Published February 2, 2021

Before and After: How to Prepare for a Big Move

Staff Writer

Content Specialist at Effective Agents

Preparing for and executing a move can be a huge source of stress. In fact, many people rank it right up there with the most stressful things they deal with in life. Why is it so stressful? Different reasons, but there are the costs, the planning and then there is the emotional component of leaving one space where we’ve created memories and moving to another. While you can’t completely alleviate the stress of a move, there are certain things you can do before and after to mitigate it and make it more manageable.

What To Do Before You Move

Well in advance of your move, consider the following:

Purge

An important part of moving is allowing yourself the opportunity to go through your belongings and get rid of what you’re no longer using. This allows you to move fewer items and spend less time packing, and also enter your new home with somewhat of a cleaner slate. If you have a hard time letting go of things, this can be a challenge, but it’s an important part of the moving process. Depending on how much you have, you may need to start this process months in advance of your move. If you really want to go the extra mile, use a floor plan of your new home to outline how you’ll lay out your furniture. This will let you know what you can get rid of or won’t have room for.

Book a Mover Early

If you wait until the last minute to book a moving company you’re likely to pay more. Give yourself time and get estimates from several companies so you can find the one you feel most comfortable with that also offers the best price.

Get Records In Order

If you’re moving to a new school district or city, you will have to deal with things like your children’s school records. You may need to move their existing records to their new school as well as their health records.

Handle with Mail

You’ll have to change your address with the post office and even if you get your mail forwarded, make sure to let all major financial companies and relevant organizations know about your change of address, so there aren’t any delays in payments or bills.

Plan for What You’ll Need Most In the First Days After You Move

Try to think ahead about ways you can make your life easier when you first get to your new home. For example, maybe you’re leaving behind your old beds and getting new ones. Make sure you order the new ones in plenty of time so your family can sleep on them even during your first night which can be a challenging time.

What To Do After a Move

Once you’ve made the move, get back on track with the following tips.

Start Unpacking the Essentials

When you’re in the process of packing, try and group essentials and organize them in a way that will make it easier for you to unpack them first. Prior to moving, you might want to make a list of the things your family can’t live without.

Get Familiar with the Area

When you move somewhere, getting used to the area can be just as much of an adjustment as getting used to the home itself. Venture out into the neighborhood and start finding the services you used in your old neighborhood. For example, maybe you visit the neighborhood park or find a gym or yoga studio that seems appealing. You’ll also need to potentially think about things like finding new doctors for the members of your family and your go-to pharmacy Finally, when you move, don’t procrastinate on the unpacking—this is where you’ll be glad you purged beforehand. The sooner you finish unpacking, the sooner you can feel like you’re really starting a new phase of your life in your new home. If you’d like help finding or selling a home, connect with a top-selling realtor through EffectiveAgents.com. Photo Credit: pexels-andrea-piacquadio-4867670

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