5 Tips For A Smooth Home Relocation

There can be various factors influencing people to relocate. Some people relocate to live a more adventurous and fun-filled life, while others seek to access better educational institutions for their kids. In some situations, people also move in search of more affordable living. 

Moving due to higher living costs may be more common for people residing in places such as Oakland, where the cost of living is significantly high. According to PayScale, the cost of living in Oakland is 46% higher than the national average. Consequently, residents may face elevated expenses for housing, amenities, grocery, etc., compared to other parts of the United States. 

Regardless of the reasons motivating you to move, there are several essential steps to take before envisioning your life in your new home. For starters, you must consider your new location’s social and cultural aspects to ease your transition. Below is a list of other ways to make your impending relocation smooth and stress-free. 

Hire an experienced moving company 

Once you have finalized your relocation, hire an experienced moving company to move your belongings to your new house safely. Hiring a reliable moving company can lighten your burden by assisting you in organizing, packing, loading, and unloading your belongings.  

By packing and moving your belongings efficiently, a moving company saves you from damaging or losing your things during transit. A professional moving company also plans the best route for moving your belongings and fulfills the associated technical requirements. 

When hiring a moving company, contact a few companies in advance. If you live in a big city like Oakland, with a population of around 430,500 residents, you may have more options. So, do some research to find reliable and experienced Oakland movers that can make the relocation as smooth as possible while still staying within your budget.

Beware of moving company frauds

You may learn about a moving company through online adverts while browsing web pages, or someone may have dropped a flyer at your doorstep. In any case, don’t assume that all the information you get through various means is accurate. 

Moving-related frauds are prevalent, with an average of around 1390 moving scams reported yearly in the US. According to the American Bar Association, each moving claim reports an average loss of approximately $16,200. Fraudulent companies not only jeopardize the safety of your belongings but also extort more and more money from you. 

To avoid falling victim to moving-related frauds, consider the following aspects.

• When hiring a moving company, verify their credentials, and review their licensing and certification. Also, check if they are members of a professional association such as the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). This will prevent you from dealing with unscrupulous movers.
• Trust your instincts when finalizing the moving company’s fee. If the prices seem too attractive, think twice before selecting them. Offering low prices is often one of the strategies of fraudulent moving companies to entice clients. But later, they can hold your belongings hostage until you make the higher payments. Get estimates from multiple companies. If the fees of one company seem considerably lower than the prevalent market value, consider it a red flag. 
• Lastly, pay attention to the agreement and documentation. Hidden clauses, vague language, or unreasonable terms may require you to double-check the company. Be open when getting information, ask questions, and seek clarifications regarding any unclear or suspicious terms and conditions. 

Declutter your house prior to packing

Decluttering is an essential aspect of moving. It allows you to start afresh in your new house by removing unessential items and ensuring more organized space. Instead of moving outdated belongings, you can buy new things that serve a purpose in your new house, reflecting your unique living style. 

Eliminating all unnecessary items helps you save time, money, and effort related to packing and moving stuff. By focusing on the essential things, you can ensure a smoother relocation and streamlined transition.

Decluttering before moving is also a way to determine what fits well with the layout of your new house and what will find no space. You can eliminate the surplus, keeping only what you will need. 

Another potential benefit of decluttering is that it allows you to part ways with items with sentimental value. This enables you to adjust to your new place by freeing you from the weight of the past.

Once you have decided about the items you will not keep, you can get rid of them by throwing them away, selling in a yard sale, or donating them to a charity.

Start packing when you have finalized the move

Packing is time-consuming, requiring extensive planning, organizing, and arranging the necessary packing material. Therefore, you must start this process early to ensure a smooth transition. Since it is not feasible to pack everything at once, starting early as soon as you finalize the move, you can approach this activity in step by step manner. You can also prevent feeling overwhelmed by breaking down the packing process into manageable chunks.

Start by tackling just a couple of boxes daily to get a head start and avoid packing-related stress. This strategy lets you pay attention to even the smallest piece in the house, ensuring proper packing and avoiding leaving behind any important stuff. 

When packing, prioritize packing the rooms and belongings you don’t frequently use in your daily routine. For instance, you can begin by packing the kids’ playroom, study, or music room. Gradually, work your way towards more essential areas like your bedroom and kitchen, which should be packed towards the end of the process. 

By packing this way, you not only clear a significant amount of belongings before the final days of moving but also get a sense of accomplishment. Seeing yourself progress in the right direction motivates you to continue with the packing process and maintain your momentum.

Pack for smooth and stress-free unpacking

Packing is only one aspect of the moving process; you must also consider unpacking your belongings. Opening a box to find out it is filled with items that are unrelated to each other can be extremely frustrating. 

So pack your belongings, knowing that you will eventually unpack them too. By adopting an organized and thoughtful approach, you can save time and effort during unpacking. Here are some tips for packing for a smooth unpacking. 

• Categorize and label boxes according to their respective rooms, helping yourself or the moving company place boxes correctly. 
• Use a permanent marker and legible handwriting when labeling boxes so everyone can read the markings from afar.
• Make a separate box for essentials such as toiletries and everyday-use items. It will save you from digging through multiple boxes in the initial hectic period of settling into your new home.

Conclusion

Moving is a mentally and physically hectic process. Still, it can be made smoother by taking care of a few aspects, as mentioned above. Ways like decluttering before packing, planning before packing, and hiring an experienced moving company significantly reduce the burden and stress of relocation.