It’s often hard to plan for the curveball’s that life is going to throw at you. But if you find yourself having to move homes, doing so on a moment’s notice can be a daunting task. (Especially if you are moving during the holiday season check out our latest blog on holiday moving tips here)
Generally, these rapid moves take two forms. First, some unforeseen situation has arisen like a family or work emergency that requires you to move rapidly. The other, however, comes from just putting everything off until the last minute. This type of procrastination can only add to your moving headaches.
Regardless of which type, here’s how to do a quick move into a new home:
- Book your movers/moving van — The first thing you need to do is get a booking for your movers and van. If you’re moving on a moment’s notice, you may be in for some bad news. Many moving companies fill up weeks in advance.
If you can get one, you may end up paying an extra fee for the last-minute notice. If you can’t hire movers, then you’ll need to get your own van to handle the move yourself. Don’t worry about pricing and finding the best deal. At this point, you’ll be lucky if you can get a van booking.
- Separate the essentials — Decide which items in your home are must haves that you will have to take with you separately. This will include medicines, toiletries, a change of clothes, and other essentials. Put these into a duffel bag or suitcase and keep them separate from the rest of your packed belongings.
- Go room-by-room — The next thing is to be as methodical as you possibly can. Go room-by-room and pack as you go. Here’s the important thing though: Don’t pack everything! Instead, clean out things as you go. Pack only what you need and put everything else into separate donate and trash piles. The less you actually have to pack up, the better.
- Don’t overthink the move — Now is not the best time to strategize. That opportunity has passed. Instead, simply pack things as you go. Make the quick judgement call to keep or donate something and, if you are keeping it, throw it into a box. If you have clothes mixed in with kitchen supplies, it will all sort out when you get to your new home. And don’t try to be neat about it. Throw clothes into boxes on the hangers or straight out of the drawers. If possible, throw some packing wrap around the drawers and take them whole with the clothes still inside. Just get the stuff packed as fast as possible.
- Get help — When your friend calls and asks to help with a move, you usually cringe at the idea. Now, it’s your turn to be that friend. Explain your situation and how you are in dire need of help. Bribe them any way that you can—free pizza or Chinese takeout is always a good bribe. But regardless of how you do it, get all hands-on deck to help pack boxes as well as load and unload the van.
If you are stuck moving at the drop of a hat, then the best advice we can give is not to panic. Doing that just leads to frustration and then you really won’t be able to work well. Take a deep breath, follow these steps, and get your belongings ready as quickly as possible for your move.