How to Prepare to Move with Minimal Stress

Moving to a new place can be exciting, but it’s no secret that it also comes with its fair share of stress. From packing up your belongings to coordinating logistics with movers, there’s a lot to juggle. With adequate planning, smart decisions, and the support of the right professional moving companies, you can make your moving experience smooth and hassle-free. Whether you're relocating within Asheboro, Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, NC or other nearby area, or making a long-distance move, preparation is the foundation of a successful transition. By planning ahead and splitting the process into steps, you can avoid common stressors like disorganization, unexpected costs, and time crunches.

1. Start with a Checklist: When creating a checklist, be sure to include information such as your moving days and move-in date, as well as moving company contact information for immediate access. The bulk of your checklist should consist of breaking down packing by room, any cleaning you may need to do, listing out any larger items that may require additional people to safely relocate, and so on. By categorizing these tasks by room, you can prepare and pack in manageable sections, as well as more efficiently plan a packing schedule.
   
   
2. Declutter Before Packing: From clothes to excess kitchenware and furniture you may not want any more, decluttering reduces the amount of items you have to pack and speeds up the moving process when the time arrives. Much like the checklist, you can plan to declutter by room or by another category, such as clothing and furniture in the office and living room. Once you've established piles of items you no longer want, you can then sort out what you may want to sell in a yard sale, donate to a nearby thrift store, or throw away.
   
   
3. Hire the Right Moving Company: Look for professional moving companies with strong reviews and years of experience and decide if you need a full-service moving company that handles packing, loading, transport, and unpacking—or if a basic transportation service will suffice. Also, be sure to discuss any fees or insurance options for full transparency.
   
   
4. Pack Efficiently: Packing isn’t just about throwing items into boxes—it’s about packing efficiently to ensure everything arrives at your new home intact. Pack room by room, labelling the boxes accordingly to save time later, and avoid overpacking the boxes. Overpacking makes for hefty boxes that may be too heavy to move safely, which slows down the moving process.
   
   
5. Set Up Utilities Ahead of Time: Don’t wait until you move in to set up utilities like electricity, water, internet, and waste collection. Contact providers in your new neighborhood  to schedule activation dates that align with your move-in. It helps to give service providers at least a two-week notice prior to you moving to avoid delays. Include a few days’ worth of items like toiletries, chargers, snacks, and a coffee maker to get you through the first few days after the move, so that you can avoid a move-in day unpacking frenzy.