Moving hundreds or even thousands of miles away to a new apartment is stressful with the many logistics to consider not to mention all the changes from your job to your friends and neighbors.
While the majority of moves are local, according to Current Population Survey (CPS) data revealed by Harvard University, 14 percent of moves involve cross state lines.
If you’re moving from the west coast into one of the apartments for rent in Richmond, VA you’ve got a long journey ahead of you. But even if you’re just moving to a neighboring state, you’ll want to consider these things for the smoothest journey possible.
How Much Should You Bring?
You don’t want to move things you rarely or never use, so it’s important to take inventory of all that you have, in your garage and storage areas, closets and cabinets. Go through it all so you know what you have and then determine which you really need as well as what can be tossed, donated, or sold. Take advice from Marie Kondo, the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, thinking about which belongings are necessary and which truly “spark joy.”
Where Will It Fit In Your New Place?
If you’re making a move to an apartment from a house, you may need to do some serious downsizing. Even if you aren’t, once you have an idea as to what you want to keep, take time to figure out where your items will fit in that new place. It’s going to be incredibly frustrating to move a king-size bed or massive armoire only to find out you can’t squeeze it in. Plus, this step can help you downsize your items even more. Purging as many of your belongings as possible is likely to lower the cost of your move while also making packing and unpacking easier.
How Will You Move?
If you’re taking very little with you, you might be able to get away with just packing up your own vehicle and driving yourself. Or you could rent a U-Haul truck if you’ve got lots of friends and family members willing to help, although you’ll need assistance when you get there too. Otherwise, calling in a professional moving company may be your best bet. Start your research as soon as possible to be sure to find the right one, checking reviews and getting estimates from at least three different companies.
Keep Immediate-Need Items in An Easy to Get To Place
You’ll want to pack a bag with items you’ll need along the way and use on a day-to-day basis, like your toiletries, some clothing, and other personal items. But you should also pack an open-first box with things you’ll need right away when you get to your Apartments for rent in Oxnard, like bedding and towels.
Pack While Keeping Distance in Mind
The farther you go, the more you’ll need to protect those items as the longer you’re out on the road, the greater the chance of something breaking. Take extra care with things that are fragile, wrapping them in blankets, old t-shirts, and/or bubble wrap. Be sure that those items are kept together so that movers know to take extra care with them if you aren’t moving yourself.
