7 Ways To Expedite Your Next Move

Your plans are in place and now the hard work begins: making the transition from your current home to your new address. Whether your move will take you across town or across the country, getting and staying organized is essential to ensuring a smooth move. The following are the seven ways to expedite your next move.

Way No. 1 — Get centered. Center your thoughts by getting organized. This typically means investing in a planner or a planning app on your smart phone. Securing a folder can be helpful too. Use the planner to track and manage your deadlines. Use the folder to hold all your important documents, including medical records, school files, and tax information as well as your moving contract explains Allied Moving Services.

Way No. 2 — Declutter at once. Not everything you own will be making the trip with you. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as most of us have accumulated more junk over the years than we care to admit. Separate the stuff that is going with you from the stuff that will not make the move. Then, hold a garage sale to sell the excess or donate the same to a charity such as your local Vietnam Vets or Goodwill charity. Obtain receipts and keep these in your file for tax time.

Way No. 3 — Reach out to a real estate company. Who will market your home? Unless you’re doing a For Sale By Owner (FSBO), you’ll be looking at the services of a real estate broker to get the job done. Here, you want to work with only the best, so ask around to find out what your friends have used. If you hear a name repeated often such as, “Deb from Towne Real Estate,” then you have someone you will want to call. Reach out to the individual, interview her, determine availability, and if you believe she can handle the job, then sign the contract and let her do her thing.

Way No. 4 — Contact the moving companies. Most moves are conducted with the assistance of a moving company. In this case, you’ll want to work only with those companies that are federally registered, licensed by your state, insured and bonded, and have an excellent reputation. Friends may refer you to a company and that is always a good thing. In any case, obtain three binding estimates, compare each one, then choose the company that seems best for you. Sign the moving contract and keep this paperwork with your moving file.

Way No. 5 — Pack with vigor. You’ll need boxes and plenty of them. Don’t think for a moment that a few dozen will do — typically, owners of a three or four bedroom home need at least 200 boxes! You can acquire these by visiting local retailers, including a big box store, hardware stores, supermarkets, even fast food restaurants. Ask the managers to hold whatever boxes they can and then arrange to pick these up. Acquire packing material, moving tape, markers and stickers to label your boxes. If time is especially short, then ask family and friends to pitch in. Most people want to help anyway — they’re just looking for ways to help out.

Way No. 6 — Stay on course. It is so easy to get distracted when planning a move. After all, you have so much to do, people to see and places to go. This is where your planner or planning app comes in handy — it will enable you to make your move without forgetting anything and tell you when something is due. At the same time, give yourself some breaks to say good-bye to friends and to have those special moments with the person you love.

Way No. 7 — Complete your move. You’ve reached the finish line! Everything is done and the movers are on the way. When the foreman knocks on the door, confirm your moving plans with him, including your new address. Hang around until the house is cleared and the movers have left. Clean your residence or allow the cleaning company to come in and do the work. Once you’re done, then turn the keys over to the new owners or to your real estate agent.

On the Way

If you have some time between when the movers leave your current home and arrive at your new residence, visit some fun spots along the way for your family’s sake. However, if you’re flying in, then take up residence at the hotel, then spend several days touring the new city before you move into your new home. That way, you’ll get to know your community fairly quickly, enabling everyone to acclimate to their new surroundings.