I know all too well the stress caused by moving. I have done it several times, including a time when I was 9 months pregnant with a 1-year-old at home! As a Toronto real estate agent, I do my best to educate my clients not only on the market but give them tips and tricks along the way to make the entire buying and selling process easier. While moving is an incredibly exciting time, without the proper plan in place, it can quickly turn into unwanted stress and anxiety. Take these tips when preparing for your move to help ease the process:
1. Create a Plan
I know this may seem like the most obvious piece of advice, but putting together a plan prior to moving will help you avoid those chaotic days leading up to moving day. Give yourself a month or so to pack and get that plan prepped prior to that. Take the time to list out all of the rooms in your house, which ones have closets, the garage, the backyard, etc. Once you have listed out all of the rooms and areas in your home that you will need to clear out, take the opportunity to decide which items you will pack, recycle, donate or dispose of. Next, assign a timeline to each room/area of the house. Keep yourself on schedule!
2. Packing Supplies
Ensure you are using durable boxes, sealable bags and bubble wrap to wrap up fragile items. Again, this may seem obvious, but without the proper moving materials, your belongings may end up damaged in the move. To avoid this, there are tons of companies that rent out moving supplies and will help guide you on the proper supplies when packing up.
3. Label Everything!
To streamline the moving process, it is recommended to label each box with the corresponding room it belongs to. Taking it a step further, consider numbering each box and creating a tracking document that indicates which boxes should go in each room. This approach not only assists your movers in determining where to place your belongings but also enables you to keep track of all your boxes efficiently. Believe me, when you are in the middle of moving, you think you are going to remember what you put in what box…but you won’t! Make it easier on yourself in the long run by taking the extra time to label and track each box.
4. Update Your Mailing Address, Services and Accounts
It’s important that you take care of this step prior to moving. Ensure you forward your mailing address, this can be done online by clicking here. You should also ensure you contact your bank to update your address, update your driver’s license, cell phone company, CRA account, your employer, subscription services (Amazon, Skip, Uber) etc. Take a look at the mail you receive to help guide you as to where you need to update your address. Once you have taken care of your mailing address, be sure to set up your utilities, cable and internet and cancel any accounts to your current address that need cancelling.
5. Cleaning and Minor Repairs
Though the timing doesn’t always work in your favour, it is incredibly helpful to have your new home cleaned top to bottom before you start moving in your belongings. Often walls and floors are left scratched up and scuffed. If you can take the time to complete minor repairs, painting, and cleaning before you start unpacking, it will save you trouble in the long run!
6. Plan Your First Sleep
You will likely be exhausted after a day of moving. The last thing you want to do is realize you can’t find the bedding or your mattresses haven’t made it. To keep everyone happy and ready for the unpacking process, book a hotel room close by to ensure you and your family get a good night’s sleep and are ready to roar in the morning.
There you have it. Though these steps may seem incredibly straightforward, many put things off until the last minute and end up in a world of panic come moving day. Take the time to get yourself organized early in the process, you won’t regret it! If you have any questions about moving, call Danielle Demerino, Toronto real estate agent expert!
