In a perfect world, you’d have all the time to plan your move. Moving is a process that requires 3-4 weeks to complete. But sometimes life comes at you fast and a last-minute move comes up.
Typically there are two types of last-minute moves: the ones where you don’t have a lot of lead time between finding out you have to move and the move itself and then the ones where you procrastinate just a little too much and nothing is packed. Either way, figuring out how to move quickly is necessary.
At Atlanta Peach Movers, we have the expertise and standards to ensure a stress-free, successful, and timely move to your new home. Even if it is last minute, we have tips to help you out for your quick and efficient relocation.
Start with logistics
A last-minute move has a way of making every task seem daunting to get done. But instead of letting your to-do list overwhelm you, take a deep breath, get organized, and start to get to work to cross off the items on your list.
The first step should be to either hire a reliable moving company or rent a truck to move yourself. The sooner you make this decision the sooner you can get to work on the rest of your checklist. Your checklist should be organized into categories of things that need to be done immediately or things that can wait a week or so (depending on your timeframe). Having a checklist will help you through the move and reduce the stress and anxiety this last-minute move may already be causing.
Think beyond the boxes
Packing is most likely the first thing that comes to mind when faced with this last-minute move. But before you bring out the boxes and tape you need to take care of the following things.
Schools: If your kids are moving to a new district, research schools in your new area, enroll them, and then notify their current school of their last day.
Utilities: You’ll need to cancel your utilities at your current home and then start them in your new one. You don’t want to be without water or electricity when you move in!
Medical records: If you need to find a new doctor or dentist before you move make sure to get your medical and dental records. If you own a pet be sure to get their records from the veterinarian’s office.
Get rid of things you don’t need
The less you have to pack, the easier packing will be. Go through every room, closet, and cabinet of your house and pull out things you no longer want or need. Separate these items into three piles: donate, recycle, and toss.
With this, you will have to think practically, not sentimentality. A move is a good time to clean out your things but a last-minute move gives you even more incentive to do that. Resist the urge to pack everything and get rid of it when you get there. It’s easier to do this now and save your energy for things that really matter. Once you have everything organized either start throwing things out or drop off your items at charities that will take them.
If you have a lot of junk or large, difficult spaces that can take a lot of time to clean look into getting a junk removal company to help you out.
Don’t think, just pack
Packing in a hurry means paying less attention to organization and more to getting everything in a box. The main goal you have is to get all your stuff from one house to the other. If being short on time means you can’t keep a list of where everything is packed then that’s fine. The goal here is to make sure you are ready for when you have to get everything out. Some tips for the “don’t think, just pack” method are:
- Pack now and sort later
- Use soft items like socks and towels to wrap breakables
- Set up boxes as you need them
- Pack clothes as they are
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Moving is a big and stressful task and it’s okay to admit you can’t get it done all on your own. Asking for help from your friends or family is a great way to help get all your tasks completed. Having one or more people helping out can make things stay on track and prioritize all the tasks at hand. When having people help you out, be sure to show appreciation to them when everything is done.
Leave some tasks to the movers
One benefit of hiring professional movers is all the assistance you get when things are down to the wire. It’s okay to leave a few tasks. Sometimes you may end up paying a but more in packing materials and labor but that may be the best way to go for the situation.
If you’re figuring out how to move in a hurry focus on the big picture and get your things to your new home as safely as possible. Unpacking may be a little more chaotic than you planned but at least you made it through this last-minute move.
At Atlanta Peach Movers, we understand how sometimes life comes at you fast, and moving may not go the way you planned but we have the skills and expertise to handle any situation. When you schedule your move with us be sure to let us know of your moving timeline so we can provide the best service possible.
