How To Plan Ahead For An Easy Move (guest post)

This post is sponsored by  All in One Moving & Storage, Inc., but all opinions are entirely my own. 

Many years ago, I packed up my tiny shoebox apartment in Hoboken to begin a new adventure–one that included moving in with my then-boyfriend to the ‘burbs of Montclair, NJ. It was a huge life change. Further away from the city meant that I would have to navigate NJ Transit (if you’re from the area, you know what that’s like). The biggest memory of that day all these years later is how Bryan and I sat on my stoop waiting for the movers to arrive. THEY NEVER DID. In that moment, I panicked, I made 100 frantic phone calls that went unanswered, and Bryan figured out the closest U-Haul location so we could start the move by ourselves. My tiny arms still hurt at the thought of a third-floor walkup and that farkin’ Queen mattress.

That experience taught me a few important life lessons:
1) hire a reputable moving company and 
2) find someone who can think clearly when you’re a ball of stress and rage. 

It is with great pleasure that I welcome my IG friend Alex of The Berger Bungalow to my little corner of the world. Read her words below (and follow her on insta. She’s awesome!)

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If you have ever moved in your life, you probably know how daunting and stressful it can be. Planning ahead, getting prepared, and staying organized can definitely help you cut down on the stress, but a lot of the time, you don’t know where to start. Follow this small list so you can learn more about how to plan ahead for an easy move:

Create A Timeline And Checklist

If there is absolutely anything that I am good at, it’s organization. There’s nothing I love more than creating a list, and then checking it off. Even if you hate getting organized, you will be really thankful that you created your lists (and checked them off) when it comes to a moving process. There is a lot to consider before and during a move, so staying organized is absolutely essential. I always create a timeline with important dates and times, a list of things that are really important (ie. if I forget to get them done, I am in big trouble), and then a list of everything else to check off as I start packing, signing any needed documents, etc. On your timeline, make sure you try to get everything done ahead of time, so you do not feel stressed when it is crunch time.

Get An Inspection Beforehand – If You’re Selling

If you are selling your home, getting an inspection done before you put it on the market can really help you out. If you are not familiar with the buying and selling process, one huge part of buying and selling a home is the inspection…and it can definitely make or break a sale. To avoid any unexpected huge expenses or hold-ups, get an inspection done beforehand to get any large ticketed items checked off in advance. Alternatively, you could choose not to do any of the needed fixes, but at least you could know what the prospective buyers might want you to fix before they purchase the home.

Purge As Much As You Can

Before you start packing up your boxes, purge what you can. It will not only save you time, but it will save you so much stress once you move into your new home, as well. The clothes that you haven’t worn since high school? Toss them. Books that you will never have a use for again? Consider selling or donating them. As winter approaches, consider donating any old blankets, jackets, or pants to the needy. There are so many ways to repurpose or sell your “junk” that you do not have a need for – and so many people will be very thankful.

Find A Reliable Moving Company

I know SO many people that have hired moving companies and have had terrible experiences. Don’t get stood up on the day-of and have to hire a last minute uHaul, but also don’t let these terrible experiences that you hear about scare you off from hiring a moving company. Why? Because they save you so much TIME, STRESS and SWEAT. I have not moved with a baby or a child yet, but can you even imagine how stressful it would be trying to get everything packed, to a new home, and unloaded/unpacked/set up in the new home? I can’t – that’s for sure.

So, how do you make sure that you are hiring a reliable moving company? Word of mouth, online reviews, and dig through their website to learn about the company/their services/etc. For example, All in One Moving & Storage, Inc. is a New Jersey moving company that claims to be the best in the area. They do long distance moving in New Jersey, residential moves, commercial moves, storage services, and more. But, how would you really know if they were the best? Read their reviews! All in One Moving & Storage has great reviews from what I found – and you can pull up all of their social media reviews directly from their website. On Facebook, they have a 5-star rating (based on 29 reviews), and all of the Google reviews that I scrolled through were also 5-star ratings.

They say, “All In One Moving is founded on the principle that people need to feel they can fully trust their moving company. Established in 2005, our expert movers are committed to your satisfaction and move, understanding that each move is unique and demands a unique combination of services. As such, we work with you to ensure a stress-free moving process, giving you freedom to focus on your relocation rather than deal with the headaches that come with moving.”

Hiring a reliable moving team is essential, but make sure you focus on finding a company that is actually reliable, such as All in One.

Use Containers That You Already Have

As you are packing, consider using containers that you already have in your home. Laundry baskets, clothing storage containers, trashcans (just clean them first!), pantry bins, luggage, etc. Not only is this a great way to start packing ahead of time since you have your containers on-hand, but it’s also a way to cut down on wasteful plastic bags and cardboard boxes that will just be thrown away after one use.

A Little Bribing Never Hurt

I mean, you have to do what you have to do, right? Bribe your family and friends with pizza, drinks, and other treats to make your move a lot faster and easier. No matter what you do to prepare for a move (unless you are hiring a company to take care of every single little detail), moving is still an extremely hefty process. One way you can lessen the load is by asking some of your best friends and family members to help you out. Having other people to help you can most definitely expedite the packing process and can also make the move way more fun. Show your family and friends some love by providing snacks, drinks, and maybe even offer to help them whenever they need it down the road!

Photo by HiveBoxx on Unsplash