HOW TO SURVIVE A LAST MINUTE MOVE
Moving is always a stressful journey, even when you have several months to plan your move. However, we don’t always have the luxury of planning a move in advance. Sometimes life can throw us into unexpected situations, leaving us scrambling and forced to organize a move in just a few weeks. Despite how overwhelming it may seem, moving with 1-2 weeks notice is in fact possible. It may not be fun, but at least you can get it over with quickly. If you are in a moving pickle, be sure to read through our guide to make sure that you can have a stress free move, even on short notice!
HOW TO SURVIVE A LAST MINUTE MOVE
HOW TO MOVE ON SHORT NOTICE: MAKE A LAST MINUTE MOVE MANAGEABLE
Moving on short notice may not be the most organized and efficient process, however, there are ways to make the process feel more manageable. Moving is possible, even if you don’t have much time to plan.
- START DECLUTTERING NOW
If you are moving in a time crunch, you are going to need to downsize your belongings ASAP. Unfortunately, you may not have time to sell everything, but you can donate your belongings or notify your neighbors so that they can take your old books, appliances, clothing, furniture and so forth. If you have the time, you can always hold a yard sale. When moving in a time crunch, it is important to only move the belongings you absolutely cannot go without. Packing and organizing a house takes a lot of time, so the less stuff you have, the better.
- MAKE A TO DO LIST
Tackling a move in just a few weeks is a heavy task, which is why it is crucial to be organized throughout the process. Make a moving checklist and try to organize all the items in your house according to which category they belong to. Though you may not have time to be super thorough, sorting through your belongings can help make sure that unpacking at your new house is not a total disaster.
- BUT, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE OVERLY METICULOUS
Obviously, when you have limited time you can forgo being super meticulous with your packing. You don’t need to label individual items and sort absolutely everything. However, we still recommend labeling all your boxes, you can just be a bit more generous with your categorization than usual to save time. For example, keep bathroom items together and kitchen items together.
- LEAVE THINGS IN THE DRESSER / DESK
You don’t have to unpack all of your furniture items. You can simply tape them shut and use heavy duty packing supplies to make sure that everything is safely packed away. Use moving blankets to wrap your furniture items and heavy duty duct tape to make sure that nothing falls out during the move.
- CALL MOVERS
If you are in a time crunch, it is best to call the moving professionals. Depending on the time of year, it’s possible that many local movers may be booked. However, call several local movers and see what they can offer you. Many moving companies specialize in last minute moves and are equipped to work under pressure! If you can’t find a moving company with availability, see if you can hire 2-3 movers by the hour.
- ASK FRIENDS
If movers are unavailable, asking friends, family and neighbors is your next best bet. First of all, asking friends can be a lot cheaper and it can also be a fun excuse to hang out before you move!
- ORDER MOVING SUPPLIES NOW
If you had many months to plan, you could have acquired moving supplies slowly and cheaply. However, with just a few weeks to move you are going to need to get packing supplies as soon as possible. Order boxes online through Amazon or contact local movers to see if they can deliver boxes ASAP.
- PAY FOR ADDED MOVING SERVICES
Moving companies offer services like packing, unpacking, furniture assembly and disassembly. These services can be crucial when moving in a hurry. Movers can come to your house and do absolutely everything without you lifting a finger. Movers can also do an entire move without you physically present. If you have already moved to your new home, and left stuff behind, have no fear. You can wait patiently at your new home while the movers do all the work for you.
- UNSUBSCRIBE!!
Don’t forget to unsubscribe from your subscription services and enable mail forwarding. Be sure to change your Amazon address and other delivery subscriptions.
- STORAGE?
If you can’t possibly move everything in such a hurry, see if there are short term storage options available near you. Movers can come pick up your belongings and take them to a storage unit so that you don’t have to move everything right now. Once you have settled into your new home comfortably, you can deal with the storage or pay to have your belongings shipped or transported at a later date.
- RELAX & DON’T FORGET TO EAT
Don’t panic! If you are in a time crunch during a move, the worst thing you can do is overstress and forgo sleep/food. Even though you may feel like you have no time to eat/sleep, you do not want to overburden yourself. You need all of your energy and you need to be in the best physical/mental shape. You will be able to manage the move successfully, just be sure to relax!
12. BE PREPARED TO PAY EXTRA
Last minute moves may end up being a bit more expensive due to the cost of not having time to plan and make better financial choices. You may end up having to pay more for movers, or moving services or packing supplies due to the rush. You may also end up having to throw away certain belongings that you should have kept. However, everything will end up being worth it once you have arrived at your new home and settled in.
READY TO MOVE?
USA Preferred Movers is a professional moving company that operates all throughout the United States. We specialize in long distance moving, storage, local moves and more! We also do last minute moving and can help you if you are in a time crunch. Contact us today and request a free quote.