subject: Reduce The Stress From The Moving Process [print this page] Each time my spouse and I moved out of our string of shoddy apartments, the transition was so stressful. The first time around, the management company fudged our checkout sheet and claimed that we had destroyed the unit. We almost had to go to court over the issue!
Another state and another year later, the office staff obsessed over the pre-checkout cleaning, going so far as to pull the oven out from its nook and insisting that we clean behind it. What a nightmare! It was so hard to clean to their specifications while also moving into our new home on time. If you've ever been through similar experiences, then you probably dread moving.
But there are strategies that you can implement to make your next move smoother and less stressful. Let me share a few of them with you.
First of all, you need to start early, even if you are only moving a few miles away. You can often find discarded boxes behind retail centers, or you can go inside and ask for them. If that doesn't get you some of the supplies you will need, then visit the office in a local moving company to purchase some.
Begin, of course, with the items you won't be needing. For example, if you are moving in the middle of summer, then you can immediately pack away the winter coats, boots, and space heater. Set goals about how many boxes you will pack each day or each week, depending upon the timeline you are working with.
DO hire professional movers instead of trying to tackle the task with your own trailer and set of hands. During my transplantation from Orange County to northern Utah, I trusted in my in-laws' trailer, which turned out to be a disaster.
Damaged furniture and broken goods greeted our unloading efforts. It made our stress level skyrocket to have to attempt to repair our possessions immediately after moving in. Don't let this happen to you!
Check with building supervisors, apartment managers, or HOA representatives to find out if there are any specific rules that apply to moving in and out. For example, the HOA in the condominium complex where I live restricts any moving procedures to the hours of 9 AM to 7 PM.
To reduce the hassle of trying to get your apartment to pass the white glove test, hire a professional maid service in your city to handle the cleaning process for you. That way, you can focus on tying up loose ends, doing last-minute packing, and taking a break when you really need one. That will certainly reduce your stress during the moving process!
