What are your options if you need to move fast…like in a week or sooner? Most reputable moving companies require people to book their moves weeks or months in advance. It’ll be a tall task to get many of the larger service providers to be able to fit you into their busy schedules.
So, what are your options if you need to make a short notice move and don’t have the luxury of booking well in advance? Are you in big trouble? Will you be stuck with no way to relocate?
While you could potentially rent a U-Haul, recruit family and friends to help you, and make your move a DIY affair, that’ll make moving day more stressful than it’s worth. That’ll be all the more that case if people call you the day before or the day of to say they can’t make it.
The good news is that some movers can accommodate short notice moves. It’ll cost you more, but the option is available. Whether you need to move because of a job, a family matter, or something else, keep reading for seven things to do if a short notice move is on the horizon.
1. Find Mover That Offers Short Notice Moves
The first thing to do is find a moving company serving your area that offers short-notice or emergency moves. While not all of them do, some will accommodate you. Conduct an online search to check out moving company websites. You can usually see the services offered.
Another option is to cold-call reputable movers in your region to see if you can get them to squeeze you in. You might have some luck this way, especially if you’re flexible on the day of the week. Some moving companies are booked weeks in advance and won’t do short-notice moves. Your goal is to find one that does. Of course, you’ll pay a premium for a quick move, but at least you’ll get the needed help. And this will take a load off your mind.
2. Create a To-Do List
Have you ever heard the saying that those who fail to plan, plan to fail? You’ll want to plan immediately when you need to move within a short time frame. That means creating a to-do list. It’s essential to write down everything you need to do and how long you have to do these things. That’s the only way to get everything done without losing your cool.
Refer to the to-do list often to stay on the right track. When you complete a task, you can cross it out. Whether you create a to-do list on paper or use an app doesn’t matter. Just make sure you have one. Otherwise, the chances are good that you’ll get overwhelmed.
3. Get the Materials You Need
Getting all the materials you’ll need for your move is also essential. Get a lot of moving boxes. You’ll probably need more than you think. Ensure you get various sizes to accommodate all the stuff you’ll be packing. You’ll also need plenty of tape and paper to wrap your cups and plates. The packing process will flow more smoothly if you have everything you need from the start.
4. Get Rid of Excess Stuff
One source says that by the time people turn 18 years old, they can expect to move 9.1 times over the remainder of their lifetimes. The fact is that most people will move a whole bunch of times in the years ahead.
If you need to move on short notice, one of the best things you can do is get rid of excess stuff. You don’t want to spend time packing things you don’t need. That’ll take a lot of time and will cost you since you might need a larger moving truck than if you had gotten rid of your excess things beforehand.
Get started right away. There are three different things you should do before you start packing.
- Identify things you don’t need. Packing up and moving with stuff you don’t need or want doesn’t make sense. It’ll lead to clutter and chaos. You can give things away or sell things.
- Identify things that should be thrown out. Most people have things that should be tossed out. When you comb over your stuff, quickly figure out what you want to get rid of and dispose of them properly. If these things are in good shape, you can find another home for them. But if they’ve outlived their usefulness, don’t hold onto them. Throw them out.
- Identify things you want to take with you. After you find stuff, you don’t need and things that should be tossed, you can focus on packing up possessions you want to move with. Failing to adhere to steps I and II will leave you with more work than necessary.
5. Get Some Help
Even after hiring a professional mover, you should ask people you know for help. Packing will go a lot smoother and take a lot less time if you have some helping hands by your side. Whether family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers, you should get help from people you know. If you want to attract more helpers, select a day to get things done and order pizza afterward.
6. Make Important Calls
Before you move, you’ll want to make some important calls. You need to ensure you contact utility companies and service providers, for instance, to notify them of your address change. It might be best to do all of this in one or two days, so the process doesn’t linger. While you’re at it, head to the post office to ensure that any mail sent to you is re-directed to your new home address. You can avoid a lot of frustration by getting this done before relocating.
7. Leave Clothes on Hangers
One way you can save time is by leaving your clothes on hangers. It’ll take a lot of time to pack your clothes in boxes–and you won’t have much time for this if you’re moving on short notice. So, leave your clothes on hangers. You can cover them with garbage bags to protect them from getting dirty. It’ll also be easier to put them in the closets of your new home.
Are You Interested in Selling Your Home?
Are you interested in learning how much your home is worth? Get in touch. We’ll make a cash offer in short order — with no contingencies. And the good news is that you’ll have enough leverage to avoid having to make a stressful short-notice move. You have nothing to lose by determining how much you can make for your home. So, contact us to find out more.