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Moving Tips

Useful Advice for an End of Year New Jersey Relocation

For many people, the end of the year can be exhausting with all of the family gatherings, holiday celebrations, and, of course, preparation for the new year. Planning a move during this time might feel overwhelming on top of everything else, but it doesn’t have to be. With proper planning, making a NJ move during the new year doesn’t have to be stressful. Below are some tips and steps you can take to make the experience as smooth as possible.

Know Your Budget

With the holidays, your budget is probably already stretched thin with all the gifts and travel you might need to do. Adding moving expenses on top of that can throw your budget for a loop. Before you start buying presents or moving supplies, sit down and break down exactly how much you can afford for both. Chances are you’ll probably need to cut down your spending somewhere.

Luckily, there are ways you can save on your end-of-year move. First, try to schedule a midweek move if possible and avoid moving on an actual holiday as most moving companies will be short-staffed. On top of that, try to negotiate a lower price. While there NJ moving companies may have fewer people on staff that’s because there aren’t as many people moving during the winter months. As such, you have more room for negotiation than if you tried to move during the summer. Some may even have active deals available, so don’t forget to ask!

On top of that, you can save money by decluttering your house. After all, the less you move, the less time it will take the movers to load and unload your boxes to your new home. Start this process as soon as possible. Not only will it prevent any mix-ups between the items you are gifting and what you want to get rid of, it also gives you time to sell your stuff. You can host a garage sale for more common items and, for more expensive things like brand name clothes, cameras, etc. you can sell those online for a better price. Whatever money you make from these sales you can put towards your move or your holidays gifts.

Pack Early

The last thing you probably want to do is pack during the holidays. Even if you live in an apartment, you should have some advance notice before you need to move. Use that time to your advantage! It might be tempting to put it off, but commit yourself to packing one room a week. Start with rooms that don’t see a lot of use like a guest room or attic and then go from there. The last places you should pack are your bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom.

Take your time when packing. The last thing you want to do is throw everything into a box without a plan. Remember, you also need to unpack once you’re in your new home! The more organized you are when packing, the easier it will be to unpack. Besides packing by room, try to pack like items together so they are easy to find. For fragile items, make sure you not only add enough protection in the box, but make sure there are no air gaps to prevent the objects from shifting during transit.

You don’t have to forego decorations just because you’ll be packing. With that said, you should try to minimize the amount you’ll need to pack away afterwards so choose a few favorites and put them up. And don’t forget to save a big box so you can quickly pack the decorations once you’re ready to move.

Plan For the Weather

Since you’re moving during the winter, you need to be aware of the weather during your move. While winters recently have been relatively mild, you never know when you might get hit with icy roads or a blizzard. While you can’t control the weather, there are ways you can mitigate potential issues. For example, you should prepare moving supplies that will stand up to wet and soggy conditions. Make sure to have your snow shovels and or snow blower ready to go to keep your driveway clear.

When it comes to preparing yourself, have some winter gear ready. That includes jackets, gloves, boots, and hats. More importantly, make sure your electricity and heat are turned on in your new house before you arrive. You don’t want to deal with freezing cold temperatures on a moving day. Also, have a mop and cleaning supplies ready for your old and new house. NJ moving companies may put down plastic runners to reduce how much dirt they track, but with snowy conditions, chances are you and they will track plenty of mud inside.

Finally, be careful when it comes to stairs and sidewalks, especially during the winter. It’s all too easy to injure yourself by slipping on a patch of ice.

Consider Temporary Storage

If your move conflicts with holiday plans, it might be worth your while to use temporary storage for some of your things. You can easily store some or all of your items somewhere safe while you’re traveling to visit family. That might mean you have to start your moving plans earlier, but it might be worth it if you don’t have to deal with all the half-packed boxes in your own home. Plus, if you know you’re not going to be around for most of December, you can potentially save some money on utilities by canceling them before you’re hit for another month. Don’t forget to turn them on a day or so before moving into your new house though!

There are plenty of self-storage solutions available, but many NJ moving companies also offer short and long-term storage rentals. The benefit of going through movers is that they will move everything to and from your storage unit. If you use NJ Great Movers for storage, our facilities are 100% climate-controlled and secure with 24/7 surveillance.

Prepare for Your New Year’s Move in NJ

Moving under normal circumstances can be stressful. Add in the holiday period and the winter weather and you have a recipe for exponential stress growth. Luckily, the steps above can help you keep your NJ move on track. To make it even easier on yourself, make sure to hire professional movers like NJ Great Movers. Not only can we help with a basic move, but we also offer other add-ons like packing, unpacking, and more. Reach out and we’ll help you through the process.

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Moving Tips

Moving to NJ From Out-of-State Checklist and Tips

Many people find a small local move challenging and plan a few weeks in advance. Moving to New Jersey from another state requires even more preparation and planning even if you’re coming from the next state over. That doesn’t mean your out-of-state move has to be stressful or difficult. There are plenty of steps you can take to make your NJ relocation a walk in the park.

Visit the Area

Ideally, you’ll be able to physically visit your future home so you can get a good feel for the neighborhood, nearby amenities, and so on. Unfortunately, traveling out-of-state isn’t always affordable. However, if you can squeeze it into your moving budget, seeing the location first hand is always a great idea.

If you can’t physically visit your new home, the next best thing is to find digital resources. Your new town or city might have its own social media account. If not, they will at least have their own website where you can check out the calendar of events, announcements, and so on. You can also “walk” the neighborhood with Google Maps to find the nearest park, grocery store, library, and whatever else is important to you. The more you research, the more  you will feel comfortable when you actually make the move.

