No move comes without unexpected challenges. Don’t stress over what could go wrong, anticipate potential hiccups. Moving tips to avoid to disasters.
You snagged a great job, found a good place to live and are thrilled to explore a new city. But every well-planned move isn’t without its unexpected challenges. Instead of pulling your hair out and stressing over what could go wrong, anticipate some of the potential hiccups so you can plan ahead. Here are a few moving tips that will help avoid disasters.
Buy Extra Boxes
It’s the day before your move and you just ran out of boxes and packing tape. But don’t freak out. There is a solution. U-Haul, hardware stores and office supply stores are open late and carry the supplies you need. To be proactive, buy more moving supplies than you need, and then return whatever you don’t use. Just make sure you keep your receipts.
Hire Movers
Admit it. You laughed last week when you watched Tom guilt his friends into helping him move on “Parks and Recreation.” And then you laughed even harder when he goes on a huge power trip watching them carry his things. Of course, you are not like this to your friends, so you’re wondering where everyone went on the day of your move. Other than your bestie, all your other friends are suddenly “busy.” Avoid this disaster by hiring your own help. Besides having bodies to carry boxes, professionals are better at packing and handling fragile items. After all, you don’t want your one of your friends to accidentally drop your grandmother’s antique tea set.
Build in Cushion Days
The paperwork takes forever, your daughter has a mental breakdown and the cat goes missing. Then, Mother Nature throws you a curve ball and it starts to rain. There are any number of things that can delay your move. Anticipate this before it happens, and build in a few cushion days so you don’t have to hurry to get into your new place. Although it’s difficult to plan for unexpected delays, making lists and staying organized can help. And when it comes to weather, plan for the worst. Have ponchos, gloves, jackets and whatever else you need depending on the weather you face in your city. Regardless of all your preparations, having a few extra days built in can drastically reduce your stress about getting to your new place on time.
Rent a Bigger Truck
You’ve done all the legwork. Your boxes are organized, labeled and ready to be loaded onto the truck. But no matter how you stack the boxes, there isn’t enough room for all your stuff. To avoid this situation, rent a bigger truckprior to moving. You tend to underestimate the amount of stuff you’ve collected over the years, but it adds up quickly. Although the cost may be a little more, it is worth avoiding this headache on moving day.
Moving is about the details. Make lists, use labels and pack ahead of time to cut down on last-minute stress. But don’t forget to keep the big picture in mind. Unexpected hurdles will happen, so try to keep it all in perspective.