Job Relocation? 5 Tips to Make Moving Easier

So you finally got that first great job or promotion.  Congratulations!  After months (or maybe years!) of diligent efforts, there’s nothing quite like the offer letter with your name on it.   But it means a job relocation move, which can sometimes be as stressful as the job search.  Here are five tips to help make your relocation go smoothly.

To Do Lists

I’m a big fan of to-do lists in general, but for moving they’re essential.   Use a yellow pad, because you’ll be adding to it as the days go by and that way it’s easier for everyone to be on the same page.   I’ve found two separate lists works best, one for where you coming from and one for the new place.

Moving is hectic, and it’s easy to forget things.  So write down even the things you’d normally do without thinking.  If it involves a call or email, include the name and number or email of the person so it’s handy when you need it.  Finally, when you complete the item, don’t cross it off with a huge black marker – – you may need that information again!

Lighten the Load

Moving is a great time to go through and get rid of stuff you don’t need or use.  Keep in mind that it cost about a dollar per pound to move household goods (about  £ .64 per kg) if you have professional movers.  So are those metal milk crates you thought you’d use someday worth transporting?  And what about all those clothes you never wear?

Another place that’s often overlooked is the kitchen.  Duplicate pots and pans and canned goods are heavy and might be better donated to a local charity.  That becomes a win for you with a lighter move and a win for people who are in need.

Get Help When Needed

Even in the best case, moving is a lot of work.  While you probably already know you can’t do it all yourself, it’s easy to not know when it’s best to get help. Two areas that you’ll thank yourself for getting help with are cleaning and handling heavy items.

It wouldn’t be much fun arriving at your new home or new job in a back brace or with a pulled muscle.  Not to mention the risk of damage to the items.  So delegate the big items to professionals who have the knowledge and experience to do it right.  And a professional is not someone who’s working out of their garage with an ad on Craigslist, it’s someone like Shiply  or return loads,  who can  match people needing to move goods with transport companies going where you are.

For both ends of the move, seriously consider hiring a house cleaner rather than do it yourself.  With all the demands on your time of the actual move, it’s well worth the small cost of having professionals come in an do the cleaning so you don’t have to.

Organize Before You Go

You already know what your new place looks like.  Go through your present home and decide generally where you want things to go.  Group items that will be in the same room in your new place.   That way, when you arrive and unpack you’ll be pre-organized and there will be less of the “where did I put that” anxiety.

The Basics of Packing

If you look around the internet, you’ll find lists of ten or thirty or fifty packing tips.  I’ve moved enough times to cut through all the fluff for you and summarize it into four tidy bundles, just the right size for packing and moving.

• FIRST NIGHT.  Pack a first night box, and even if it’s only a couple hundred mile move, pack your luggage as you would for a trip.  Not only do you know what to keep out, but the first night is much less stressful.
• PADDING.  Don’t skimp on padding.  It’s not fun unpacking broken things, especially if they have sentimental or keepsake value.  Bubble wrap and styrofoam sheets work best, but you can also use kitchen and bath towels on clean items like dishes.
• LABELING:  Make sure every box is labeled with the room it is going into (not where it came from) and include at least a basic list of contents.  Again, it will help avoid wondering where you put things when you’re at the other end and get fixated on finding that one thing you just gotta have.
• BAGGIES:  Zip lock baggies are little plastic miracles.  Especially at moving time.  Use them for make up, toiletries, spices, and anything else that can spill.  They’re also great to transport jewelry:  place a washcloth on the counter flat, lay out your jewelry on half of it and then fold and put into the baggie.  No more tangles!  Finally,  use labeled baggies for all the little nuts, bolts, and parts that came off things in the disassembly process.

Job Relocation Made Easy

While living in a new place with an exciting new job is always fun, I don’t think moving will ever be.  But with a little planning and preparation, it will go a lot more smoothly and make those first couple days in your new home a lot more enjoyable.

Images:

List Beth Mover Lew (tomswift) Holzman Moving David Bailey