Apartment Moving Tips that will save you hundreds – Moving from apartment to apartment comes with many unexpected expenses that can add up quickly. These are the top ten tips from moving companies that reduce your moving costs saving you hundreds of dollars.
The prospect of packing and moving from one apartment to another can inspire many different emotions–excitement for your new home, especially if you are moving into your first new apartment; wistfulness, because you will miss your old place that has good memories and sentimental value; and anxiousness for what your new plane and new neighborhood will be like. The farther the move, the more intense the feelings tend to get.
Maybe you are only moving from one apartment unit to the next, or maybe you are moving to a new country altogether, one thing is certain, the effort of packing and the logistics of moving can be a headache and a source of stress, especially if you’re not naturally detail-oriented. So many things could go wrong! And once you are finally in your new place, the temptation to put off unpacking for as long as possible is almost irresistible. A 2017 survey revealed that Americans take six months on average to unpack after moving into a new home.
Packing up your apartment and moving into a new one is stressful enough. Now is not a good time to “wing it.” It’s always better to have an action plan and a checklist in place leading up to the moving day and immediately after. To help you with the moving process, here are the top 10 apartment moving tips that will save you a lot of unnecessary stress and grief.
#1 – Declutter and purge mercilessly
Out with the old and make room for the new. This is one of the most important packing tips that often gets forgotten. Who hasn’t heard of Mari Kondo and her Konmari method of organization by now? Minimalism and regular purging of your belongings might not come naturally to you, but when you are planning a big move, now is a good time to start. Whether you’re moving into your dream apartment or moving into first apartment tips for moving efficiently will reduce stress and save you money. Go through all your belongings and let go of everything you don’t need and those you aren’t using. Go through those you are only keeping for sentimental purposes and ask yourself if they have a place in your new home. Be very discriminating about what you will choose to keep. The urge to buy even more new stuff like furniture, appliances and decorative accents, like shower curtains and decorative pillows will be irresistible once you move into a new place. Make sure you have space for it by decluttering your old stuff.
#2 – Get the pertinent packing materials
The next apartment moving tip is to make sure you have all the packing materials you will need, like boxes, trashbags, tapes, and the like. Unless you are living out of a suitcase, you will need boxes to pack your possessions. Some moving companies will provide boxes for their clients and help them pack, but if it’s easy enough to DIY, why not? You may purchase brand new or recycled boxes. Make sure you have many rolls of packaging tape because you will need to seal the boxes and reinforce the bottom end. Another must-have is bubble wrap to help protect fragile items. You can purchase it by the roll. It’s more reliable than toilet paper at protecting breakable items.
#3 – Schedule a moving crew
You will most likely need assistance for your big move. If you need to hire professional movers or rent a moving truck to transport your stuff, schedule this ahead of time and don’t wait until the last minute. If you don’t have a lot to bring, you can always ask friends for help and then you can end the day with a simple housewarming party. They key is to schedule ahead. You should also clear your moving out date with the landlord of your old apartment, as well as your moving in day with the landlord of the new one.
#4 – Start packing early and gradually
One very overlooked and ultimately costly mistake is waiting until the last minute to pack. Moving companies recommend moving into new apartment tips that start with packing early and organized. The fourth moving into a new apartment tip is to do it gradually. If you’ve accumulated a lot of belongings, the thought of packing them up can seem extremely daunting. That’s why you shouldn’t do all of them in one day! Choose the items that you need the least and start with that. For instance, you can pack your book collection and the exercise equipment you never touch first, and you can save the clothes and shoes you need for work last. If you can send some boxes ahead, that will be helpful.
#5 – Pack Per Room
This tip is especially helpful for families, big households, and multi-room apartments. For someone living alone in a small space and moving from one studio apartment to another, not so much. Assign moving boxes for each room and make sure only items from that particular room go in those boxes. Don’t mix them up even if it’s to save space. It’s more important to stay organized than to save on boxes. Again, start with the least used room.
#6 – Label Properly
Speaking of getting and staying organized, label all your boxes. First, choose a sorting system and stick with it. Then, after sealing the box, label it per room and per its content. For instance, “Bedroom, Books”, “Bedroom, Linen”, “Kitchen, China”, “Kitchen, Pots and Pans”. You should also indicate if the contents are fragile so you and whoever will be helping you move will know to take extra care of it. You can buy a nifty label maker if that will get you in a better organizing mindset, otherwise, a Sharpie will do fine.
#7 – Clean Your New Space Before Moving In
Unpacking is difficult enough, but to clean while unpacking? That’s even more difficult, especially to those that do not have the habit of cleanliness and organization. These tips for moving into a new apartment helps breakup the tasks down to manageable chunks. For instance, make sure that you did all the major cleaning of your new place in advance so when moving day comes, you will move into and have a good night’s sleep in a clean living space even if you don’t get all the unpacking done in one day.
#8 – Clean Your New Space Before Moving In
Unpacking is difficult enough, but to clean while unpacking? That’s even more difficult, especially to those that do not have the habit of cleanliness and organization. The trick is to break the tasks down to manageable chunks. For instance, make sure that you did all the major cleaning of your new place in advance so when moving day comes, you will move into and have a good night’s sleep in a clean living space even if you don’t get all the unpacking done in one day.
#9 – Clean Your New Space Before Moving In
Unpacking is difficult enough, but to clean while unpacking? That’s even more difficult, especially to those that do not have the habit of cleanliness and organization. The trick is to break the tasks down to manageable chunks. For instance, make sure that you did all the major cleaning of your new place in advance so when moving day comes, you will move into and have a good night’s sleep in a clean living space even if you don’t get all the unpacking done in one day.
#10 – Budget for the Move
Include this part in your moving to-do list. Moving can be costly, especially if you’re relocating far away. As early as you can, set aside a budget for all moving-related costs. This includes air or sea freight, U-haul or moving trucks, a storage unit and a hotel room in case your new place will not be ready on time, and anything else you can think of. Also have some extra money ready for hidden costs and incidentals, like if you have to tip your apartment movers or doormen, pay for emergency repairs or supplies, and the like.
Apartment Moving Tips
Some people dream of a house with a white picket fence, for others, apartment living is the way to go. Whether you rent or you own your own unit, living in a good apartment complex with a good landlord or co-op board has many perks. This includes security, great amenities, a more accessible location. Wouldn’t it be great if you lived a short walk away from grocery stores, a gym, or your place of work? Many people choose their apartments with location as the top consideration.
Enjoy and make the most out of your new apartment as soon as you move in. You can do this by following these 10 tips for moving into a new apartment to ensure a smooth and easiest possible transition.
