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Moving is a big task and can take months to orchestrate, plan and execute. Psychologically, moving can be a major milestone -- perhaps it's the resident's first time living alone, with roommates, with a partner, or downsizing for retirement. All of these moments, and countless others tied to moving, can feel monumental. 

Because it's such a big deal, a move can inspire a mix of good and bad emotions -- the excitement of starting a new chapter, the fear of the unknown, nostalgia for the past, and the stress of the logistics of moving.

If you're gearing up for a move, here are our best tips for a stress-free move. 

Planning and organization

Start by creating a moving timeline. This can serve as a detailed checklist that will help you take the stress out of the logistics of planning and executing your move. 

Start by breaking down your moving-related tasks over the coming weeks or months. These may include things like hiring movers, renting a moving vehicle, packing up your belongings, booking a service elevator in both locations for moving day, getting and returning your keys, etc.

When you map out your moving timeline, be sure to set deadlines for key milestones like packing up your things and moving day itself.

Decluttering your home and packing up

If you're downsizing, or just want to lighten your load a bit before the big move, here are some tips for deciding what to keep, donate, or discard:

• Make a list of must-move items and possessions. Pack those first, then evaluate if you really need/want to move what's left over.
• Try Marie Kondo's decluttering method. If the item doesn't spark joy, set it free.
• Don't throw away everything you don't plan to move. Consider selling them online, to a thrift shop or donating gently-used items to charity shops like the Salvation Army.
• Throw out old items that are too worn out to donate or sell.

Now that you know what you’re moving, here are some tips for easy and efficient packing when moving. We recommend carefully wrapping up and packing items room by room and labelling each box with the room the items belong to for easier unpacking. You can buy moving boxes online or from moving rental companies like U-Haul.

Choosing the right moving method

Be sure to sort out how you'll move your belongings well in advance. Whether you'll hire professional movers or do it yourself with a rented moving vehicle, you need to plan ahead.

Hiring professional movers 

If physically moving your belongings is a source of stress, consider hiring movers to do the heavy lifting for you. They charge more but they can take a big load off your shoulders mentally and physically. 

When it comes to choosing the right moving company, you'll need to consider things like location, distance, availability and cost. Moving companies are a big investment, and if they do a poor job your belongings could be damaged. Be sure to read reviews, get multiple quotes and ask the company questions to ensure you feel confident in your choice. 

Moving by yourself 

Moving by yourself can be physically and mentally more challenging than hiring movers, but considerably more affordable. If you would rather move by yourself, you'll likely need to rent a moving vehicle or use something like a moving cube to transport your belongings safely from point A to point B. Ensure you carefully select the rental date or time frame for the rental and plan accordingly with your current and future landlord/property management company. Both a moving cube and your vehicle will need to be parked somewhere to load and unload for hours or more so they'll need to be involved.

Seeking help from friends and family

If you're moving by yourself, it's best to enlist the help of friends and family members if you can. Extra hands make speedy work after all! They can help you pack, load, unload and unpack way faster than if you do it all solo. Be sure to show your appreciation by offering to return the favour when the time comes, giving or buying them food and drinks during or after the move, and saying thank you.

Moving day

People often are so preoccupied by arranging and planning for a move that they overlook strategizing for moving day itself. Be extra prepared with your own moving day checklist. It should include a list and timeline of all the things you need to do on the day, like:

• Meet your movers / pick up your vehicle.
• Park the vehicle and set it up to load.
• Load your belongings. 
• Do a final walkthrough of your old place to look for any items left behind.
• Give back your old keys
• Drive to your new destination.
• Find a parking spot or go to your designated spot.
• Get your new unit keys.
• Unload your belongings.
• Return your vehicle / thank and pay your movers or helpers. 

Settling into your new home

Now that you've moved in, it's time to unpack. It can be tempting to leave the task of unpacking for another day, but that can quickly devolve into weeks and even months of living out of boxes. We recommend tackling unpacking your belongings on moving day or within the first week if there is time. It'll be tiring, but worth it when you're unpacked and settled into your new place. Try unpacking room by room, prioritizing the rooms you'll need to use first like the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. 

Best of luck with your move! We hope that these tips come in handy and help reduce your stress.

Looking for a new apartment to call home? Panoramic Properties would love to welcome you home. Please visit our website to browse our available apartments.