My wife and I just moved.
Long story short, something came up and our current lease ended unexpectedly. We found a new place, got all of our stuff hauled, and are settled in – but moving always seems to create stress.
When you think about it, it really shouldn’t – it’s mostly a matter of mechanics. You need to pack up everything at the old place, transport it to the new place, and unpack it. With few exceptions, everything that gets packed should get unpacked.
Simple, right?
Yeah, not so much. Here are some of the things I’ve learned (and had to re-learn) over the years about moving, particularly from a minimalist point of view.
How To Prepare For A Minimalist Move
Get started as early as possible. I don’t mean on the day of the move; I mean days, weeks, or even months before the move! We had a six-week window to accomplish our move. Our goal was to do it in two, but we started right away – not four weeks in. That way if we missed the two-week target (we didn’t), we’d have had plenty of time before we absolutely had to be out.
Handle all the administrative stuff early too. Power, gas, water, cable, etc. all need to be shut off or taken out of your name. Mail needs to be forwarded. There might be other things you need to do as well, depending on where you live. Almost all of this can be scheduled ahead of time, and it’ll save you a ton of hassle if you get it done earlier rather than later.
Don’t pack and/or move things you should get rid of. I realize “should” is a relative term, but so is minimalism! If you have a bunch of things you’ve been considering getting rid of, a stack of old sports equipment you never use, or a pile of books that you’ve been “meaning to read” but know you’ll never get to, the best time to get rid of them is before they get moved. We’ve gone through all of our stuff recently, but we went through all of it once more before we moved.
Realize that moving with a rental truck typically costs at least $1/mile…. If you’re making a 2,000 mile drive with a rental truck, your best-case scenario is probably around $2,000. That factors in truck cost, the added fuel cost of driving a rental truck vs. your car, etc. Anything that requires a moving van adds a lot of cost! We’re moving about 20 miles, so we’re not renting a truck – but if you need one, book it as early as possible to get the best rate.
….so for long moves, consider not moving things that are more efficient to replace. If your king-size bed, sofa, and loveseat are all that’s preventing you from loading all your stuff into your minivan and driving across the country, sell the king-size bed, sofa, and loveseat before you leave. You can re-purchase on the other end.
Treat your helpers like royalty…. Okay, maybe not royalty – but at least be above-average to them. If a friend with a trailer helps you move a bed, don’t just throw them the gas money it cost them – give them a little extra. If they help you move boxes all day, it’s good form to get them some pizza, soda, beer, or other refreshments. They’re taking time out of their day to help you; show them that you’re grateful.
….don’t make them pack boxes…. There’s no faster way to have your stuff disorganized, damaged, or completely destroyed than to have a bunch of random friends (who would much rather be at home with their families) throwing your stuff into boxes. This isn’t because they’re malicious, this is because they’re not you. On balance, nobody is as careful or as particular with your stuff as you. Have the boxes packed before they show up.
….and hire professionals if necessary. If you have an antique piano that absolutely must be moved up stairs into a third-floor apartment without losing its tuning, and you’d be absolutely crushed if anything happened to it, there are people who can make that happen – but they’re probably not your friends from work. Hire the professionals if necessary.
Make your life move-friendly. My wife and I have intentionally gone through our stuff to make it more move-friendly, and based purchasing decisions around that. Both of our desks, for example, break down (and go back together again – without damage!) so that they can be packed flat in the back of the car. In fact, other than the bed, the most awkwardly-shaped things we own are our computer chairs. This means that we had to get a relative to haul our bed on a flat trailer, and everything else got hauled with three trips in our station wagon.
It’s Never Easy, But It Can Be Easier
I don’t know anybody that thinks moving is easy, but it can definitely be a lot easier with a little bit of planning. And if you move a lot, planning your lifestyle around that fact can really decrease your stress levels!
I’m sure you’ve moved a few times. Are there any awesome moving tips that I missed?