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The last time you went on a trip, what part of the process did you dislike the most? We’re pretty sure that packing—whether it was packing to go or unpacking once you returned home—tops the list. That’s probably why moving is something that a lot of us quietly loathe. It’s basically packing times a billion!
You have to go through everything to decide what to keep, donate or throw away. Then you have to pack items up in a way that is organized enough that you can find everything once you get to a new place. All of this, plus you have to come up with the money to hire movers. Whew! It’s all just…a lot.
If this is where you currently are in life and, just the thought of moving has you so overwhelmed that you don’t know where to begin, no worries. And you have yet to read our moving hack article, you are in for a treat! Below, we’ve enclosed a list of 10 things that, should you add them to your upcoming plans, they will help to make moving breeze—well, relatively speaking.
Download Our Printable Moving Checklist Here!!
All Things Moving:
1. Moving Checklist
You know what they say—fail to plan, plan to fail. One of the best ways to keep from feeling like you want to quit before getting started is to have a moving checklist in hand. Whether it’s for a short move or a long move, it should consist of every single thing you need to do in order for your move to be a total success. If you need a little help with what all should go on your list, this is your lucky day; we’ve included one, just for you. For those of you who want to refurnish, check out HSN for a variety of styles on household goods, which include flexible payment!
2. Utilities and Change of Address:
Don’t forgot about utilities and change of address! We sure didn’t! In fact, those are quite important and should be done prior to your move date. We have provided you with a great checklist of utilities that you should first disconnect at your old place and reconnect at your new place! This checklist will help you stay on track with what you have left to disconnect so you are not spending money on utilities you are not using. Oh, and the change of address, yes that to! Make sure you hit all the spots from banking, to subscriptions, and even health insurance! Check out our downloadable list for all the boxes that need to check off before you are set to go!
3. Moving Budget
When someone decides to take a job in another city or state. The reason why they try and negotiate moving fees is because the cost to move can get pretty expensive. For an out-of-towner, it averages somewhere around $3,000-5,000. And, if you’re simply going from one home to another in your city, movers are about $500-$750 for six hours of work. So yeah, something else that you need is a moving budget. Once you know exactly what you can afford, you can figure out what movers to hire. Or, if you should go the cheaper—albeit sometimes slower and not always the most dependable—route, you can also ask a few folks that you know to help. Some homeowners also prefer to invest in a home warranty for extra protection when they move into a new home. Do think about it because it’s definitely a worthy investment in the long run!
4. IRS Moving Deductions
Getting a tax break is a huge win for anyone. Did you know that IRS allows some moving expenses to be part of your deductions? If you’re moving because of work, you’re eligible to deduct some of the costs of moving on your federal income tax. Go to the IRS website and look for Form 3903. Check on how to qualify based on the requirements from the IRS pertaining to distance and time.
Anything that’s paid out of your own pocket for the move, can possibly be a deduction. If it’s paid by your employer, then it won’t be considered a qualified deduction. What you waiting for? Go to the IRS website or consult a tax expert today! Oh, and don’t forget to save your receipts!
5. Insure Expensive Items
The one thing you wouldn’t want to happen is for the movers or yourself to lose or damage items that are of great value. Homeowners’ insurance typically does not cover routine moving damages, repair or replace any lost items. For more information on this, always check with your insurance company before the move.
Typically, the basic coverage or legally also Released Value Protection for a long-distance move with no additional charge to your own pocket, is 60 cents per pound. Let’s say 10 LBS of your items were damaged during the transit, you will be reimbursed $6. Contrary to that, the Full-Valuation Coverage is based on the valuation of items that you’re moving. By standard, the cost out of your own pocket should be a 1% of the contents. Let’s say if the valuation of your items is $10,000, you will have to pay around $100 as the extra cost for your move but of course, this will ensure you get paid for any damages during the move.
This is mandated by the federal government for moving companies to offer to their customers. ALWAYS go for licensed professionals to help you move and don’t forget to ask about your moving insurance!
have a look at Lemonade, it offers renters insurance that’s designed to provide peace of mind during transitions like moving to a new home. With its user-friendly digital platform and quick application process, Lemonade makes it easy to get the coverage you need without the usual insurance complexities.
6. Babysitter
Unless your kids are preteens or older, it’s going to be hard to keep them entertained (or busy) while you’re packing everything up. In order to keep them from becoming disgruntled and you from getting frustrated, do yourself a favor and either ask a friend to watch them for you or hire a babysitter to do it.That way, you can get through the moving process without being interrupted every 15 minutes.
7. Movers
If you want to ensure that things will go as professionally as possible, the best route is to hire a team of movers. If you’ve never done that before and you want to make sure that they are top-notch. Here’s what you should look for. First, good movers will take a complete inventory of what you have. Second, they will do a walk-through before moving anything. Third, they won’t require a ridiculously large deposit. Lastly, they won’t mind providing you with references. Something a reputable moving company will not do is inundate you with extra fees or hand you a blank contract; everything will be in writing.
Now that you’ve got these points in mind if you’re ready to hire a company, visit any local moving company to begin your search. Usually movers will have furniture/moving blankets, plastic mattress wraps and a dolly. Check in with the movers to see what you are expected of, perhaps packing your fragile dishes with bubble wrap or cushion sheets might be a good idea!
