Nothing will test your resolve and composure quite like your very first move. Picture all the shakiness and stress that comes with planning any move and then multiply it ten folds. But if you do it right, the good news is that you can turn this into an exceptionally rewarding experience that will go on to become a core memory. That said, it’s important to be open to receiving advice because, naturally, the more prepared you are, the greater the chances of hassle-free success.
No advice is particularly bad when it comes to moving; everybody is telling you the hacks and tricks that have served them well for their own moves. But there are some things you just have to know before moving for the first time, and we’re going to lay them all out for you.
Have a budget for everything.
Believe us when we say that moving is expensive. You’ll quickly be shocked at just how much certain things cost. Having a budget in place for your move is for sure one of the things you have to do before moving for the first time. If you skip this step, costs will quickly keep building to the point where you’ll longer be able to afford the move. You need to remember that expenses are only going to build up from here on out since your new living space and settling down in it is going to take away their fair share too.
A workable plan to put a budget in place is to figure out the individual phases of your move and then allot an adequate estimate to each one. Remember to be reasonable when doing this; becoming too generous or too stingy has the power to dictate whether your move will be a success or a nightmare that you’ll have to keep trying to recover from for times to come.
Over-planning is okay.
You know how they say that too much of anything is actually bad for you? Where planning during a move is concerned, this general rule of thumb can be waived. Nothing can help make your move more manageable and surprise-free than planning. And trust us, surprises during a move are never pleasant. Consider having a strategy in place for packing. Also, don’t feel that any step that helps you organize is too over the top.
For instance, doing inventory is always a good idea because it will help you keep track of your items and avoid any chance that anything might be misplaced and go undetected afterward. This is also useful in helping you tell apart items that are actually useful from what is just trash. If you’re the type who likes to plan everything in awful detail, then we can already tell you that your first move is going to be a good experience.
Decluttering is the holy grail.
A little-known piece of information that only seasoned movers can pass on to you is that moving is a great opportunity to get your affairs in order. You’ll never have a parallel motivation to declutter through everything you own, so you might as well use it. There are also some great opportunities in this; any items that are no longer of any use to you can be sold off to help save up for your move.
Also, if you can’t find the heart to part with certain objects that you know are only dead weight for your move, then remembering that more load equals more money to be paid might motivate you. Hoarding is the greatest enemy of a move. It prolongs everything that comes between packing down to unpacking. The loading part will also require more time and effort, which will demand that you hire help and also be ready for a lot of unplanned bumps to come along the way.
Packing can make or break.
Packing can sound very nerve-wracking when you’ve never ever wrapped up presents before, but this is an important and defining part of moving. Good packing can spell out the difference between the smoothest of moves and an absolute disaster. Make sure to have sturdy and reliable packing supplies, and remember that over-packing is something you need to avoid, like the plague.
It is also essential that you label boxes according to whatever system works for you. No labeling will eventually result in you having to comb through all the boxes later on when you’re on to unpacking. Larger items need to be broken down, no question, and trying to fit them as they are will make for a very unpleasant experience that you wouldn’t want to replicate.
Enlisting help is smart.
Of course, for a first-time move, the need to prove yourself is pretty concentrated. But trying to take on too much isn’t wise, especially because even experienced movers almost always use help. The truth is that a complete move is technically impossible to orchestrate without any help or involvement from others. Also, more often than not, your friends and family are always up for helping, so why would you pass up the opportunity for some ill-placed pride?
Another even better option is to hire professional movers if your budget permits it. They take care of everything from packing to loading and unloading. This will help you learn through observation and apply the same methods for your next move. But again, movers are expensive, and you need to adhere to your budget first and foremost.
Here’s the bottom line:
First-time moves can be either great or scarring, depending on how you approach them. Plan lots in advance, take lots of advice, and always try to trim the fat with your moving load. There are also going to be some learning curves you’ll experience along the way, but these are going to be great lessons for you to integrate into your next move. You’ll also unlock the certification of becoming an advice-giver yourself for any other first-time movers!