So you’ve taken the plunge and invested in real estate, and now you’re getting ready to move. Congratulations! It’s a big step for you and your family, one that is often accompanied by a whole host of emotions, both good and bad.
Sure, you’re moving up in the world, and that’s got to feel good. But chances are, you’re also feeling some trepidation about what’s to come. That’s perfectly understandable: moving house is no small task. To prepare for your journey, you’ll need to get organized. But what if you don’t know where to start?
Not to worry! Today, we’re going to talk about how you can minimize the stress of your big move and offer some tips for planning and organization.
Get Organized
How long do you think it takes to plan for a move? If you said two months or eight weeks, you’d be right on the money. This may seem like an unnecessarily long period of time—or maybe it doesn’t seem like long enough! But eight weeks is the minimum amount you’ll need to comfortably prep for the move. Some people prefer to move at a more relaxed pace, which is fine, too.
Moving can take up to 12 weeks, depending on the speed at which you work. But any less than eight and you might find yourself stressed and on edge. Whatever your preferred speed, just make sure you give yourself enough time to figure things out. Trust us: time flies when you’re moving out!
Getting organized is the real trick when moving house. It’s so much more than just packing up all your furniture and making sure it gets to the next location intact. You might be surprised by the extensive laundry list of tasks that need to get done to facilitate your move. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it all on your own. There are plenty of online resources to help you plan your move. This checklist from Updater, for example, lays out your tasks chronologically from start to finish.
Have a Plan B
It’s good to have backups, especially when you’re doing something as involved as moving. On the big day, you might start to feel as though everything that can go wrong will go wrong. To help safeguard against major flubs, make sure all your ducks are in a row in the period leading up to moving day. And as for the day itself, double-check with your moving company, and have some alternatives on hand, just in case. Consider what you’ll do if the move has to be delayed or if the house isn’t ready to move into yet. Everything may run as smooth as silk! But you don’t want to get caught up the creek without a paddle, so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Pack the Essentials
Think about what you’ll need on the day. The last thing you want to do is go rooting around in all your packed-up boxes, looking for your kid’s favorite stuffed animal or your spouse’s health insurance card. Your go-bag should contain all the necessities for you to sustain yourself and your family for 24 hours comfortably. That means snacks, clothes, necessary paperwork, toys, and the like. Be sure to pack the majority of the bag well in advance: on the day of, you should only be putting in the things you use daily, like your toothbrush and laptop.
Be Kind to Yourself (and Others)
The stress of moving can feel overwhelming at times, but keep a few things in mind. First: no matter what happens, this move will end. Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later, but it will end. Second: keep calm. There might be hiccups on the day, but if you’ve done your planning, you should be able to handle them in stride. Sometimes, though, there are factors at play that are outside of your control. Just breathe, and remember that everyone is probably stressed out. Getting wound up won’t make you or anyone else feel better, and it likely won’t improve the situation, either. Try to go with the flow, and know that mistakes happen, regardless of how perfect the original plans were.
Give Thanks
If you have extra hands helping out, like friends and family, show them how grateful you are for their assistance. Maybe it’s a thank you card or a few rounds of drinks after the move. Whatever it is, you all pitched in to make this thing happen… and now you’re settled in your new home!
Moving isn’t easy, but with good plans and better friends, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to! Welcome home. And once you’ve settled in, if you need to upgrade the kitchen, finish the basement, or expand the master suite, J.T. McDermott is here to help. Reach out today, and let’s talk about it.
