6 Sanity-Saving Tips for a Quick Move

In a perfect world, you'd have several months to fully prepare for a move. But in the real world, you often learn you need to move at the last minute. Maybe your house sold faster than you ever dreamed it would, or perhaps you stumbled upon the house of your dreams and bought it quickly. Regardless of why you need to move in a hurry, Our REALTORS® have some tips to help you out.

1. Hire Movers ASAP
   The good moving companies book up quickly! As soon as you know you need to move and have a reasonable idea when you need to move, start getting estimates from moving companies. The earlier you book, the more flexible the movers can be. Once you have arrangements with a moving company, you can schedule everything else around their services.
   
   If you plan on renting a moving truck and moving yourself, the same advice applies. Book the moving truck ASAP so you can get the right size truck from a company you trust.
   
   
2. Pack the Essentials Separately
   You don't want to waste time digging through boxes for items you packed but need in the meantime. So, pack a separate duffel bag or suitcase with the essentials. Include toiletries, a few changes of clothes, and important paperwork. This also means you don't have to hurry to unpack various boxes once you arrive at your new place.
   
   
3. Pack Now, Sell, or Donate Later
   You'll see many moving guides telling you to sort everything carefully as you pack, donate any extras, sell items you don't need before moving, and so forth. This is good advice in general, but not necessarily when you're moving in a hurry.
   
   If you're facing a time crunch, just pack everything into boxes, and worry about sorting it later on once you're settled. It takes less time to pack three extra boxes of things you don't need than to sort through everything you own meticulously. 
   
   
4. Hire a Move-Out Cleaning Service
   Of course, it's polite and often required for you to clean your home after moving out. When you're on a tight schedule, you're often best off hiring a cleaning service to do this for you.
   
   Many home cleaning companies offer specific move-out cleaning services. You can arrange to have them come in the day after you move out. They'll scrub the place from top to bottom so that the new owner or new landlord walks into a perfectly clean space. This is so much easier than remembering to set aside cleaning products as you pack and then returning to the home after moving out to clean.
   
   
5. Hire a Babysitter
   If you have children, hire a babysitter for a day or two before your move. You'll be able to move around faster and be more productive when someone else is watching your kids. It's best if you can drop the kids off at a friend's home rather than having the babysitter come to your home.
   
   
6. Communicate Your Needs to Your Real Estate Agent
   Are you worried you won't be moved out of your home by the projected closing date? Do you have other concerns about the timing of the sale? Talk to your real estate agent. Explain your concerns, and see if there's anything they can do. They may be able to push your closing back a few days, for instance.

Moving in a hurry can be a little stressful, but with the tips above, you'll make it through. If you're thinking about moving and would like to see some Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale, please contact us to speak with a real estate agent.