Getting Prepared to Move for the 1st Time

Moving out alone is something most adults will have to go through throughout their lifetime. Asking your parents for advice is a good place to start, as well as any family members or friends who have gone through the process.

It’s good to have a plan ready to go. Once you’ve thought about what date you’re moving you can go ahead and secure moving services. It’s good to do your research on different moving companies and compare pricing as well. Don’t be scared to ask for a discount or to match any other prices.

You should start with having a budget. If you’re staying in town, you probably already have a job and just need to research apartment, moving services, and odds + ends pricing. I would say the average budget for just the moving service, in town, is $800.00. It depends on how much or little stuff you have, and any other details the company needs from you.

The case is different with moving a couple hours away or even across the country. Your budget will have to be bigger. Moving out of town is more expensive. Not only will you need to figure out apartments, odds + ends pricing, but also where you’re working. Sometimes people move because of a job offer, but that’s not always the case. The average budget for an out-of-town move would be $1,000+. Again, this would vary based on the items you have, and how far you are moving.

Moving can be stressful at first but you just have to keep your eye on the prize. Once the hard part is done and over with you will feel super good to be living on your own, and on your journey to the rest of your life.

Planning Your Move

There are a lot of different reasons to move. You want something different, you got a new job, moving for school, you met someone new, etc. Whatever the case is, it’s important to plan out all aspects of the moving process. If you’re going to hire a moving company, it’s important to call 4-6 weeks in advance. You may be free, but their calendars are pretty full.

One of the first things you can do is gather up a list of the furniture you want to move. Once you’ve put together a list you can start separating the items you don’t want / need anymore. With those items you can sell them or give them away. There are many places to take unwanted items – thrift stores, charity, you can even do a consignment for those who don’t have a lot of time to sell the items on their own.

How much time in advance should you start packing? I suggest starting packing about around 2 months before your move date. It’s easiest to start with small things, and non-essentials. If you have a lot of silverware, plates, cups, you should pack all except for the ones you will be using, and/or your family members. As for mirrors, or glass items, you should tape a huge ‘X’ across the entire front, then start wrapping bubble wrap, and green tape. This will ensure that the mirror/glass will not break incase anything goes wrong.

Don’t wait until the last minute to start working on things. If you plan accordingly, then everything should be ready to go on the date of your move.

Moving Large Appliances

The first thing you need to do for preparation to move any large appliance is to clean. Appliances always get dusty and dirty inside, under and behind, maybe even the sides. Clean the appliance, the floor, and clear the pathway you’re going to take. We don’t need anyone tripping over random items. Taping off any doors that open by themselves will be helpful for you and will avoid it from opening and hitting any walls/doors. The next thing to check, if there is more than one entrance, is to measure and decide which doorway is best for you to take the appliance through.

The most important to remember is the equipment and safety measures you need to follow. You can end up with an injury if you don’t follow the necessary steps to move large appliances.

Here are items you will need to move the appliance:

  • dollies / handcarts
  • tape / wrap
  • straps
  • a partner or two (NEVER MOVE LARGE APPLIANCES ALONE)