When Should You Move? Where Should You Live?

Young people just starting their careers and perhaps living on their own for the first time generally move into apartments or a small rental house. After a while, they may move to a larger apartment or home that has more square feet than their first home. Many couples typically begin married life in an apartment or condo. 

Then, as life goes on, things change. The couple has a baby or plans to have children — they need more space. An apartment dweller wants to adopt a dog — he or she needs a yard and sidewalks. Young people who are well on their way to successful careers may be ready to invest in property. These are a few of the reasons that cause people to move from a smaller dwelling into a single-family home of their own. 

Once the decision has been made to move from a smaller home to a larger home, how do they decide where this home should be? Buying a house is the biggest investment most people will ever make, so careful consideration of the location is of the utmost importance. What should you look for when deciding where to live? 
The accompanying infographic, Go Big AND Go Home … Deciding When to Move and Where to Live, presents a list of the top five reasons people move from apartments and condominiums into single-family homes. It also offers tips for what you should look for in a new neighborhood based on your unique lifestyle. Review this infographic when you’re ready to make your move.

Graphic created by New City Moving, a provider of professional moving services.

How to Prepare and Pack a Moving Truck

There are many aspects to moving that cause dread in people, including finding a new place to live, boxing all your possessions up, and setting up everything in your new home. But others believe that the most difficult part of a move is loading everything into the truck. Ensuring that everything is properly loaded and secured is the best way to make sure that everything arrives at your new home in one piece. For those of us who aren’t masters of Tetris, here is how to prepare and pack a moving truck before your next move.

Prepare for the Truck

Being prepared for your moving truck is one of the simplest methods for cutting down the time it takes to move. Start by determining the truck size that you need by taking an inventory of your belongings. The next step is to get the supplies for the boxes and anybody who will be helping with the move. Disassemble any large furniture before the truck arrives to avoid wasting time.

Pack Boxes Properly

Ensuring all your valuables are safely and securely packed in boxes can be a daunting task if you are unprepared. There are varying opinions on the best way to pack moving boxes, but there are some things that they all have in common. One such tip is to make sure that moving boxes aren’t over or under packed to avoid unnecessary injury. It’s also agreed upon that labeling your boxes on all sides is the best way to prevent fragile items from getting broken. Finally, use old household items such as t-shirts, stuffed animals, and towels to pack between items in the boxes to avoid objects sliding around and shattering.

Securing the Vehicle

The biggest challenge in loading a moving truck is trying to prevent items from shifting around during transit. Loading heavier and larger items first is the best way to begin because it gives you an idea of how much space you have left to work with and to avoid them being set on anything fragile. Next, load the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lightest on top. Use loose items such as blankets, bags of clothing, linens, or anything else that isn’t fragile to fill as much of the empty space as possible. Finally, put any fragile and unboxed items on top to avoid them getting crushed when boxes shift.

It is important for anybody loading a moving truck to remember to take your time and be as safe as possible. Knowing how to prepare and pack a moving truck allows you to enjoy your new home sooner.

Guest Post - Should I Move House By Myself?: The Pros And Cons Of A DIY Move

When you are moving house, you are inevitably posed with the responsibility of making many difficult choices. Among these is whether you should hire someone to help you move or if you should do it all yourself. 

Moving is expensive. The budget is often the biggest concern during such situations. Most people choose to move their belongings themselves rather than hire a moving company. This, however, shouldn’t always be the case. To help you decide if a DIY moving job is truly the way to go for you, we’ve come up with a list comparing its advantages and disadvantages. 

Understanding The Alternative: Man and Van and Removals Companies

Before learning the disadvantages of moving house by yourself, it is essential for you to understand how the alternative option works.

A man and van is essentially a transportation service usually composed of a man, his van, and sometimes, another crew member to help out with the heavy lifting. They are often used for home and office relocations, student removals, self-storage move-ins, single item or parcel collection and delivery, courier services for large items, and many more. 

Traditionally, a relocation job by a man and van service would only mean getting assistance for the carrying, loading, and transportation of your goods. However, in recent years, many man and van service providers have been open to making a full service move, which includes the acquisition of packing supplies, as well as packing up your belongings.

A removals company, on the other hand, provides quite similar services, but on a much bigger scale. Instead of the usual man and his van, a removals company would have an entire crew to help disassemble, pack, transport, unpack, and even arrange your belongings when you move. 

The Pros and Cons of Moving House By Yourself

Now that you understand the alternative to moving house by yourself, you may start comparing the advantages and disadvantages of a DIY house move. 

DIY Move: Pros

You Have Full Control

Essentially, this means you will be moving on your own terms, your own pace, and your own schedule. You can make decisions without having to take into consideration the limitations and service contract provisions of your man and van.

