In an ideal world, you will have plenty of time to plan for any decision you have to make.
Moving is a procedure fraught with minute information and individual activities, and three to four weeks is usually recommended for doing things correctly.
In the modern world, though, life comes at you hard, especially when you start to move last minute.
There are two kinds of rushed moves.
There are those where you do not have much time before learning you have to relocate and the actual move, and then there are those where you procrastinate a little too much and catch yourself looking at a nearly unpacked house a few days before the movers are scheduled to come.
In any case, knowing how to move efficiently is important. Here are four pointers to get you started.
Begin with the logistics.
A last-minute transfer has a way of making any mission feel simultaneously urgent and impossible to complete.
It is quick to get paralyzed with the amount of work that needs to be completed, so instead of allowing your shifting to-do list to overtake you, take a deep breath and get to work ticking things off the list.
Your first step would be to either hire a transport company or rent a van, based on whether you require skilled assistance for your relocation or intend to handle it yourself.
You may not have much time to do research if you are hiring movers, so use a tool like our moving company directory to quickly find a list of trustworthy movers in your field.
If you are hiring a vehicle, get offers from two to three firms before making a decision.
The better you figure out the mechanics of your transfer, the sooner you can get to work on something else.
Get rid of what you do not need
The least you have to pack, the better it would be to pack. And when it comes to a last-minute transfer, simple packing is key.
Go through each bed, wardrobe, and cabinet in your home or apartment and remove everything you no longer want or use.
Divide these things into three piles: give, compost, and discard.
Consider practicality more than sentimentality. A transfer is an excellent opportunity to pare down your belongings, and a rushed move provides still more reason to fly small.
Resist the desire to just store everything with the intention of getting rid of everything after you have moved into your new house.
It is much easier to organize these products ahead of time to conserve the resources and resources for the stuff that actually matter.
Get rid of the stacks until they have been sorted. Take out the garbage and compost, and then hand off the donations.
You can contribute almost everything to Goodwill as long as it is in decent shape.
Used linens and towels can be donated to your local animal shelter, while unopened, unexpired food (especially canned food) can help a lot at your local food pantry.
Do you have furniture or other big pieces to donate? You could be willing to get a charitable organization come by to pick them up, depending on availability.
Go to Donation Town and type your zip code to find a list of local nonprofits who can come pick up gently used furniture and kitchen pieces.
Schedule as quickly as possible so that everyone is available to come out.
Make a traveling essentials pack
Set aside a tiny duffel bag and load it with the things you can not afford to lose in the resulting mess until you begin packing.
This covers all prescriptions and essential paperwork, chargers, daily toiletries, and maybe a couple of changes of clothing.
While this is something you can do even though you are not in a rush, it is particularly necessary during a last-minute transfer, where things are likely to get a little messier and more exhausting.
Once you have assembled your basics bag, you can begin the main project: packing.
Seek assistance
Moving is a difficult process, particularly when it must be completed rapidly, and it is perfectly acceptable to seek assistance from friends or relatives.
Having one or two helpers will help you keep on board and prioritize, as well as help you get the work completed quicker.
Truly time-consuming activities, such as packing up the kitchen cabinets and having things dropped off for donation, become substantially easier when you have another individual (or persons) to assist you.
Do not be shy to ask for assistance, but make sure to express your gratitude by calling in a meal whilst they are helping you prepare or making cupcakes for your helpers after you have moved into your new house.