Moving is stressful, period.
And having to relocate during a pandemic, after suffering job loss, or a natural disaster can add insult to injury.
To help ease your stress, we put together a list of three must-dos when moving during uncertain times.
1. Keep Things Organized
Getting yourself and your things organized before moving is crucial. If there is time to prepare, make organizing a priority.
Start prepping for your move a month or at least two weeks in advance. Here is a simple timeline of tasks you should complete leading up to your move.
Two weeks to a month before:
- Get packing materials.
- Pack miscellaneous items that you don’t use daily.
- Coordinate the details of your move with your current and future landlord if you are a renter.
One week before:
- Figure out details like parking, zoning, key pick up/drop off, and elevator availability at your current and future home to avoid mishaps on move-in day.
- Wrap large furniture and break down smaller pieces.
- Pack everything except the items you would need for a week that means leaving out only a week’s worth of clothes, food, etc.
The night before
- Pack all other items except what you’ll need on move-in day.
- Contact movers and helpers to ensure they are prepared.
- Leave one box open to throw in lingering items.
The day of:
- Focused on the physical move.
- Provide water and snacks for helpers.
- Clean and disinfect your old and new home.
2. To Hire Mover Or To Not
Hiring moving can be a huge stress reliever, but it can be a considerable expense. Before contacting your local moving company, first determine whether or not it is necessary.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help figure out if professional movers are needed:
Do you have a lot of large furniture?
- If so, hire a mover. Maneuvering larger furniture out of your old space and transporting it into your new home can be a challenge. To avoid potential injuries or damages, consider hiring movers.
Are you moving out of a house or an apartment?
- If you are moving out of a large home, consider movers as you will likely have more items. If you a moving out of an apartment, think about recruiting friends or family.
Can you recruit friends and family to help?
- If you can recruit friends, family, or coworkers to help, movers may not be necessary. Ask around and see who is available and willing to help!
Are you moving long-distance?
- Hire a mover. Long-distance moves can be stressful, so consider hiring a mover to ensure all your items get to your new home in one piece.
Are you able to sell or donate some of your items to reduce what you’ll need to move?
- Try selling or donating any unnecessary items before move-in day. Having fewer things will help you determine if movers are necessary.
Can you move a little at a time?
- See if you can get access to your new home before your official move-in day. Even if it’s just a couple of days before, moving a few items at a time will make a significant difference on move-in day.
3. Don’t Forget About Your Pets
Moving can be very stressful for pets. Whether its a long-distance or local move, be sure to make necessary accommodations before move-in day.
If you’re anticipating a high-stress move, we would suggest a pet transport service. Private pet transport services are a safe and efficient way to get your pet to your new home. Having someone take care of the transport process not only makes move-in day run smoothly, but it can also help reduce your pet’s anxiety.
Once you are all settled into your new home, your pet may feel a little anxious being in a new space, but giving them plenty of attention and sticking to a familiar routine will help get them acclimated to their new home.
Bottomline
Whether you are moving under normal circumstances or not, we can all agree that moving is stressful. Our three must-dos will help ease your anxiety when moving during uncertain times.