You might be a frequent mover because of your career, family, or your instinctive need to experience various neighborhoods and cities before you finally choose to settle down. Whatever the cause, you may have reached a stage where you consider moving your archnemesis.
Or perhaps you have become a proficient mover who is called in by friends and family to help them pack up their own belongings?
Whichever type of frequent mover you are, the tips in this post will help you turn your next move into a smooth affair as opposed to a week from hell.
Let’s dive right in!
Never Throw Away the Boxes
Instead of having to invest in a new set of boxes or having to source some from friends or the movers, have your own box stash ready to go.
Flatpack boxes are your best friend on moving day. Once you’ve unpacked, store them under the bed or at the back of a cupboard, ready for the next move.
Labeling boxes during the move is a tip we’ve all heard already. When reusing the same boxes, try to pack the same stuff into the same boxes. This will also help you save some time in re-labeling.
Unpack Only What You Need
We all own things we only use seasonally like holiday decorations, skiing gear, winter coats, etc. Instead of unpacking all of your seasonal items every time, keep what you won’t be using any time soon in the boxes.
If your moves are centered around the same general area, you can also rent a storage space for the purpose. If not, you can ask a friend who has a garage (or simply more storage space) to hold on to some of your seasonal boxes for you, so you don’t have to carry them with you every time you rent a new space.
Consider Your Furniture
The furniture in rental apartments is often not quite of the best quality. You’ll most often find yourself suffering from back and neck pain from a shoddy mattress, for example.
On the other hand, you can’t exactly lug a bed, a dining table and chairs, and a sofa with you every time you move, can you?
If you do want to invest in some of your own furniture, consider your choices carefully. You want something that will fit into most spaces you’re likely to live in in the future, and you want it to be easy to move.
Consider a bed frame size that won’t be too cumbersome to take apart and fit into a moving van and that won’t subsequently take up the entire floor space of a smaller bedroom. Your favorite comfortable armchair shouldn’t weigh a ton either.
You can store some of these furniture pieces, too. However, that will add to the complexity of the move, so it might be easier to settle for easy-to-move pieces for the time being.
Invest in Your Personal Essentials
Items such as shower rods and shower curtains, curtain rods and curtains, bathroom mats, microwaves, and toasters are not too expensive, but finding the right ones can be a bit of a drag. Instead of relying on what the rental space will be able to offer, invest in your own essential items.
A good yet inexpensive microwave is one of those versatile items that can make life much easier, especially if you don’t have an oven in the new space. Curtains you actually like will make a space feel more like home, and shower curtains are just downright useful.
Having a set of items essential for your own lifestyle ready to hop from space to space can instantly make you feel cozier in your new home, and they can also alleviate any initial discomfort.
Don’t Take the Clutter with You
We all tend to accumulate some degree of clutter. Whether it’s batteries we can’t remember to recycle, cutlery we never actually use, old, mismatched socks, or the sentimental memorabilia we like to look back on to remind us of happy times – there is likely a drawer or cupboard in every home that serves as the junk drawer.
Instead of taking all of these items with you every time you move, leave them behind. No, don’t leave them in your former apartment. Dispose of them in a proper manner: recycle, donate, or throw away things you don’t need and don’t use.
One of the positive aspects of moving frequently is that you often don’t have the time to accumulate all kinds of knick-knacks that don’t actually serve any real purpose. As long as you are semi-brutal with yourself and focus on decluttering with every move, you’ll soon assemble a minimalistic set of items you actually use, love, and enjoy owning.
Pack a Meal and a Next-Day Kit
We all know how hectic moving can be, no matter how many times we’ve done it before. In order to save yourself a bit of stress, pack two bags that can make the process more enjoyable.
One should contain your meals. Pack something that won’t spoil if left unrefrigerated, or if you know a fridge is already waiting for you, something you . This will save you the effort of rustling up a meal mid-move.
The other bag should house your next-day kit: a fresh set of clothes, toiletries, your chargers, and anything else that you require in the morning and evening to get (un)ready. That way, you won’t have to rummage around your boxes to find a clean pair of underwear.
Wrap Up
The life of a frequent mover need only be as stressful as you make it. With a little bit of forethought and careful organization, you can make even the most spur-of-the-moment of moves a smooth process.
The more often you move, the better you get at it. So just keep your cool, pack smartly and efficiently, and don’t expect the day(s) to go down without a hitch. And you’ll be snug in your new space in no time.
