How to Keep Moving Stress to a Minimum

Moving, even under the best of circumstances, is often a stressful undertaking. Organizing the boxes, packing everything up, hauling it out to the truck, and getting it to the next location is probably no one’s idea of a good time. But there are a number of things that you can do in order to take the stress out of moving and make it as enjoyable as possible. Here are some of our tips and how our self-storage in Philadelphia can help!

Great Tips for Stress-Free Moving

Have a clear out before you start.

There is no point moving items that you are going to end up throwing away, anyway. Go through each closet, corner, and crevice in your house and get rid of everything you no longer want or need. Make a pile of items throw away, donate, or put into storage and then take care of those piles before you start to pack. You’ll be amazed at how great it feels to cut down on the clutter before you have to pack it all up!

Prepare all of your packing supplies.

Make sure that you have all of your packing supplies and tools on hand and ready to go. Get boxes from your local self-storage facility and make sure you have plenty of heavy-duty packing tape, bubble wrap, newspapers, and permanent markers. Having it all ready will help cut down on the stress of searching for it when you need it the most. Create a packing station where these items are kept when not in use.

Label everything.

Label each box with the name of the room they should go into when you arrive at the new place. If you have children, put their names on the boxes that they can unpack. That will give them a task to manage when you get to the new house and take one more thing off of your plate. Labeling boxes will help you find things when you need them, too, so you don’t end up opening 10 boxes just to find your mixing bowls after the move.

Use plastic bins for long-term storage.

If you are going to be putting items in our self-storage facility, we recommend using plastic bins for long-term storage. They tend to hold up better than cardboard boxes and are more moisture resistant. While our facility is climate controlled and should be free from any leaks or other environmental hazards, you can never be too safe. Plus, the see-through plastic is great when you are trying to find items later on.

Give each person a personal box.

Each member of your household, including your pets, should have their own personal box. This box should have a chance of clothes, their pajamas, and any toiletries they might need right after the move. For pets, you should include water and food bowls, food, leashes, and a few toys. You can also use suitcases for this purpose. This gives each person the items they’ll need immediately after the move so they can comfortably get through that first day without searching for essentials.

Hire a mover (if you can).

If you can afford it, hire a professional mover. If you can’t, think about having a moving company take care of your furniture and larger items while you move the boxes. Most moving companies use a flat hourly rate, so the fewer items you have to move then the less it’s going to cost, in general. Talk to a moving company and get a quote before you dismiss the idea; it might be more affordable than you think. It’s a great way to cut the stress and the backaches during the moving process.

Set up your beds first.

When you get to the new place, the first thing you should set up is each person’s bed. By doing this you give each person the comfort of their own bed and a nice place to sleep that first night in the new house. Having your own bed waiting for you can make uncomfortable first nights in a strange place a little easier on everyone. This means you’ll get a good night of rest and will be ready to tackle the unpacking process the next day.

Take some time out.

It’s tempting to try to rush through the packing, moving, and unpacking process as quickly as possible just so you can get it all over with. Try not to do this. Take some time for self-care during the process. You’ll see the difference it makes in your stress level. Take a break and see a movie, go visit some friends, or even just walk around and explore your new neighborhood. All that stuff will be there when you get back, so there is no need to rush. Enjoy your new space and decompress from the stress of moving!

Need to Store Items While You Move?

If you end up needing to store items before, during, or after your move, EZ Storage has your covered! Our Philadelphia location offers plenty of storage spaces in a variety of sizes so you can get the storage you need at a fair price. We can even hook you up with a free local move-in truck to get all of your items here safely! Get in touch with our team, give us a call, or stop by our location and we’ll get you started with an affordable, climate controlled self-storage space of your own.