Did you know that May is National Moving Month? We are gearing up for the busiest season of the year with moves and our NEAT New York City owner, Maria is sharing her best tips for moving. As you can imagine, New York is NOT the easiest place to move in or out of so Maria has learned every trick in the book and is here to share them with you today!
Hi NEAT readers! With personal experience moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn and then BACK to Manhattan again (I missed it!), I am so happy to be able to share with you some of my expert advice when it comes to moves today. Hopefully my five favorite tips can make your upcoming move as stress-free as possible.
2. Pack Early
This is a big one that we've seen ignored time and time again. You start with the best intentions, telling yourself you'll start packing weeks in advance and that everything will be perfectly packed and organized by room. And then life gets in the way and before you know it, it's the night before the movers are coming. You frantically throw anything you can into the nearest box and tell yourself you'll deal with it when you unpack. Except it's a million times harder on that end and you immediately regret not doing it the right way from the start. Avoid that regret by having a plan – set aside a little time each day in the two weeks leading up to the wedding to pack one or two boxes. That way, it's not overwhelming and you can avoid the last minute rush.
3. Use the Right Supplies
One of the biggest changes we've seen in recent years is the rise in reusable moving supplies, and we are huge fans. Companies like BoxUp allow consumers to rent reusable moving boxes and the process couldn't be easier. They drop the boxes off at your current residence and pick them up at your new home a few days (or weeks) after your move. The boxes are sturdy and durable and allow movers to move your belongings more quickly than they could if they were in cardboard boxes. And, as an added bonus, there are no boxes to break down and get rid of at the end of your move, making your to-do list that much shorter.
4. Edit on the Front End
Moving is the perfect time to go through your belongings and decide if you'd like to donate, consign or toss anything. As you pull things out to pack them up, evaluate whether or not it's something you really want to bring to your new space. If it's not, set it aside in a pile for donating or consigning. If it's something you're not quite sure about, consider putting it in off-site storage for six months. If you don't need it or miss it in that time, you know what to do with it. In New York, we love companies who will pick up your unwanted stuff, store it for you, and then deliver it back to you on-demand.
5. Clean up After Yourself
Last but not least, make sure you leave your space as clean as possible. This is especially important in NYC, where you can be charged a hefty fee for leaving anything not nailed to the wall behind. If you have a lot of junk to dispose of and aren't quite sure how or where to get rid of it, call in experts like the guys at Junkluggers. They'll come over, give you an estimate based on how much you have to get rid of, and then cart it all off without you having to lift a finger. Best of all, they are eco-friendly and try to donate as much of their pickup as possible.
Hopefully your next move will be just a TINY bit simpler with these tips. Most importantly, remember that if you get overwhelmed, there is a NEAT team close by!
xx
the NEAT team
