New Home Checklist: Tips On Moving Into A New House

Moving to a new home is a challenging process that can overwhelm you if you’re unprepared. The average American relocates their home around five times during their lifetime, yet about a quarter are “panic packers” who wait until the last moment to pack their belongings.

This stress causes 59% of people to experience negative emotions like anxiety and dread during their move.

However, this journey doesn’t have to be as nerve-wracking as you think. Making the proper preparations and knowing what to do can help with a smoother relocation by streamlining the process. You can use the following article to guide a seamless transition into your new home!

Hire professional movers

Moving is a physically and mentally draining process. You have too much on your plate, from packing up the entire house to ensuring the safe transport of your belongings. Not only is it exhausting, but also expensive. More worries pile up the farther you move, especially with long-distance moves adding extra complications.

Traveling more than 100 miles with items you’ve gathered throughout your life is not something you can do alone. You’ll have to navigate complicated and time-consuming custom clearance procedures and haul your belongings into a moving truck by yourself. Not to mention driving long distances and allocating fuel expenses. These problems are why 28% of DIY movers regretted not hiring a professional moving company last year, as doing everything alone is too overwhelming.

Though you may consider handling the move independently to save costs, you might spend more or less the same amount anyway with additional mental and physical stress. However, hiring a long distance mover can save you time and energy by providing much-needed support. You can take it easy and focus on the journey while these professionals do the heavy lifting. They can pack your belongings in high-quality material, load everything in the moving truck, and safely transport it to your new destination.

Some companies also offer storage with their moving services, which can help you store items you don’t have space for yet. This option is excellent if you need more time to plan the layout for your new home while keeping your belongings somewhere safe. If you haven’t had time to remove some items, consider hiring companies like Harrington Moving & Storage to move your essential belongings and store whatever you don’t have room for simultaneously.

Declutter

The average American has more stuff than they know what to do with, and 54% of people are overwhelmed by the clutter they own. Imagine painstakingly moving these items across the U.S. only for them to serve no purpose in your new home.

The more items to move, the more effort and money it takes. You’ll need more boxes to pack these things and hire more labor to carry them. These issues are why approximately 1 in 5 movers wish they got rid of more stuff before their move. However, you can overcome this challenge by decluttering. The fewer items you have, the easier it is to move them. Here’s how you can do it:

Start small and clear out the most cluttered spaces, like closets, junk drawers, and garages.
Label donate or sell boxes and keep allocating items as you pack.
Try the 12 12 12 method and organize, sell, and remove 12 items from each room.
Consider removing items of little value that you can replace within 20 minutes and buy within $20 by trying the 20/20 method.
Go room by room and delegate each space to members of your family. For example, you can ask your children to clear their own rooms.

Start decluttering as soon as possible because it is essential to making your move easier. However, it is understandable if you can’t bring yourself to part with some sentimental belongings or need more time to sell other items. In that case, you can consider storing things you don’t want to get rid of in a self-storage unit. These facilities can keep your valuables safe until you decide what to do with them.

Create a budget

Long-distance moves are expensive, costing as low as $950 or as high as $17,000, depending on the miles you travel, amount of workers you hire, and the size of your home. For example, relocating a 5-bedroom home costs around $1,500 to $7,500, requiring around five workers. On the flip side, the average moving price of a small 2-bedroom home is approximately $450 to $2,250 and requires fewer workers.

Regarding the price difference for distance, a 250-mile move for a 5-bedroom home costs approximately $3,500 to $8,100. On the other hand, relocating longer distances, like 2,500+ miles for a house of the same size, costs around $7,800 to $17,000. However, consider getting quotes from various moving companies for the best prices and look for deals or discounts.

These significant price differences make it essential to consider each factor before creating a budget to ensure you can accurately estimate relocation costs. To draw up a budget, list the charges for each moving category, like moving or packing fees, and add all the costs together. However, remember to add 5% or more to the subtotal for emergencies. Once you have a budget, you must stick to it and avoid making unnecessary purchases that may strain your finances.

Do a walkthrough

A walkthrough is one of the most important steps before moving. It helps you determine the space of each room and enables you to create a floor plan to fit your belongings properly. Seeing your new home as a blank canvas makes it easier for you to visualize where everything will go and helps unload packages efficiently. For example, walking through your new home and deciding where each family member’s room will be can help you unload their boxes straight to their rooms. Keep a measuring tape with you to assess where large furniture items can fit and save you from the hassle of dragging each object across the floor to find the perfect spot.

However, visiting your new home in person can be difficult if you’re moving far away from your current home. Instead, you can ask for a detailed floor plan and measurements to help evaluate furniture arrangements. You can also consider doing a virtual tour and asking your real estate agent to send pictures or videos.

Conclusion

Rather than viewing moving as a formidable challenge, try to have a positive outlook and enjoy the process. Consider it a fresh start, and cherish your time in your old house by creating as many memories as possible. Don’t let the stress of moving keep you from focusing on the journey and dampen your experience. Instead, follow this article’s checklist to ensure you’re well-prepared.