Relocating for work can be tricky, and when you have to relocate with a family, it’s even more challenging. There are so many things to consider, so when you’re making a move like that, here are five things that might feel small but can significantly impact making your life easier.
1. Create a Timetable or Schedule
Giving yourself deadlines can be a major motivator to get your stuff ready to go. Start when you need to be at your new location and work backward to create your timeline. Think about when you have to have a new place to live and when you need to have your items arrive at your destination.
Other things to consider in a timetable include putting down dates that tell you when you need to have certain things packed. For example, maybe you want to wait and pack your kitchen last, so you have all of the appliances you need until you move. You would pick a date as the last date to pack those items to keep yourself on time to meet your deadline.
You’ll also have to schedule appointments. If you are selling a house to make the move, you need to schedule an appraisal, walkthroughs with a realtor, and a sell-by date to make sure you stay on target. If any repairs need to be made, it’s a good idea to put those on the schedule too.
2. Pack Only What You Need
Relocating can be expensive if you decide to take everything you own with you. To keep things light, consider only packing what you need. Take a critical look at what you own and decide what you can’t live without and what can be replaced once you reach your destination.
These things can include clothing, furniture, dishes, appliances, and whatever else you own. Do you really need all those coffee mugs to go with you? The answer is probably not, so just grab the essential things and donate or sell the rest to keep your move easier.
It would help if you also have a box labeled as an “open first” box to know where your immediate necessities are when you arrive. Unless you’re like Superman, you can’t X-ray vision into a box, so labeling helps when you start sorting through your things.
3. Take Pictures of Your Stuff
For the items you want to take with you, take pictures of these things for a few reasons. If you’re using a shipping company to move your stuff, you’ll want a record of what you’re sending. It helps in case you need to file any claims if anything happens.
Additionally, having a before picture can help you put it all back together when you meet up with your belongings again if you have to disassemble anything. You can also use these pictures as a way to remember what you have with you when you arrive because, let’s face it, unpacking boxes can be a chore. Knowing what you have and which box it’s in makes life easier when you’re dealing with the stress of relocating.
4. Consider a Car Shipping Company
Cross country moves can be incredibly challenging, and lots of people choose to drive their cars to their destination. There is a lot to be said about driving your things to where you’re going because sometimes it is cheaper, and other times, it allows you to haul your belongings yourself.
On the other hand, if you’re going across the country, you’re putting significant wear and tear on your car by traveling hundreds of miles. You’re also increasing the chances of having an accident or spending more on lodging, gas, and food to make the trip. If you add up the expected costs that you would need to pay for travels, you might find that it adds up to a lot.
If you were to consider shipping your car instead, you might find it cheaper to send your car than to make the drive. Shipping a vehicle also protects it from damages that it would face if it were being driven, like accidents or unexpected weather issues. You can choose enclosed transport to protect it even more.
5. Contact Your Insurance Company
Finally, you’ll want to contact your insurance company ahead of time. Your premiums are based largely on where you live as well as your driving history. With that in mind, you want to give your insurance company a call because you might end up paying a different amount in your new location. You may also want to contact other insurance companies in the area to see if they have better coverage than what you’re currently paying.
Getting this done ahead of time lets you know what to expect in terms of coverage if something happens. If you decide to ship your car, you can also verify that your vehicle will be covered during transit. This is important should anything happen to your vehicle while it is traveling.
A Few Last Words on Relocating
Relocating for work can be stressful, but you can figure it out and be successful if you go in with the right mindset. Creating a timeline helps you organize what needs to be done in a more manageable way, as does keeping up with a schedule. Simplifying what you need and taking pictures will also help keep the process going more smoothly. Taking the extra step to ship your car can give you an extra boost as one less thing you need to worry about, and letting your insurance company know what is going on can provide you with peace of mind. Go one day at a time, and you’ll make it out on the other side with flying colors.
