Packing up your belongings, loading them into your car, and moving across town is stressful. Moving all of your belongings across the country is a whole different ball game. If you’re doing it alone, major kudos to you – it’s a brave and certainly a life-changing endeavor. Enjoy the adventure and simplify the process with these handy tips for saving money, reducing stress, and most importantly, making it to your new home with your sanity and belongings intact.
Tip #1: Avoid moving in the summer. You might not have a choice in the matter, but if you do, avoid the summer season! Everyone and their mother is looking for a new place in the summertime, and moving expenses are higher than any other time. Apartment hunting is also much more competitive. Additionally, who wants to be drenched in sweat while you’re packing up boxes?
Tip #2: De-clutter. If you’ve lived somewhere for a bit, chances are you’ve accumulated a bit of clutter. You will make your packing and moving process infinitely easier if you do a major clean out first. Donate all those clothes you haven’t worn in years and toss out those drawers full of things that “might come in handy one day.” You’re making a huge life change, so you’ll survive parting with some of your stuff.
Tip #3: Make a detailed plan. There are some things you can wing, but a cross-country move is not one of them. Make a to-do list with every single thing you need to do in preparation to move. From packing to canceling your utilities to providing a forwarding address, don’t assume you will remember it without writing it down! Cross things off as you go. If you’re driving to your new home, plan your map. Make realistic mileage goals for each day, and get names and addresses for any hotels you’ll be stopping at. If you’re flying, book those tickets well in advance and check out the airline’s baggage weight limits and charges. Do your research, write it all down, and your future self will thank you.
Tip #4: Brace yourself for some stressful moments. No matter how carefully you plan things, something will go wrong. You might have a box rip open halfway to your car. You might get a speeding ticket. The cable guy might get to your new apartment six hours late. You might plan on making it to your new home in three days and it might take five. Take a deep breath and remember that once you’re settled in your new home, it’ll all be worth it.
Tip #5: Rent your furniture. Seriously, skip the U-Haul and the absurd shipping costs by renting furniture. You’ve got enough to worry about when moving – from clothes to gadgets to your beloved trinkets – so why deal with moving heavy furniture? You can find your dream apartment and furnish it through ApartmentSearch.com. All you have to do is select your apartment, pick your furniture package, and let CORT handle all the heavy lifting! With that big stuff taken care of, you’ll feel right at home in your new city.
Tip #6: Or, simply rent a furnished apartment. Our biggest piece of advice when it comes to handling a solo move across the country? Rent a furnished apartment. Before you visualize cold, impersonal, hotel-looking rooms, realize that you can furnish any apartment you like with furniture you can handpick from CORT. Your new apartment can be filled to the brim with your unique style and personality. In fact, it’s easy!
Find your new apartment on ApartmentSearch.com and select a move-in ready furniture package. CORT can furnish your apartment in as little as 48 hours, so you’ll have one less thing of your to-do list. Good luck with your move, and congratulations on your new adventure!
