Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do, and no matter how many times you move, there’s always something you wished you’d done differently. Here are the guidelines to help you get your moving game in line.

Tell your family that you’re moving

As much the move is stressful for adults, it’s even harder for the young ones. Telling them that they need to say goodbye to their friends, school, and the familiar surrounding isn't easy at all. Think about how to break the news and find plenty of positive reasons you're moving into a new place. Do it in a familiar, open environment where everyone feels comfortable. Don't make it a family meeting so the children wouldn't worry about the matter of your news, but a spontaneous get-together. Let them ask a thousand questions and tell them all the important details, like where, when, and how. Give them advantages of the move but don't make promises you can't keep.

Set up a moving budget

Although you may feel you don’t have time to set up a budget, not being prepared could cost you more in the long run, as even small items quickly add up. The easiest way you can create a budget template is by using software such as Microsoft Word or Excel, which allows you to use a formula for easy calculations. If you need something more portable, purchase a bookkeeper’s record book and make necessary adjustments to the column titles and entry boxes. The budget should contain the moving company fee, additional insurance, extra services that come with transporting heavy loads, long haul charges, claims and damage costs, and packing expenses.

Decide what stays and what goes

Sort through your stuff before packing so you don't move things you don't need and have never used. This won't only save your money but also your time packing and unpacking. Watch out for closets as that's where people mostly store things they don't need daily. Other time-consuming areas include the garage, den, and the home office. The list of things you’ll be moving should be kept to the absolute essentials, whether you’re moving yourself or hiring a moving company. When deciding what stays and what goes, make a “keep” and “don’t keep” pile in every room. The “don’t keep” pile can be further divided into “trash” and “donate”.

Hire a mover or move yourself

As with most decisions, the answer is different for everyone depending on many factors such as time, money, difficulty, and complexity. If you're all alone or can count to your partner or spouse only, a moving crew can be a welcoming help. On the other hand, if you can muster a gang of able-bodied helpers, finding a cheap car rental makes more sense. These companies have a diverse fleet of vehicles that include large family cars, SUVs, utes, and vans, so you can choose whatever suits your needs. Sometimes just a city car for running errands and relocating your family makes things much easier. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, it’s a good idea to weigh all the options.

Pack your home

By the time you’ve determined what to take and what to leave behind, you should’ve collected packing supplies. Make sure you have plenty on your hand, so bring over boxes from your place of work, friends, or stores. Most stores will be happy to get rid of cardboard boxes as their supply chains leave piles of them every day. While packing, make sure to label the top and sides with contents, the room into which they go, as well as any special instructions such as "fragile" or "unpack first". Not to mention that keeping a brief list of contents on the outside will save you from digging through 10 boxes marked "kitchen" to find one item you need.  

Prepare furniture

When moving furniture, it’s important to keep all parts together. Screws, bolt, pegs, and other assembly pieces can be put in a small Ziploc bag and taped to a large piece. Take apart everything you can, as it will make easier to fit into a moving truck. Unscrew the legs, tape them together and then tape them to the large piece. Wrap all scratch-able furniture in protective wrap or padding. Before you wrap large pieces into your own linen, keep in mind that they can easily rip or get stained, so consider buying some furniture padding.

Once you reach your new home, apart from having to unpack the boxes, you'll probably have to do a lot of shopping to restore your supplies and fill the furniture gaps that may appear. Don't feel like you have to do everything at once. Even though moves are stressful, this short guide can make yours go a little smoother and easier.