An American perspective by Amy
Nutt
As anyone who has done it knows, moving is no
simple task. It’s costly, time-consuming, exhausting, and
all around not fun. Moving can easily turn into a disaster, but
there are ways to avoid it. Here are some tips to prevent common
moving pitfalls and make your transition into a new home as painless
as possible.
Lack of money.
Whether or not you hire movers, you will spend
money when you move. There are things such as truck rentals, shipping
costs, tape and moving boxes, time off from work, gas expenses
and sometimes even plane tickets. Begin planning well in advance,
and budget extra money for emergency expenses. You never know
what problems might sneak up on you. Be prepared. You also might
want to check your homeowners or renters insurance to see if your
belongings are covered while in transit. If you are hiring movers,
get several quotes so you know you’re getting a good price.
Lack of time. Certain times of the year are
busy moving times. Professional moving companies can get booked
up, so book in advance to be sure that your moving needs will
be accommodated. Before moving day comes, plan your time out and
know how long you will spend doing particular tasks. If you’re
counting on moving everything in one day, be sure that it is a
realistic timeframe. Some professional movers will pack your stuff
into moving boxes for an additional fee if you’re particularly
rushed.
Having too much stuff. You might be attached
to your cinderblock collection, but do you really need it? As
a rule, try to sell or give away things you haven’t used
in the previous 12 months. The less things you have, the easier
and more streamlined your move will be. If you need to put things
in storage, make sure they are in stackable, sealed boxes to keep
dust and rodents away.
Measurement Issues. Uh oh. The fridge is too
big to fit in the front door. Measure any large object or appliance,
and be absolutely sure it will fit through doorways and into its
final resting place. It would be a shame to haul your brand new
Frigidaire from Tallahassee to Walla Walla, only to find it doesn’t
fit in your new kitchen.
Get Good Directions. If you’re moving to
a new, unfamiliar location, meticulously map everything out and
have multiple copies of your directions. Driving an over-sized
rental truck is stressful enough on its own, and doing it in an
unfamiliar city is sure to add even more stress. Driving the truck
in an unfamiliar city with bad directions be akin to a disaster.
Check and double-check your directions. If you use an online navigational
tool such as Mapquest, check the directions against a map, and
keep an atlas with you at all times.
Make Sure You Eat. It sounds obvious, but people
often forget to take care of their needs when they move. You won’t
have access to a refrigerator full of food while you move, so
plan ahead and pack sandwiches or budget money for restaurant
food. After full days of hauling your belongings, you’ll
be ravenous.
Moves can be very emotional, unforgettable experiences.
If you have children, have fun by taking pictures and videos of
the move. They’ll feel like a part of the experience, and
you’ll have great memories for years to come.
It's important to be very prepared and organized
when you move. Be sure to make a lot of lists, and have plenty
of spare moving
boxes on hand.
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