Are you making a move soon? Whether it’s for professional or personal reasons, making any type of move can be a stressful endeavor, but it’s also a time for renewal and a fresh start. No matter if you’re going to a new house across town or packing up to move across the country, these tips will help you make the transition as smooth and problem-free as possible.
Find the Right Apartment
If you’re still on the hunt for a place to rent, don’t open expose yourself to vulnerabilities. Use bona fide listing sites that will give you access to some great places. Many of them require small fees for landlords and property owners to be able to post their rentals, so you have an extra bit of safeguard knowing they’re likely more legitimate. Craigslist has become rife with scammers, while even free-to-list websites like Hotpads.com, Apartmentfinder.com, and Trulia.com offer great features to make your search a lot easier. Most of them include advanced filter settings where you can select the amenities you’re looking for in a home, streamlining the process and making sure you find a rental you really want.
Start Early
Generally, you should give yourself 6-8 weeks to organize and begin the packing process before your move-in date. Even if you don’t put your belongings in boxes right away, taking inventory of all that you have will give you a clear picture of just how much work your move will entail. It’s amazing how many possessions we accumulate over time, and you might find that you need to purge your closets, drawers, and boxes of items you don’t need or won’t use in the future. You can choose to sell in a garage sale for a little extra cash, donate to charity, or toss the things that are unsalvageable. Whatever you do, getting rid of possessions will make your move a whole lot easier, and much less expensive.
Keep Your Information Safe
It’s tough to say and tougher to hear, but in this day and age rental scams are hiding behind every other listing. If you’re making a move to a rental, make sure you keep your sensitive information protected from potential scammers. If you haven’t yet found a place, you’ll likely be handing out applications left and right, and providing things like your social security number. Instead of handing over your most sensitive information to a complete stranger, ask your potential landlords to utilize a legitimate screening service. Companies like Transunion Smartmove keep information protected while providing the essentials a landlord is looking for, like eviction histories and credit scores.
DIY or Professional
Everyone making a household move has to decide whether or not they’re going to do it themselves or use a professional. If you’re making an apartment change with little furniture you may be more inclined to do it yourself and enlist the help of family and friends with packing things into your U-Haul. On the flip side, if you’re moving an entire household or heading across state lines, the benefits of hiring a professional moving company like Mayflower can’t be understated. They are well-versed in weight issues, will have the equipment required for your move, and will generally make the process go a lot faster and smoother. For some, that level of ease is worth the extra money.
Kids and Pets
Moving requires a lot of work, and the last thing you need to concern yourself with is little ones or pets underfoot. Make other plans for your kids on the day of. Ask a close friend if they would mind watching them, drop them off at trusted babysitter’s house, or see if they can make playdates with any of their friends. As for pets, remaining underfoot during a move can be very traumatic for our furry friends. If you have a pet that you think will have a hard time with the constant hustle and bustle during that day, think about putting them in doggy day care for a few hours. It will make it easier for you to get things done, and give them less stress.
If there’s a move on your horizon, make sure your moving process is as smooth as possible by following these tips to keep you, your family, and your possessions safe during this life change.
