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Any significant life change comes with plenty of nerves, and moving to a new house is no exception. Even if you’re planning a local relocation, it can be a pretty trying time. But if you know what you’re doing and start preparing on time, it won’t be so bad, we promise. In order to have a smooth and successful move, it’s essential to start planning on time and have a general idea of what you’re supposed to do. But there’s no need to worry; we’re here to help you out. It doesn’t have to be scary and overwhelming.

Just follow our tips, and organizing your relocation will be much more manageable.

Leave Things to the Pros – Hire a Moving Company

The first piece of advice we want to give you is probably the most helpful one. This is a time when you can’t be afraid to reach out for help. And the best way to make sure things go smoothly is to hire professional movers to help you. Luckily, there are lots of reliable and experienced moving companies like LA Moving Star that will make your move easier.

Professional movers offer all kinds of services meant to take some pressure off your shoulders. Some of the common moving services you can consider are:

• Packing and unpacking services
• Furniture moving
• Office moving
• Piano moving
• Storage services
• Senior moving
• Student movers
• Car transportation

There’s something for everyone, so don’t hesitate to do your research and hire movers that can make moving less stressful. The pros know what they’re doing, and they have the right equipment and years of experience, so you’ll be in good hands.

Ask Friends for Help and Make Moving Fun

Joining forces with your friends is a great way to make everything go a little bit quicker. Whether it’s packing, decluttering, or cleaning, your loved ones’ help means a lot. So, asking your tribe to give you a hand will accelerate the moving process and potentially even make it fun. It really is true that teamwork makes the dream work!

Define Your Moving Budget

Now, onto the less fun stuff – budgeting. A crucial step of moving preparation is creating your budget. You should start off by figuring out how much money you can spend on the relocation. Then, list all the moving expenses and see if there are things you could splurge on or if you need to cut back.

Something that can be very helpful is getting moving quotes from different moving companies. This will give you a general idea of how much you’ll spend. Other than that, these are some moving expenses you should account for:

• Movers fees
• Renting a moving van (if you’re not hiring movers)
• Gas, tolls, and general transportation costs
• Packing supplies
• Cleaning supplies or services
• Security deposit and first month’s rent
• New furniture
• New license and registration (when moving to a different state).

Create a Moving Checklist and Timeline

Because moving can be pretty overwhelming, it’s best to have a clear plan of what you’re supposed to do. What better way to plan ahead of relocating than by creating an in-depth to-do list? A thorough moving checklist will help you stay on track and ensure you don’t forget anything. We recommend listing everything from finding a new apartment to hiring movers, packing, and canceling utilities.

To take it up a notch and be even more meticulous, we suggest creating a moving timeline to go alongside your checklist. What this means is deciding when you need to complete each task. Here’s an example you can follow:

• 8-7 weeks before the move: start organizing your belongings, gathering packing supplies, and researching movers in your area.
• 6-5 weeks before moving: pick a moving company and set the date.
• 4-3 weeks before the moving date: start packing non-essential items; notify your landlord about your move; change your address; take care of the utilities.
• Two weeks before relocating: finish packing your things and start cleaning your home.
• One week before moving: confirm the date with your movers and pack a bag of essentials.

Downsize Before Packing to Reduce Moving Costs

By decluttering your home before packing, you’re doing yourself a favor for a number of reasons. One benefit is that your relocation costs will be lower. Movers charge by the weight of your items, so the less stuff you pack, the less you’ll pay.

Other than that, packing will go much more quickly and smoothly because you won’t have as much to stuff. These are just a few advantages of downsizing your home before relocating. Here are a few tips that can help you:

• Start with your furniture and appliances – what do you actually want to bring to your new home?
• Follow the 1-year rule – if you haven’t worn or used something for over a year, you probably won’t ever use it.
• Organize your things into different categories: trash, donation, sale, and keep.

Change Your Address and Contact Utility Providers

To make sure your bills, letters, and other mail are delivered to your new address, you have to update your address before moving. You can update your address in person at the post office or online. All you have to do is change your address on the USPS website if you don’t want to leave the house.

Once you’ve updated your address, notify your workplace and bank about this change. You don’t want any important and confidential letters delivered to your old address. You also have to remember to contact your utility providers about your address change. Here are some providers you should notify:

• Electricity
• Gas
• Water
• Internet
• Phone
• Cable

Let all these companies know about your upcoming relocation so that you can cancel their services and set up utilities at your new place.

Tips for Mental Preparation

Lastly, we want to mention the importance of mentally preparing yourself for uprooting your life. A big change like this can take a toll on your mental state and leave you feeling lost, stressed, and overwhelmed. So, here are some things that can calm you down and help you stay sane during this process:

• Give yourself enough time to plan, prep, and think things through.
• Create a comprehensive plan that will serve as a moving guide.
• Get to know your new area and meet your future neighbors.
• Give yourself time to rest.
• Find things you’re excited to do after the move – exploring, mingling, decorating, etc.

Take It One Step at a Time

When you’re hyperfocused on this big change and all the things you have to do, it’s easy to feel on edge and intimidated. So, try taking it one step at a time and follow your timeline. Moving doesn’t have to be so stressful – you just need to follow your plan and not be afraid to ask for help. Soon enough, you’ll be in your beautiful new home!