most efficient ways to pack your belongings is to methodically move from room-to-room. Pack everything in the family room, for example, before moving onto the bedroom. Here are some Packing tips from Sparta Movers.
#5: “Pack a suitcase”
Pack one suitcase per person with items that you’ll need to immediately access on the first day after the move. These are clean underwear, socks, toothbrush, etc. In other words, “pack a suitcase” as if you were going on vacation, and then pack the rest of your home into boxes.
Clearly label each box based on the room from which it was packed. This way, when you unload boxes into your new house, you know which room you should deposit each box into – “bedroom,” “kitchen,” etc.
#6: Your Valuables
The last thing that you need is a nagging concern in the back of your mind that you can’t find your wedding ring and passport. Those worries will stress you out more than almost any other aspect of moving!
Store your valuables in a well-guarded location, such as on your person (inside of a money belt that’s worn around your hips, as if you were traveling), inside your purse (which you’re already trained not to lose), or in a bank safe-deposit box.
#7: Build Yourself Ample Time
Often people move within a very tight time slot, without much time overlap, having to move-out and then move-in on the same day. What if your movers don’t show up or cancel on you the last minute? Ensure to hire a reliable moving company with a proven track record, that has been around for a long time and has great reviews online. Sparta Movers are always on time and on budget!
To avoid getting into such situation, build yourself ample amounts of time. Yes, this means you may need to pay “double rent” or “double mortgages” for 2-4 weeks, but this will allow you the benefit of time — and that will work wonders on your stress levels.
#8: Delegate
Another great way to reduce stress is outsourcing and delegating. Use online search engines like Google, Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, 411.ca, etc. to find a reliable moving company who can help you pack and move. Before leaving, Sparta Movers will help assemble your furniture (beds, tables, etc.) if requested.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work. And when you’re moving, you need as many hands on-board as you can get.
#9: Damage Claims
The first few days after a move can be a tad disorienting, but one task you’ll want to address right away is to check to see if there was any damage to your furniture or items during their transition. Sparta Movers have a damage claim system in place ensuring all claims get resolved within 5 business days.
#10: Unpacking
Create mini-deadlines for yourself. Plan unpacking for couple hours per night after you move into your new home. This will prevent you from lingering in limbo for too long.
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We hope you found this article helpful and now you are ready to take an educated approach, get a pen and paper and start jotting down your moving plan. We, at Sparta Movers, want to wish you a stress-free and fun moving experience!
More details on Sparta Movers Professional Moving Company, information about their services, moving and packing tips, and a lot more relevant information can be found at their website https://spartamoversnew.us13.cdn-alpha.com
