How to Move? Part 1

Everything starts with Step # 1

When people think about moving, what comes into their minds is how to transport their items from one place to another. While this is essentially what moving is about, it’s only a small fraction of the entire process. Before you get to the step of having your things loaded inside a big truck, there are a LOT more things that you’ll have to consider.

1. Reasons for leaving

People move for many different reasons. According to a recent study by Apartment.com, the top reason why American renters are moving is due to employment opportunities (28.8% in 2010). Think about your own reasons before you start packing. Is it because of a job transfer? Are you in pursuit of greener pastures elsewhere? Or is it because you can no longer afford your current home? Or maybe you just want a nicer climate? This first step is the most crucial one of all.

2. Finding your new house

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Find a house that you can afford to buy and that you can afford to keep. Once you find ones that suit your budget, think about which spaces can accommodate your belongings. Will your wardrobe fit in a small room? Will your furniture take up too much space? How easy is it to relocate into this new location?

3. Finding the important services you’ll need

Now that you know where your stuff will go, it’s time to plan how they’ll get there. If you want to lessen your burdens and have everything taken care of, look for a full service moving company. But if you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind the extra effort, you can look for truck rental companies and get things done on your own.

4. Using internet to discover the best quotes

You probably won’t have time to go around town asking for quotes, so to save time and become more efficient, use the internet to find several quotes. Sites like TMQ.us will give you choices on which companies to get and provide actual quotes about your items. They’re very practical for modern people like you!

5. Packing…

Yes, packing is a very tedious business but proper packing will spell the difference between success and disaster. If you don’t pack your furniture properly, it can get damaged during transport. You can opt to do this yourself but most moving companies can do this for you too.

6. What to do with unwanted stuff

Before relocating, consider creating an inventory of all possessions. Even if you don’t do this, you’ll soon realize that you possess a lot of items that you no longer want or need. Don’t throw them away! There’s so much more that you can do:

• Donate them to charity – Sites like http://www.charitynavigator.org/ and http://www.charitychoices.com/charities offer lists of charitable institutions that welcome non-cash donations. Your son’s old baby clothes can go a long way!
• Sell them online – Save up for your new home by putting up your items for sale on eBay or Craigslist. That old action figure might still be worth something.
• Have a garage sale – You may not earn too much from this, but extra cash is always welcome right? Plus, you’ll get the unwanted items off your hands.

7. Change of address

Create a list of all your important contacts and make the necessary arrangements to inform them about your change of address.

8. Make a list

Lists are good. Lists are great. In this case, make a list of all the tasks that you have to accomplish before the move. It’ll help you stay on track and on time!

PS: Make sure to read Part 2 and Part 3 of the How to Move series.