In an ideal world, everyone has lots of time to plan their move from one home to the next. Whether you received an incredible last-minute job offer, unexpectedly won a bid and quickly closed on your dream house or simply didn't have much notice, you can't always enjoy the luxury of time. In these cases, knowing how to quickly plan a move is vital.
A family packing moving boxes. Packing is one of the absolute musts of a short-notice move.
Nailing down the essentials
There are a few things you absolutely need if your move is going to be successful, no matter the timeline. Essentials include:
- Packing your belongings so you can transport them from point A to point B.
- Canceling services like utilities and internet, and scheduling activation at your new home .
- Changing your address.
- Cleaning your home, which is especially important in terms of throwing out perishable food, securing any potential dangers and making sure you didn't forget to pack anything.
- Finding a vehicle to transport your boxes, furniture and other items, or getting professionals on the schedule to do it for you.
If you boil the process down to these absolute musts - and anything more specific or unique that you truly need to do - it becomes more manageable. You may have to spend a little more on moving supplies or miss out on opportunities to effectively downsize before the big day, but you'll have a much better opportunity to make the trip successfully.
What to do first
When you're moving on short notice, things that require another person or organization to take action should be prioritized. For example, if you plan on packing your own boxes - even if it means staying up late the week before the move to make sure everything is ready - you can give yourself a tighter deadline.
The first thing you should do is get in touch with moving companies, to ensure you can make the trip. You should still follow best practices, like securing a few quotes, researching the businesses you connect with and being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true. However, you should also recognize that costs may be higher with short notice, there will likely be fewer options and you don't have quite as much time to compare quotes or negotiate. Look for a reasonable price and a trustworthy company that can get you where you need to go, when you need to get there.
From there, you can find time to handle the other responsibilities previously detailed, which are also very important but not quite as critical as getting you and your belongings to your new home on moving day. You'll likely want or even need to make sure your electricity, heat and internet are turned on when you arrive, but a call to the companies that provide those services is usually quicker and more straightforward than scheduling a move.
Looking for a partner to take care of the heavy lifting? Reach out to Atlas! Our expert movers and packers are here to make the trip as easy as possible.