Additionally, you won’t have to worry about any of your valuable items being packed in with less important stuff, nor would you have to worry about your movers unpacking your boxes in furniture elsewhere, aside from the designated room.

You’re Not Paying Professional Help

There is a lot that goes into the computation of a man and van’s fees. By going the DIY route, you are potentially saving a fair amount of money. 

A DIY move also saves you the trouble of figuring out which man and van company you will want to hire. 

You Won’t Need To Worry About Handing Off Your Belongings To Strangers

If you are not too keen on the idea of someone you do not know handling the items you cherish and have worked hard for, a DIY move would be the best option. After all, it means you’ll always have that peace of mind knowing your goods are safe and secure under your care. 

DIY Move: Cons

The Move Will Be More Stressful

By hiring a man and van, you are essentially saving yourself the trouble of organizing and coordinating the logistics of getting your items from one point to another. However, a DIY move means you’ll have to take care of most of the logistics yourself. This includes:

• Looking for an appropriately sized rental moving truck.

• Estimating and determining the number of boxes you need.

• Purchasing or acquisition of said boxes and other packing materials. Looking for free moving boxes? Check this out!

• Recruiting people you know to help you out with the move. 

• Planning how to load up everything into the moving truck. 

Aside from this, you will also be doing the packing and heavy lifting, which is a stressful task all in itself, especially when you do not possess the necessary skill or experience of doing so.

Physical Stress

Speaking of doing all the heavy lifting, not hiring a man and van also puts you at risk for moving-related injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries one may acquire while moving house:

• Back injuries

• Cuts and bruises to the body

• Inguinal hernia

• Injuries to your extremities (hands, feet, toes, fingers)

• Knee injuries

• Muscle contusion

• Muscle cramps

• Muscle strain

• Sprained ankles

You Are Risking Damage To Your Belongings 

Most movers, including man and van companies, provide basic insurance coverage for the items you will be asking them to move. So, if any of your belongings do get damaged, you know you will be fairly compensated for its repair or replacement.

However, if you are moving everything yourself, you are risking losing that security. You are solely responsible for your belongings, which means no one else will be held accountable for any of your lost or damaged items. 

To minimise the damage on your items, check out this guide to safeguarding your furniture while moving. 

You’ll Be Spending Just As Much As You Would With A Relocation Company

Unlikely as it may seem, moving house yourself may cost you just as much as hiring a man and van. Chances are, it’ll even cost you more.

From the cost of wrapping and packing materials to the moving truck’s rent and fuel costs, you’re already looking at a few hundred and even a few thousand pounds! The only difference? You’ll have the help and guidance of moving and packing experts with a man and van!

Am I Making The Right Choice?

Ultimately, only you can tell if you are making the “correct” decision for yourself. As mentioned, your budget, as well as your preferences, lifestyle, and the distance of your move, will all factor into this decision, so be sure to evaluate one before choosing. 

Author bio: This guest post is courtesy of WhatStorage, a Bournemouth-based price comparison site for moving services in the UK. WhatStorage offers price comparison services for self-storage facilities, removals companies, and man and van service providers. 

Guest Post - Moving With Pets: How Pets Get Into Their New Home Stress-Free

Moving is an exciting moment for two-legged friends and four-legged friends alike: new smells and a new environment have to be discovered, and beloved routines have to be given up for the time being. So that you and your pets get through this particular time stress-free and with as little hectic as possible, we provide you with some valuable tips and tricks.

Five valuable points for preparing to move with pets:

1. From a legal point of view, landlords cannot prohibit this, but they can veto it. It is best to discuss it directly when viewing the apartment.

2. A holding permit is required for some exotic animals and "dangerous dogs." Find out in advance from the responsible department in the city or municipality. The regulations differ from state to state.

3. Find a new veterinarian before moving and note the necessary addresses and phone numbers for the animal emergency call.

4. While moving with your pets, bring food that your pets are used to and already familiar with. The more things are the same as in the old home, the easier it is for your four-legged friend to move.

5. After moving, treat your animals as you always do. Continue old rituals and avoid engaging in unique and unusual behaviors.

Helpful Tips When You're Moving With Dog

Minimize stress and preserve the old how well a dog can cope with a move, how relaxed it can cope with the hustle and bustle, and how quickly it gets used to the new home depends on breed, character, and you. Each animal shows different behaviors during the home relocation.

The good thing is for dogs, mistress and master are the reference points. It doesn't matter where you are. The core concept is that while you are there for your pets regardless if you’re in the old place or the new.

