Moving is a responsible and time-consuming activity that takes a lot of time and effort. We tried to collect all the practical information, give applied advice and even write a little instruction that can help those who are going to live in another city or country. And the three stories of our characters, who have moved dozens of times, illustrate that with proper planning, there is nothing terrible about moving.

By the way, if you’re planning a move soon, we recommend a professional team of Spokane movers.

Take an inventory

Set aside a day or at least an evening to calmly assess how many things you have and which ones you should take with you first. Making a list in a notebook can help.

Decide for yourself which of the things are the most important, you always use them and can’t imagine your life without them. Typically, these are: seasonal clothing, hygiene products, electronics and household appliances.

Large items (e.g. furniture), textiles (bedspreads, bed linen sets), out-of-season clothing – all of these, if possible, purchase on the spot or leave to friends and relatives to pick up later. Another option is to send bulky and large things by a shipping company to your destination.

Tip. Very often we can’t take everything with us, but we can’t leave it to someone else either. In these cases, you can use the services of a storage service. For a fee, employees will pick up everything you need, deliver it to their warehouse, and then return it at the first request.

Make a plan of your future space

Draw a plan of the room you are moving into on paper, so you can quickly orient yourself on the spot and organize the things you bring into the right rooms. This will save you from having to spend time sorting things and searching for them later.

Consider different moving options.

Initially, think about who will help you move things, can you handle yourself, will you need the help of movers? These nuances will not only help you easily organize your move, but also indicate the financial costs.

Calculate the approximate budget

Calculate the amount you will spend on moving, including the cost of movers’ services (transportation, lifting, movers’ work). If you are going to drive your own car or involve friends, then consider the cost of fuel, possible breaks and stops along the way for an overnight stay or a snack. Also, be sure to have money for a few days after you move – for food and necessities you couldn’t take with you or that are easier to buy locally. You should also have a small financial “cushion” in case of unforeseen circumstances, such as if any equipment breaks down or furniture falls into disrepair.

Look for ways to save money

You don’t have to spend money on packaging if you can get it for free. For example, you can buy kraft paper and rope at IKEA or ask for empty cardboard boxes at your local supermarket. Such trickery will help reduce the cost of moving, and the proceeds will come in handy later – in your new place of residence.

Allocate time for cleaning the apartment.

This rule applies to both the old and new apartment you just moved into. Agree that it is more pleasant to spend the first day in a cleaned (at least minimally) than in a dusty and dirty room.

Take care of your pets and children

If moving is a logical extension of your life and a planned event for you, it’s stressful for pets and small children. Think ahead about where you will leave the little ones: perhaps with grandparents or a hired babysitter. And for pets, it’s best to find a temporary hotel with food and care where you can house your four-legged pets for a few days.