How to Have a Stress-Free Last Minute Move

So it seems that you’ve found yourself having to move in the next couple of weeks unexpectedly. It’s not an ideal situation for a lot of people, but sometimes it’s what you’ve got to do! There can be a lot of reasons for a last minute move, whether it’s relocating for an existing job, moving for a new job, moving for family reasons, or just needing to be out of your current home and wanting a change of scenery! No matter what situation you find yourself in, pulling a last minute move can be done swiftly and with as little stress as possible on your part. 

So how do you set yourself up for last minute move success? Check out our tips below. 

• Declutter Your Space

If you have plenty of clothes or household items you don’t need or use anymore, get rid of them! Don’t pack more than you have to. Room by room, go through your home and organize things into ‘keep’, ‘donate’, ‘sell’, ‘give away’, or ‘throw out’ categories. You’ll find you’ll save yourself a lot of time in the moving process just by eliminating things to move in the first place. 

• Make Sure All Reservations are Made

Once your space is decluttered, make sure you’ve reserved your moving company or rental truck company for any self-moving needs. A lot of companies can get booked well in advance, especially during the height of moving season, so it’s important to get your reservations squared away as soon as possible. 

• Get Packing Materials

Now that that’s taken care of, it’s time to get packing materials. You can hire professional packers in conjunction with your full service movers, or can usually purchase moving materials from your moving or rental truck company. Don’t want to pay for boxes? Ask around at local businesses or ask friends and family for extra boxes that you can reuse for moving.

• Organize & Pack

When you’ve scored a sufficient amount of boxes and packing materials, it’s time to get down to business! Take packing one room at a time, rather than trying to pack an entire house at once. Start with decorative items or nonessentials, and gradually work your way around the house. Packing doesn’t have to be done in a day – take the stress off and get it done gradually, but efficiently.

Whether your move just snuck up on you or you find yourself having to move in a short time span completely out of the blue, pulling off a last minute move can seem like a tricky process for many, and it certainly can be. However, if you prepare correctly, stay organized, and stick to your timeline, you can absolutely pull off a successful and stress-free last minute move.

Need some more tips? Check out our resource section for more planning and packing hacks.