Relocating to Austin can be a hectic and stressful time for everyone, but some organization and preparation can make it less exasperating. Developing a plan will provide you a key to follow and help the move go smoothly. We have listed ten tips to help make your moving process easier.
1. Plan as Far in Advance as Possible
It never hurts to get in front of the process and begin thinking about your move. Begin looking for a trusted moving company and set a date for the move. If you are hiring professional packers, be sure to explain to them all the stuff that needs to be boxed so they can be prepared. Start thinking about how you will organize your stuff and create a visual of the move in your head.
2. Sort Your Things by Category
The move to Austin will go a lot quicker if you arrange your things by category. It is easiest to commence with your clothes, because you will discover items that you will want to give away, which means less to move. You can also simply sift through your books, papers, movies, and other miscellaneous things.
3. Get Rid of Stuff You Don't Need or Want
You surely own plenty of unused or unnecessary things. You will have fewer boxes to pack by eliminating the things that you do not need. The sooner you toss these belongings, the easier the boxing and moving will be later.
4. Call for a Donation Pickup
Remember all of those items you own that are no longer wanted or unnecessary? You can give many of those items to a non-profit organization, and many of the charitable organizations will even come get them for no charge. Giving your old things to charity will make you feel helpful, and it can also possibly be used as a tax write off.
5. Purchase Supplies Before You Need Them
You are going to need boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap, and many other packing materials. Do not hold off until the final minute to purchase those things, but instead be proactive. Sit down and create a list of all the products that you will need for your move, and gather the items in one shopping trip to the store to save yourself time and anxiety. You need to also doucle check to see if you still own the original boxes to any of your items to save yourself the time and expense of buying new boxes.
6. Pick the Best Moving Day
Think about all of the possible moving days and select the one that will be best and cheapest for you. Find out which day you will have the most assistance and which day will be the best for the movers too.
7. Schedule Disconnect Times
You probably have cable, water, power, internet, gas, and other services. All of those services will need to be shut off ahead of your move, and it is good to give them a notice at least a week ahead of time. You may also need to spend a little extra time gathering cords, remotes, cable boxes, routers, and other supplies that the companies will want back at the time of cut off.
8. Commence Packing and Labeling Boxes
Start packing your items as soon as you can to give yourself the greatest amount of time to finish the process. Packing just a bit at a time can be less nerve-racking and make your move go more smoothly. The key to locating your things after the move is labeling the boxes accurately. Label the boxes by category to locate things quickly and label the sides of boxes and not the tops.
9. Think About What to do with Plants and Pets
Begin thinking about what you will do with live plants and pets. You will need to figure out transportation for pets and take your pets to the vet if necessary. Relocating live plants can sometimes be difficult, because they need the proper amount of sunlight and water. If you prefer, live plants can either be passed on friends or family, or sometimes, they can be donated to local charities to keep from having to move them.
10. Perform Last Minute Checks
The day of and before moving, check closets, cabinets and corners of every room to be sure all items have been packed. In addition, make sure things like the water, furnace, air conditioner and lights are all turned off and windows and doors are closed and locked.
These are just a few suggestions to help make your move to Austin smoother with fewer problems. It is best to be prepared and plan well in advance to avoid any headaches. If you adhere to these steps throughout the move process, you will be able to move worry-free.
