Plan Your Move With Smart Relocation Strategies

Moving is like a big game of chess. There are lots of pieces that have to be moved around strategically so you can win at the relocation game. And just like chess, you have to come up with a well-thought-out strategy to ensure your move goes smoothly and exactly as planned. This will help you avoid surprises, unexpected obstacles and unforeseen difficulties along the way.

We can help you develop a strategy for tackling the beginning phases of your residential move.

When to Start Planning

You may be wondering just how far in advance you should start planning your move. Ideally, you want to leave yourself plenty of time to consider all aspects of your relocation, whether it’s a complex one or a fairly simple one. A good rule of thumb is to start planning as soon as you know you’re moving. This could take anywhere from one month or sooner to six months or longer.

Here’s what to consider in coming up with your timeline:

Relocation distance: The further away you plan to move, the more complicated the move will be. Start many months in advance to avoid a time crunch at the end.
Size of move: The bigger the household, the longer it will take to plan for the relocation.
Timing: If you are moving in peak season, which is generally May to September, start planning earlier than if you are moving in the off season (fall and winter). In spring and summer, movers are in high demand and usually charge their highest rates. It’s also their busy season, making it hard for you to get the slot you want.

Where to Start

Next, you’ll have to do some research to learn about your new neighborhood.

Research the job market: Find out what the career opportunities and employment options are in the new city.
Learn the cost of living so you’re better able to plan post-relocation expenses for anything from transportation and food to utilities and medical care.
Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations, and check out the main facilities in your town, such as the police department, city hall, etc.
Find out where the recreation options are, as well as the best schools, libraries, etc.

Logistics

Now, move onto the next phase of your move: the logistics.

Come up with a moving date: Once you have this date set in stone, everything else will fall into place. This will help guide you as you square away utilities, book your movers, and schedule your first day on the job as well as the first day of school for your kids. You may wonder how you will pick a date. Well, this is highly dependent on your specific circumstances, such as the start of a new job, the end of the school year, the end of a lease agreement, and seasonal considerations, such as weather and traffic conditions.
Create a moving timeline: Develop a detailed to-do-list to include all the tasks you have to complete prior to the big day. Prioritize each task according to their complexity, importance, and urgency. Break each task down into mini-goals, focus on one at a time, and then check them off when done.
Set your budget: Plan for the costs of the movers themselves, packing supplies, travel costs, insurance costs, contingency expenses and post-relocation expenses.

Now that you’ve taken all these initial steps to complete your relocation plan, you can proceed with the preparations for the actual move.