In Essex County: 10 Moving Tips From The Pros

Are you one of the many Essex County residents who will be embarking on a home move this summer?

With some real estate experts predicting that 2015 will be the best year for housing sales since 2006, the chances are high that someone you know may be making a move soon.

Westy Self Storage - a storage provider that has multiple locations in New Jersey – offers the following tips to residents about to take on the often-frustrating endeavor of relocation.

1. Begin to Strategize

Moving might seem a bit overwhelming if you’re thinking of packing and hauling every item you own to a new location. Instead, go through each room and closet in your home, one-by-one, making a short written inventory of the items you will be moving into your new home, and those you will need to store elsewhere.

2. Prepare for Storage or Sale

Once you’ve made your list, begin boxing up the items you definitely want to keep, but won’t become part of your new décor right away. Place these items in a storage facility until you’re ready to integrate them into your new home. If there’s anything you no longer have a use for, donate these items to a charity and/or host a garage sale. By donating, you’re helping those who are less fortunate, and you’re also giving yourself something to write off during next year’s tax season. Having a garage sale, on the other hand, lets you make a few extra bucks towards moving expenses by getting rid of the DVD player or Monopoly game you no longer use.

3. Make a Budget

Moving can be costly, but putting aside money for the big day in advance can certainly ease the financial burden. Tight budget or not, saving a few bucks here and there for gas, food and other expenses can build up over the course of a few months. You just might find yourself with more than you need in terms of spending money when moving day arrives.

4. Start Packing

It’s never too early to start boxing up items considered non-essentials, including those things you can live without over the next 60 days. These might include various knickknacks, framed pictures, books and seasonal clothing that won’t be missed right away or you’d prefer be placed in storage. Not only will this free up space while you pack, it will also make the final moving day less exhausting. Often, people overestimate what they want to move into their new home. Now is a great opportunity to mark boxes for home or storage and find a place to store these items immediately.

5. Hire Help

While many people prefer the do-it-yourself method, having movers take care of large and bulky items, in addition to your stack of packed boxes, can really make for a stress-free move when the day arrives.

6. Use It or Lose It

Whether you’re relocating locally or across the country, frozen items and even some cleaning supplies will likely not survive the move. It might be difficult getting through that last bag of frozen organic broccoli at the back of your freezer, but saving money while eliminating waste makes moving away that much more pleasant. Same goes for any other products that might spoil or spill while on your trip – it’s better to use these cleaners now than discover a leaking bottle of bleach after your arrival.

7. Notifications and Transfers

You already likely know the address of your new home, so it’s important to notify your bank, insurance and utilities companies, children’s schools, post office and other organizations on where to forward your mail and any other subscriptions you might have. The list might seem daunting at first, but most of this can be done online, so changing a few accounts each day should have you finished up in no time.

8. Valuables

Some items you own are simply too valuable. These could be anything from jewelry to expensive collector items. If it’s not something you want to worry about during the move, storage is the best option for these valuables. Figuring out a way to transport these necessities over the road securely shouldn’t be added to your list of concerns. Valuables need protection, so make a plan to keep these essentialsin a secure storage facility.

9. Final Decision-Making

It’s now time to make some final decisions on what you will be taking to your new home to make the space the most comfortable. You’ve hopefully been utilizing a self storage unit for must-keep items and seasonal belongings you can swap out regularly throughout the year. Storing items is an incredibly efficient way of reducing clutter, offering decorating options down the road, and making sure your possessions are safe, accessible and in a clean environment.

10. Enjoy Your New Home

With all the hustle and bustle of moving out of your old home and into your new living space, it might be hard to imagine the finish line. Yet, once you’ve unboxed your belongings and finished putting everything away, it’s time to explore the local area, meet the neighbors and spend some time enjoying your freshly decorated interior. You’ve earned it.