Allow your dog to rest on the day of the move:

Apart from hiring reliable movers and packers, moving always means a certain amount of stress for you and your four-legged friend. Therefore, it is all the more essential to offer your dog as much peace as possible. As soon as the movers start packing, dogs can feel how the apartment is gradually changing - this sometimes creates uncertainty and excitement.

It is, therefore, essential to ensure peace, especially on the day of the move. In the best case, family members or friends will take care of your dog. If this is not possible, boarding houses or a dog sitter are an option. However, note that the dog is already familiar with these "experiences" and is not thrown into the deep end.

Setting up an empty room to relax:

If you can't put your four-legged friend somewhere else on the day of the move, you can set up a relaxing place elsewhere. Before the moving truck arrives, create an empty room to store the baskets, food, water, and toys. So your dog has a real place of retreat, and the hustle and bustle are minimized. Also, the four-legged friends do not scurry around between your legs, which is even relaxing for both sides.

You try to set up the same in the new apartment: An empty room where your dog can wait until everything is clear.

Transporting the dog to the new apartment:

You don't have to "reinvent" too many things. Proceed as you always do when transporting your dog by car. Ideally, you drive yourself in your private vehicle and not in the moving van. Your dog travels in the usual transport box or strapped on the back seat. If the excitement gets too big, treats help.

Also, prepare a box with the essential things for your dog: food, toys, blankets, if necessary, Medication. So you have everything to hand during the move.

Register the dog at the new place of residence:

Usually, you have to register your four-legged friend and pay dog ​​tax when moving to a new municipality. To establish that everything runs smoothly, you should deregister your dog at the old place of residence. You get back any dog ​​tax you paid too much.

You register your dog with the residents' registration office or the tax office for dog tax. You will then receive a valid dog tax stamp, which you must always carry visibly (e.g., on a collar or a leash).

The familiarization period:

When the move is made, it is time for the dog and owner to get used to the new surroundings - preferably together! Ideally, your dog will not stay home alone for the first few days. In contrast to cats, a dog is primarily a pack animal and not a territory. Wherever you feel good, your dog will also feel good. Go for long walks so that the four-legged friends get used to the new surroundings and get to know the neighboring dogs.

Basic Things to Keep in Mind Before Moving With Your Cat:

In contrast to dogs, cats are far more sensitive to local changes. It is because they are real territorial animals and have their own fixed territory. Moving is, therefore, a tremendous challenge for cats. But if you heed these tips, it will also work for your velvet paws!

1. In contrast to dogs, cats are far more sensitive to local changes. It is because they are real territorial animals and have their own fixed territory. Moving is, therefore, a tremendous challenge for cats. But if you heed these tips, it will also work for your velvet paws!

2. Preferably, bring your cats with friends and family.

3. Create a free space where your cat can stay on the move day - including water, food, toys, and litter boxes.

4. Even when you move in, an empty room in your cat's new apartment offers a safe shelter.

5. Take familiar furniture with you: sofa, scratching post, and other everyday objects give the cat a feeling of being at home.

6. Transport your cats in the usual transport boxes you also use to visit the vet. Make sure that your animals are already familiar with the package. 

7. Gradually get your cat used to the new environment. Don't let the pets go straight outside. Your cat may feel disoriented because it has not yet staked out its territory. The acclimatization phase can take four or more weeks.

Note: that rank fights can take place among several cats. Prepare to respond accordingly.

How to move caged animals:

If dogs and cats require a lot of organizational talent when moving, caged animals are much more frugal. Hamsters, guinea pigs, budgies, and the like can easily change the scenery because they stay in their cage. However, there are a few things to carry in mind.

The general change of residence is not a big challenge for rodents and birds. Only on the day of the move should you keep the stress as low as possible. The following applies here: It is best to leave a cage or stable with friends the day before. If this is not possible, place the cell in a quiet corner and cover it with a blanket to allow air to pass through.

Transporting caged animals to the new apartment:

At best, your pets will move in their cage. Make sure that houses, caves, and toys cannot tip over and injure the rodents. Alternatively, equip a tall cardboard box with litter and hay. Provide sufficient water and food. Special care must be taken with birds: the cage should be covered during transport to avoid drafts. Otherwise, this harbors health risks.

Particular case "exotic animals":

According to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance, anyone who keeps tarantulas, scorpions, or poisonous snakes at home must register and register their pets with the nature conservation authority as an animal population report. Find out in detail which animal species are included and whether your animals are subject to registration.

Author Bio:

About Israt Jahan Femi, Israt Jahan Femi is a copywriter and content manager specializing in digital marketing, email marketing, sales, and growth. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isratjahanfemi/