Buying your first new home is simultaneously wonderful and quite stressful. You’re celebrating a turning point in your life that not everyone gets the privilege of enjoying, but you’re also dealing with the stress that comes from moving your apartment or previous home into the new space. Whether that space is larger or smaller, there are always logistical concerns to work out.
If you’ve never moved into a home before, you’ll find it’s very different from an apartment. You’ll have more storage space, more rooms, and if this is your first time much of that space will feel really empty for a time being. Here are some tips for planning that move, as well as some ideas on how to speed up moving day.
Choosing What to Pack Saves Money
One way that North American Van Lines suggests its customers save money is by being selective about what they have the company pack. Not every coordinated move needs to be full service. Often, the moving company can handle packing only fragile items or nothing at all. This way, you’re only paying them to load or unload. If your family has downtime before the move happens, even if it’s just a few weekends leading up to the move, then it’s worth it to spend some time packing your own home.
Movers do come prepared, though, so they have packaging and boxes that provide added protection for valuables and fragile items. It’s worth consulting with a company to decide what you think might warrant some special consideration.
Budget Some Time to Unpack as Well
Escrow can close on weird days, and it’s not always conducive to your schedule. You’ll know well in advance when the closing date is, and assuming it’s not pushed back you can rely on that date and plan your move around it. A better option is to push your move back by a week or a few days, so you can request a day off from work to coordinate the move and spend the weekend unpacking.
Why emphasize unpacking? Anecdotally, you probably know someone who has told you the home feels more complete when you unpack it. That may or may not be true on a scientific level, but cognitively, the space feels more warm and friendly once you’ve put your mark on it. Plus, you get the added benefit of getting back to your routine faster.
Tips for Long Distance Moves
Are you relocating for a job? If so, you may be in luck if your company offers any moving compensation. Make sure you inquire before your move to improve your chances of being able to pay for movers upfront.
Failing to get actual money to help with the move, you may be able to secure some paid time off when you first arrive in the new city so you can explore or unpack. It helps if you can provide detailed estimates of your moving costs, so be sure and get an in-home estimate to back up your claims.
Finally, look into any tax deductions you can claim based off of moving costs. If you moved more than 50 miles specifically for work, you may be able to deduct some of those expenses from your annual taxes.
Final Thoughts
Estimates are pretty powerful tools to have on your side, as companies mostly honor what’s there. Find one that fits your budget, don’t add additional services to the move, and you’ll save on the services you do get.
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