Check out Thumbtack it Provides Simple, Easy, And Stress-free Moving Services. Thumbtack allows you to choose from a variety of local, long-distance, and labor-only moving services that suit your needs and budget.
Also, if you’re thinking of getting a new mattress, you might want to check out Purple, Nectar, Tuft & Needle, Serta, Saatva, and Molecule for great deals on super high quality mattresses! Plus they can ship it right to your new place!
8. Storage
How important is having extra storage? If it’s a question directed to me, I’d say it’s probably top of my list. Not everyone gets the luxury of moving into a big house with a lot of extra storages. What if you’re moving to a tiny condo or apartment? You can’t really Marie Kondo everything so might as well opt for plan B. Extra storage will help you organize, safekeep a lot of important items and de-clutter. At least when you’re moving into a brand-new place, you won’t see a big mess as soon as you step into the doorway. It gives you time to plan more thoroughly, even after the move, on what to hold and what to discard. Always a good option to have!
If you’re doing a long-distance move, portable storages or containers are a great way to get all your items together for a smooth transit.
9. Friends
If money is super tight, don’t be afraid to ask some of your friends to chip in. If everything is packed up and ready to go—and you’re willing to offer lunch or dinner on your tab. Then, most will be more than willing to set aside a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday to load and/or unload your truck. (Tip: To keep from wearing everyone out, it’s probably best to get one side of friends to load your truck and another set to unload it.) Loading and unloading will also go much smoother if you get a dolly or even some furniture lifters/rollers for all the big furniture pieces.
10. Moving Truck
One more tip. If you decide to go with a professional moving company, this point is usually irrelevant because most of them come with their own truck. But, if you do decide to enlist some of your friends to help you out, you’ll need to know what size to go with. If you rent a truck from a popular company like Budget Trucks, they should be able to assist you (they tend to even through a few moving boxes in with their rental price). But, in case it’s another company or you simply want to know what you’re signing up for, consider these few things.
First, consider the inventory that you have. Second, how large your furniture is. Third, how many rooms you’re trying to move. Lastly, how fragile your items are. In many instances, if you’re moving into a 1-2 bedroom apartment or home, a medium moving truck (that’s around 14-17 feet long) is all that you need. If you’re planning on moving more than that. We recommend going with a truck that is 20-26 feet in length and you should be all set.
Moving Pets and Plants:
Okay, let’s be real. The last thing you need is to bring a dead plant into your new place. It’s bad juju! How to ensure a smooth move with your pets and your plants? There’s always the option of you holding the pots of plants for hours during the move but who wants that! So, before the move, start planning well.
11. Pets
For pets, a move, especially a long-distance one can be quite stressful. First thing is to prepare an emergency kit for them. The kit shall contain their food, water, supplements or medicines, a familiar toy, a treat and first aid kit. Some people beg to differ, and they say, grooming kit is important also. You know your pet the best, so bring a pair of scissors if your pet would love to be pampered with a trim during the move. Don’t forget to contact your vet and bring with you any prescriptions and records of his or her health. Ask for recommendations if any, for a new vet in your new area.
During the move, either place your pet in the kennel with a toy and some water or give your pet a stretchable place to rest in the car. Make sure to stop your vehicle and let your pet move his or her feet, walk, drink, eat and give plenty of love. When your pet gets to the new place, do not immediately let your pet roam around by herself or himself. You should be the one to bring your pet out together to get familiarized with the new environment. In the new place, try to confine your pet in an area before the adjustment begins. You as the owner shall be responsible fully to get your pet adjust to the new surroundings.
Once your pet is settled into the new place, to help with the adjustment, we highly recommend Bark Box. This will keep them entertained all day and they wont be chewing up your nice pair of shoes after the move! I know Bark Box is hands down the best place to get toys and treats for your dog! It truly does provide the best selection of boxes for all dogs! And it doesn’t even break the bank!
12. Plants:
Plants can be quite fragile during a move. You need a full preparation to move your plants. There are a few options out there for moving plants. One being a plant dolly. You can simply place your plant on top and roll the heavy pot with the plant in it to the moving destination. If you don’t have a plant dolly or not interested in purchasing one, there is another great option that will make moving a plant lighter and easier.
That option is, re-potting your plant. You can re-pot your plant in a plastic container so it’s lighter and easier for the move. Don’t do it the day before, your plants need time to re-adjust every time you introduce something new. Plan a few weeks ahead. During the move, watch the temperature so that it won’t be too hot or too cold for the plants. The important thing to know is exactly what’s legally allowed in a certain state or even country. Each state has its own regulations when it comes to plants. Check with the state website for information.
Another great option is moving heavy plants with these pot lifter plant straps! It can make save you the time of having to re-pot an already big and heavy plant but can also help you move it without breaking your back. These pot lifting straps are great for all plant sizes and can make your move run a lot smoother!
Lastly, there’s also the option of moving your plants using movers but it’s always risky because your plants are your plants, not theirs. It’s still a great choice if it’s a big plant though. We don’t recommend doing it if it’s a delicate plant such as orchid for example. After the move, observe your plants. If you’re planning to introduce new soil, make sure you slowly introduce it little by little. Plants can get a shock too. A different climate calls for observations for sure. If you’re unsure what to do, get help from professionals.
Need some more tips on how to best pack up your house! Check out our other moving hacks to make life a little easier!
Happy moving day!