Prepare a Moving Calendar

While you might only need 2-3 weeks for a small, local move, you should start preparing for your interstate move at least a month in advance, if not longer. The best way to make sure you get all your tasks done is to first figure out your move date and then count backwards at least 4-6 weeks. If you know you’re going to be busy with work or travel during that timespan, make sure to give yourself even more breathing room. Find and circle the date on the calendar – that’s the day you start with your moving tasks!

Don’t just fill in the calendar haphazardly. First, create a list of all the tasks you need to complete. For example, hiring professional movers, packing, shutting off utilities, purchasing packing supplies, changing your address, etc. Make sure to personalize these tasks to match your needs and prioritize them based on how many days you have until moving day. If you plan on hiring a moving company, you should book them at least a month before your move date, especially if you plan on relocating between May through September.

Create a Budget

Moving out of state isn’t cheap. The average cost of hiring professional movers for a long-distance relocation is close to $5,000. Unlike local moves that charge you an hourly rate, out-of-state movers generally offer a flat rate fee based on the distance, weight, and volume of your move. Ultimately, it means the further you move and the more stuff you have, the higher your final bill. The price only goes up if you include additional services like storage, packing, unpacking, and buying packing supplies. 

Even if you decide to do a DIY move, you’ll still need to pay money for a truck or container, moving supplies, and other expenses like gas, tolls, parking, and more. Plus, you’ll have to load and unload the truck yourself. At best, you’ll be sore for the next few days from lift and carrying heavy boxes and furniture, but at worst you could seriously injure yourself.

Speaking of budget, don’t forget to include costs outside of the actual moving process like some takeout food for the day or two after you move into your new NJ home, new decorations, and even new furniture. 

Choose a Professional Moving Company

If you can spare the money in your budget, hiring a moving company can make your transition to your new New Jersey home a lot easier. Every move is unique, which is why the most reputable New Jersey movers will walk you through the entire process and come up with personalized moving plans based on your needs and budget. Before you call, figure out what you might need as part of your moving plan. Most movers offer services like packing, storage, and more. If you need a full-service experience where movers do the packing for you, make sure to mention it!

Always do your research before hiring the company. Look up online reviews on a variety of sites including Yelp, Google Business, and the Better Business Bureau. Licensed and insured movers also provide their Department of Transportation number, which allows you to search the number to make sure they are up-to-date with their licenses.

Create a Moving File

Filing all documents related to your move is one of the best ways to stay organized and sane. Sure, it’s not fun and is just another thing you have to remember, but you’ll be grateful you have everything in one place. Documents you should store here include:

  • Moving related documents like your estimate, bill of lading, inventory 
  • All personal documents related to you, your child(ren), and/or pets. This includes birth certificate, school records, pet-related documents (vet records, etc)
  • All related bills and utilities that you will need to call to either cancel or update your address

While you can access many of these documents online, it’s still a good idea to have a hard copy version just in case something happens, especially for places like your doctor’s office. If they don’t have a digital portal, call to get a copy of your health records emailed to and print it out. When you find a new doctor, you can hand over your health history on the first day.

Declutter

The less stuff you have, the cheaper your move! Take a look at everything you own and filter out anything that you have used in the past year. Chances are, you won’t miss it! After that, try out the 3-second rule, where you must decide in three seconds if you’ll keep an item in your hand or not and you can’t change your mind after. 

If you end up with a lot of things to get rid of, consider hosting a garage sale. Not only will it help get rid of our unwanted items, it’s also a great way to pad your moving budget. Donate whatever leftover items you have that are in good condition. If you still have a few things left after all that, post it on a local buy nothing group.

Pack Early!

Packing is by far the most time-consuming task. Don’t leave the packing to the last minute. If you want to ensure all of your belongings get to your new home in one piece, you’ll want to set aside a few weeks to pack properly. That includes some prep time to ensure you have all the materials you need including boxes of various sizes, packing tape, padding for fragile items, and packing paper to fill up any gaps in the box.

Split up the packing by section or room and start with the location with the least essential items. That might mean your garage, attic, basement, or guest room. Make sure to label each box appropriately with the room the box should go into as well as basic details on what is inside the box. If you have any fragile items in the box, make sure to write FRAGILE so the movers know to handle them with care.

Don’t forget to pack an essentials bag while you’re at it. Think of this bag/box as what you would take to a two night stay at a hotel and include all these items. The last thing you want to do after you have moved into your new home is dig through boxes to find your toothbrush.

Make all Necessary Travel Arrangements

Moving long distances means figuring out how you’ll get from your old place to your new one. And no, you can’t hitch a ride with the movers. Depending on how far you’re moving and whether you are moving with kids or pets will determine your travel strategy. If you’re relatively close to your new location (a couple hours out), you can simply drive to your new location with no issues. For anything further, you might want to plan out meals, bathroom, and other breaks, especially if you’re moving with young children.

For those who live cross country, a flight will be the fastest and easiest option. However, if you prefer driving, don’t forget to make hotel reservations and plan an itinerary to see some cool things along the way during your road trip. This might not be the best option if you have kids or pets, but it’s great if you’re single.

Move to New Jersey with NJ Great Movers!

If you’re ready to make your move to the Garden State, NJ Great Movers can provide all the information and help you might need. We provide standard long distance moving services along with other add-ons like packing, unpacking, storage, and more. Reach out to us and we’ll walk you through the process.