7 Things to Get Before you Move

Moving to a new home is a big process. You may need to find someone to buy your current place, find a new home, legally change your address, find new schools for your kids, and so much more. During this time, there are some supplies and other things you can get that will make the process a little less stressful. Below, we’ll highlight seven things you should consider getting before you move, as they will help make the transition easier.

7 Things to Get Before You Move
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1. Plenty of Boxes

Let’s start with one of the most basic items you’ll need: boxes. When moving from one place to another, you have to store practically everything you own and store it in a box. Take a few moments to look around your home and try to imagine how many boxes this will take. Then remember that you can’t make the boxes too heavy and you’ll realize that you need a lot of boxes before you can move.

There are a few ways you can go about getting boxes before your move. A simple option is to head to your local home improvement store and buy some boxes from them. You can also order moving supplies online, including boxes. If you’re looking to save some money, there are some methods you can use to get free or low-cost boxes for your move. Finally, ask your friends and family if they have any spare boxes lying around. Try to get more boxes than you think you’ll need, as it’s often better to have too many boxes than not enough.

2. Other Packing Supplies

Besides boxes, there are a few other packing supplies that you’ll likely need. To start, you’ll need some strong packaging tape, which you can use to secure the boxes closed, among other uses. Grab a few rolls of this, as again, you’ll use more than you think. After that, grab some materials to protect your more valuable items. Bubble wrap is a popular choice, but there are others out there as well. You’ll use bubble wrap for things like your kitchen glasses, picture frames, and televisions, so be sure to grab plenty of it.

Some other supplies that can be good to have before you move are markers, labels, and cleaning rags. You can use markers and labels for your boxes, making it easier to figure out where they go in your new home. The cleaning rags you can use to remove dust from items before bringing them to your new home.

3. Home Warranty

A home warranty is like an insurance plan that you can use to protect things within your home, like major appliances. As you’re about to move, you may wonder why you should take out a home warranty on the things you’re leaving behind. There are a few reasons why a seller home warranty may make sense for you.

First, you don’t want anything to break down between now and when you start showing your home. You want to make a good impression on potential buyers and a broken furnace won’t help you do that. A home warranty can also help you avoid any potential repair costs that arise in the near future or keep you from making any repairs that would cause the sale to fall through. Finally, if your home is covered by a warranty, this is appealing to potential buyers. They may feel more comfortable buying your home knowing a warranty is included with the purchase price.

4. Measurements of Your New Place

Once you know where you’re moving to, one of the first things you’ll want to do is get measurements of your new place. Bring a tape measurer and a piece of paper to the new location, then measure everything you can. Find out the length and height of each wall, the size of the windows, the size of the patio, etc.

By getting all these measurements now, you can begin to plan out what your home will look like when you’re all settled in. You can also make purchasing decisions regarding furniture ahead of time, allowing you to settle in faster. For example, you may learn that your new backyard is big enough to fit the ultimate fire pit. You can then start researching options online or deciding which model to buy so that it’s ready shortly after you move in. Create a simple floorplan for yourself and you’ll be glad you did.

5. Reliable Movers

Unless you’re moving from one small place to another, and you have plenty of people to help you, you’re likely going to want some professional movers to assist you. Professional movers do all of the heavy lifting when it comes to moving, literally. They’re the ones who will carry all your boxes and furniture into the moving truck, then unload them in your new place, while you focus on other things during moving day.

When searching for local movers in your area, there are a few factors to consider. First, ask them for a quote based on the size of your home and how much stuff you have. Next, make sure that the movers are insured, which will protect your belongings should something get damaged in transit. Finally, read some reviews from previous customers to ensure they provide a good experience. Reliable movers are the best way to reduce stress during moving day so think carefully about who you want to hire.

6. Basic Tools

If you don’t already have some basic tools around your home, now is a good time to get some. As you start to pack up, you’ll realize that you need a few basic tools to make things easier. For instance, you may want to take apart a bed frame so that it will fit better in the moving truck or you may want a drill so that you can hang up your picture frames in your new place. There are moving tool checklists online that you can use to help figure out which tools you should buy. Movers will often come prepared with some basic tools themselves but having some of your own won’t hurt.

7. Storage Facility

Finally, in some cases, you may need a storage facility. A storage facility will help if there is a gap between when you need to move out of your current home and when you can move into your next one. You’ll want a safe place to store everything during that window, which is exactly what you can use a storage facility for. Beyond that, if you’re moving into a smaller home, you may need a place to store those things that will no longer fit.

For example, you may be moving from a large home into a small retirement community. In this case, you could store some of those family heirlooms in a storage locker or those clothing items you don’t wear as often. Storage facilities are secure and climate controlled, giving you a safe place to store things on a temporary or long-term basis. Find some storage facilities near your new home so that you can easily access the things you need without having them clutter your new home.

Start Gathering What You Need

The sooner you start gathering what you need, the sooner you can start focusing on the more important steps of moving. Take a day to visit a local store for your moving supplies or start researching home warranties and storage facilities online. Once you’ve stocked up on everything you need, you’ll feel more prepared to tackle all the steps involved with moving.

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