No matter if you are moving to the next town or across the country, moving can be stressful.  The key to any successful move is good planning and organization.  A lot of work must be put in a long time before moving day. If you’ve recently purchased a home in the Seaside Park real estate market, these tips can help make your move smooth.

Movers

If you will be needing the assistance of professional movers, there are many pitfalls to avoid.  First, you want to contact and research multiple movers.  The key to this is you need to start this process well before your moving day. Many people don’t consider the fact that there are popular times of the year to move.  If you happen to be moving during these peak times, you need to be aware that good movers will book up fast.  Especially in the Ortley Beach real estate market.  The last thing you want to do is leave all your possessions in the hands of a mover simply because they were the only ones available.  Read reviews, check the Better Business Bureau for their rating, and check that their licenses and insurance are accurate and up-to-date.

Accidents can happen in any situation and moving is sure not immune to this. Breakages can occur, vehicles get in accidents, things happen.  Ensuring your mover is insured covers you financially in order to avoid any further stress should something happen.  Also check with your homeowner’s insurance to see what they cover as far as moving accidents and damages.

Don’t leave everything to the movers.  If you have valuables or things that hold a lot of sentimental value to you, keep those items with you.  If the loss or breakage of something is going to cause you mental strife, don’t leave that in someone else’s hands.  If it matters to you, keep it with you.

Lastly, make sure you talk about and get an estimate in writing.  There are two types of estimates; binding and nonbinding. A binding estimate is basically a contract and should give you your exact total aside from any additions added afterwards.  A nonbinding estimate will give you a pretty good idea of what your move will cost you, but may not be an exact number.  Your final bill may be a bit more so make sure you are aware of which type of estimate you have.

Packing

I don’t know anyone that enjoys packing.  It’s pretty widely agreed upon that it is awful.  However, you can take advantage of the situation.  Don’t make the mistake of packing everything you own without going through it first.  Almost everyone has that box in the garage that just keeps moving from house to house, but never gets unpacked.  It’s filled with junk that you haven’t needed in years.  Now is the time to thin out your belongings. Throw out what is unusable, donate what you no longer need, and keep only things that are relevant to your life now. Don’t waste time and money moving things you no longer want or need.

Secondly, don’t waste your money on packing materials.  If you ask around, you should be able to relatively easily find everything you need from boxes to additional materials. Moving costs a lot of money, so make sure you’re not wasting it on things you don’t need to.

Pack smart.  Go room by room and make sure everything is labeled.  It is so much easier to unpack when you pack with a purpose.  It may take a little longer while packing, but it will save you a ton of time and stress when unpacking. Being organized while packing makes it much smoother when you get to where you are going.  Label all boxes clearly and descriptively.  This way, as boxes are coming off the truck, they can be exactly where they need to go.  Without this key step, you’ll end up moving boxes around again and again as you unpack. Too many people wait until the last minute to pack, end up throwing everything into boxes, and then have to deal with it after they move. Save yourself the stress and put the work in on the packing end.  It’ll make your move much more enjoyable.

Pack yourself an emergency bag.  Just like when you go on a flight and save a few key items in a separate bag in case your luggage gets lost.  Accidents and delays can happen during a move too.  Having a bag for each family member that holds the essentials plus a few days’ worth of outfits reduces the stress of having to empty boxes the minute you walk in the door of your new home.  Plus, in the extreme case that there is a major accident or delay, you will still have items needed to get you through the day.

Planning is Key

The more effort you put in to planning, the less stress you’ll have later on.  Make yourself a checklist of things to be done so you don’t forget anything.  Contact all of your accounts for utilities at your existing home and at your new place for activation and cancellation.  No one wants to move into a new home that doesn’t have electricity because you forgot to call to have the account activated.  Be sure to update your credit cards and other bills to update your mailing address so nothing gets delayed.  You don’t want to have to worry about spending money on late fees after you move.  If you have pets, make sure you have their health and vaccination history with you and update their tags if they contain your address.

We hope this helps you plan and attack your next move with confidence.  There is so much involved with moving and it can be stressful to even the calmest, most level-headed person.  The overwhelming number of things that need to be taken care of makes it easy to skip or forget a step.  Checklists are great for that. Good planning, a reasonable timeline, and organization can help reduce the stress associated with moving.

If you ever have any questions related to moving into the Lavallette real estate market, need a Seaside Park realtor, or are looking for an Ortley Beach rental, get in contact with one of our experienced realtors here at Birchler Realtors!