Five Tips to Make Your Move Easier and Stress-free

Just the thought of moving makes many people wish they were having their wisdom teeth removed instead. Moving can take its toll on you both physically, mentally and relationally. At least with dental surgery you get to take some time off of work, stay in bed and eat pudding, soup and smoothies as you recover. But when family or work obligations require you to move -  move you must. Here are five tips to help make your transition a little easier.

Declutter

Moving to a new place is a fresh start. If you've been meaning to take some things to the local thrift store, now is a great time to do so. You'll have fewer things to pack and move, and you're new living quarters will be filled with only the things you really want. As you go start packing your possessions into boxes, keep a separate box handy for things that you don't love or need anymore. After you fill a box, toss it into your car and keep on going. Once everything is all boxed, make a delivery to a thrift store. If there are a few items you can't bear to part with, use a SmartStop self storage unit to store those items until you need or make a place for them.

Make a Packing List

To make unpacking easier when you arrive in your new home, make a packing list for each box. If you're using cardboard boxes you can write the contents on the outside of the box. For plastic tubs, write the items on a sheet of paper and tape it to the box. Once you arrive at your destination, you can put each box in the proper room and save a lot of time by not having to carry boxes from room to room. A packing list will also help to identify if anything is stolen or damaged during the move, so be sure to note any items that are already in imperfect condition.

Arrange for Mail Forwarding

A moving guide at Area Vibes recommends you fill out a change of address form at your local post office so you don't miss a bill or other important piece of mail while you wait for companies to update your new mailing address. Some places you need to remember to change your address and update your records with include:

Get Acquainted With Your Surroundings

Once you are in your new house, you need to find out what's around you. Where can you get your oil changed? Where's the best place to get your hair done? Where's a good place to grab a quick bite to eat? Lifehacker's Stress-Free Guide to Settling Down in a New City suggests using Google Maps, Yelp and Citysearch as a starting point. From there start asking friends, colleagues and neighbors for their recommendations on the best places to go for various needs. Crowd-source your search by asking locals on Facebook or Twitter.

Make New Friends

Depending on the reason for your move, you may or may not have a social group all set up in your new town. Assuming you don't, get a start on making friends by taking up any offer to join coworkers for happy hour or neighbors for a barbecue. Go out to places where there are people who participate in activities that you also enjoy. Join a class at the gym, find a place to worship if you're religious, enroll your kids in a art class, join a knitting club or a running group. Finally, take initiative and invite people to dinner or coffee so that you can get to know them and, hopefully, start a long-lasting friendship.

Keep these tips in mind as you prepare for moving day. They'll help to make your move go more smoothly and you'll be able to unpack and make friends in no time.

NOTE: Information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Some content is compiled from 3rd party sources. If you are aware of incorrect or outdated information, feel free to contact us.