Moving to a new town is exciting. The process of moving to a new town, though, is tedious and expensive. Moving is even more difficult when you’re relocating several states away. If you forget something back in your old hometown, it’s not easy to turn around and take care of it! Plus, without proper planning, you can end up spending a lot more than you bargained for. Follow these tips for making a big move just a little bit easier.
- Downsize before you move. The time to get rid of items you don’t need isn’t when you’re unpacking - it’s when you’re packing! As you pack up your closet, take note of the clothing you don’t wear or that doesn’t fit anymore. Throw it out, donate or give it away - just don’t take it with you if you don’t need it! The same goes for everything from old books to furniture you’ve been dying to scrap.
- Start packing as soon as you know you’ll be moving. You may need your drinking glasses and beauty products right up until the day you leave, but you can definitely live without your teddy bear collection and classic novels until you get to your new pad. Try to pack as much as you can ahead of time, making sure to leave the essentials unpacked and accessible.
- Don’t settle for the first shipping company you find online. Do some price shopping to get the best deal. If you really want to go with a shipping company that’s higher priced than other similar companies, ask them to match the price of the cheaper shippers. Also, when you move across the country, there are a few different shipping options. You can ship your car and items and fly to your destination or you can rent a truck and drive everything to your new locale. You can also book a combination of shipping methods to make your move easier or less expensive.
- Thanks to online job search websites, you don’t have to wait until your settled in a new town to look for a job. Start early, submit as many applications as you can and agree to virtual interviews instead of in-person interviews. You could have a job waiting for you before you even embark on your cross-country move.
- The best way to learn your way around a new town is to get behind the wheel and explore the streets. You don’t have to leave all the exploring to the last minute, though. Study maps of your new hometown before you get there so that you at least know where the closet grocery store, post office and hospital is. You should also know the street names that are closest to your new house. That way, when you get lost, you’ll know which street names are familiar and close to home.
- Inventory everything you pack. If you accidentally leave something at the back of your attic, you can’t exactly go back to get it. However, if you have an inventory, you’ll know that the item you’re searching for is in a box somewhere.
Travis Bayles is an independent real estate researcher. He enjoys
sharing his insights on various property publications and websites.
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