Moving into Your New Home: Making it a Stress-Free Transition
Keep it Simple and have a Sense of Humor…
Selling your home and purchasing another can be exciting, but it can also be a stressful process. Preparing a game plan ahead of time reduces the stress of this event. Things can go much better if we also reduce the quantity of our belongings as we move from one place to the other. This requires organization and forethought. Having a battle buddy or trusted friend assisting you will go a long way in helping to make the process easier and more efficient. Start with as clean of slate as possible, in other words let go of what you have been storing for others, or items you no longer have a need for. Donating to those in need is a wonderful way to pay it forward. This is a great first step!
1. Declutter and Lessen the Load
This process of decluttering is very freeing and it is also a time to give to others who may find your donations to be extremely useful and meaningful. Locate charities that will accept your donations, and some may even pick up your items, but call ahead to see if you can make those arrangements. Some local organizations: such Veteran’s outreach, churches, etc. may welcome your donations as well. Some of your items may be consigned or even put into an estate sale. To find out about this contact your local consignment or estate consolidators and ask about the services they offer. Be sure to get a receipt for your accountant to show that you made a donation.
2. Furry Family Members Matter
Pets are an integral part of our families and they pick up our energy. If we are having stress and are out of sorts, chances are they will also be affected. Packing up and relocating our residence can be a very unsettling event and our pets will also mirror our emotional state. Make sure you make arrangements for your pets for boarding or day care prior to your moving date. We want to make sure they don’t get outside by mistake this would only serve to compound the stress. Have extra pet supplies: Food, bowls, beds, medications, treats, kitty litter, leashes and familiar pet beds all stored in a safe place. Both your pet and your will be grateful you planned ahead to assure their safety and stressless transition.
3. Label It All with Proper Identification
Taking the extra steps to organize your items at this point will save a lot of time in the long run. I find that file boxes that can be purchased from the office supply stores that are all the same size are easy to stack and do not weigh too much when filled. Make sure to have plenty of packing paper, markers, scissors, bubble wrap and tape on hand for preventing the loss of your treasures. You can also buy specialized boxes from a moving center, for your dishes, pictures, etc. These boxes can be colored coded or numbered and placed on a master list by room. Be sure to also make note of the contents within each box, this is an important aspect of putting items in the correct new location. You can put the boxes directly in the area of the home for which they are coded to be unpacked.
4. Moving Company or Do it Yourself
Get references for a reputable moving company to move your items to your storage unit or to your new location. It is very important to be clear on all the hidden costs. You can also gather a team of friends or hourly workers to also assist you in your move. You may even want to check into the cost of renting a moving truck, furniture dolly, pads, moving insurance to cover damage or theft, etc. but be sure to reserve your truck far in advance of the time you will need it. The truck must be returned clean, with a full tank of fuel and in a timely fashion in order to not incur addition fees.
5. Keep It to Scale
Some of you will want to purchase new furniture for your new home. Be sure to measure carefully. Size and scale are important. Some of the finer furniture stores will also have in house consultants that will come to your home and help you decide what works well for the space you have. There may be extra charges for this but it depends on the policy of the furniture store and is well worth it. You may also hire an interior designer to help with color, design, concepts to help make your dreams a reality. Carry a measuring tape with you, take cell pictures of pieces of furniture you like and do this early on, so you aren’t rushed.
6. Game Plan/To Do List
First and foremost have a checklist of things you need to do to get prepared for the move, such as what we are discussing here, as well as the logistical items: setting up trash pick-up, changing address for utilities, mail, alarm system etc. Be sure you keep accurate records so you have a clear understanding of the dates when you disconnect your old service and reconnect your new service, otherwise you could be paying for double utilities.
7. Keep Papers Organized
Be sure and keep your important documents and points of contact together. Get a container and place important papers, accounts numbers in files so you know where these items are and can be easily accessible. All moving papers, purchase and sales agreements, passports, utilities bills, etc. should be kept together. Please put them in your locked vehicle so you can keep an eye on this at all times.
8. Maintain Personal Items
Be sure and pack an overnight bag with all your essentials that you will need for your first few nights. Items such as medication, extra cash, cell phone and laptop/pad chargers, personal items etc. It can be quite frustrating if these items get packed away and are misplaced in the shuffle. By keeping these important essentials close at hand you will eliminate a of frustration and extra expense. This will clearly assist you in having a smoother transition.
9. Timing is Essential
Don’t wait to organize and plan!!! Be proactive, rather than reactive in your moving and organizational processes. Plan on the move taking longer that you expect. If you want to assure your new home is move in ready, why not hire a cleaning service after you close the purchase, so you can move in without any delay and into a sparkling clean home. Reducing stress and experiencing seamless transitions will go a long way to help make your move more pleasurable.
10. First Things First
A First Aid Kit may come in really handy! Also have snacks and plenty of water available. Rest and eat when necessary in order to maintain your stamina. Ask for help and do not over load your mind, body or spirit. Remember we are all getting older and our bodies may not take the wear and tear or be as resilient as they once were. Take it slow and make your intentions deliberate. Assign tasks to those who are helping by directing the placement of boxes and furniture. Watch the clock so you can make the deadlines for rental returns etc.
Set up your bedroom, and bathroom first, so you have a nice place to rest and bathe after a long day of work. Keep the refrigerator filled with your favorite foods and drinks.
Enjoy the first step of your new dream!