Puzzle piece #2: T*I*M*E
The second puzzle piece is time-sensitive so you’re going to have to connect it to the OPTIONS one as soon as you can. It’s important to understand that the TIME you have until your move-out day will influence most of your decisions and determine your actions.
Tick, tock, tick tock – there isn’t any time to lose, for the countdown has already begun.
Generally speaking, 4 weeks is the standard period in which a successful house move can be planned and organized (consider yourself lucky if you have that one month at your disposal), while emergency moves (last minute moves) are the hardest ones to pull off.
Add the TIME piece puzzle to realize the universal truth that the only good option for you is to start your moving preparation as soon as your move is confirmed and becomes only a matter of time.
Remember that more time means a higher chance of success with less stress along the way.
How to save time when moving home
Puzzle piece #3: C*H*E*C*K*L*I*S*T
The moment you have added the TIME bit to your home moving puzzle, the next step is to learn how to organize that time in the most efficient way possible. Improper time management is one of the most frequent reasons for failed or disastrous attempts in the world of residential moving.
Look for the CHECKLIST-labeled puzzle part and link it directly to the TIME one to form the foundation for a local or cross country relocation without any major problems or setbacks.
A good moving checklist will introduce structure and will force order into a process that’s notorious for being too complex and confusing in the first place. Which crucial tasks are you expected to complete for a smooth move? When should you take care of all those jobs?
It’s the third puzzle piece that will make you see the big picture much clearer – remember that a customized and prioritized moving checklist will be your most trusted ally.
Interactive moving checklist with 90 must-do tasks
Your week-by-week moving checklist
Puzzle piece #4: C*O*S*T
No matter how thoughtfully and cautiously you choose to piece your house move together, the COST puzzle bit will always pop up to remind you that your hard-earned money is on the line here.
Of course, your relocation puzzle won’t be really complete without solving the How-much-does-it-cost-to-move-house bit. It can be a real struggle to keep your moving costs from going through the roof, so what can you do?
The best cost-saving advice is to first learn how the moving price is formed and then to use that knowledge to your advantage.
When moving across town or within the same state, local moving companies will charge you by the hour. Alternatively, local truck rental companies will give you quotes based on truck size, rental duration, and seasonal availability of vehicles.
When moving across the country, long distance moving companies will give you estimates based on move distance, shipment weight, specialty items, additional services, and exact moving date.
How much does it cost to hire movers?
Puzzle piece #5: D*I*Y
The DIY puzzle piece can be a tricky one to incorporate successfully into the relocation enigma you’re trying to solve. Why? The self-moving fragment requires too many conditions to be met in order to click safely into place.
You’re moving locally within a radius of around 100 miles inside the same state. Check.
You have previous experience in organizing and executing a home move. Check.
You do not own any specialty items that require professional packing and moving. Check.
You have good friends who will definitely give you a hand when packing up your home and lifting heavy furniture. Check.
You feel comfortable driving a large moving van through unknown territories. Check.
Moving without professional assistance can still be the right option for you. However, the risks and dangers of self-moving, including the hidden DIY costs, could get you into more troubles than you ever anticipated.
7 serious self-moving mistakes to avoid at all costs
Puzzle piece #6: M*O*V*E*R*S
It’s always special when you know you’re midway through solving a tough puzzle – you feel that you’ve made quite a progress but you also realize there’s so much work left to do as well.
Take out the MOVERS bit out of the puzzle box and try to figure out its exact position in relation the 5 other pieces on the table. The good news is that solving properly this bit alone increases tenfold your chances of having a stress-free and headache-free residential move.
Provided that you how to find a reputable and affordable moving company, that is.
Professional movers have years of experience in packing, protecting, and moving all types of household items. What’s more, their efficiency and reliability on Moving day are hard to match – they just know that it takes to maintain a very high level of safety and peace of mind for their customers.
Needless to say, you still want to find a low-cost moving company that offers high-quality services.
How to choose a moving company in 31.5 steps
Puzzle piece #7: P*U*R*G*E
There are only 6 more puzzle pieces to arrange on the table in front of you so that you can better understand the process of moving to a new home. Are you having fun or has that puzzle-solving affair become too much for you?
The next puzzle segment you pull out of the box looks weird and its label reads PURGE. No, this is not a mistake – rather, it’s a moving tip that will let you save hundreds of dollars on your long distance move.
You find it hard to believe, don’t you?
The idea is simple enough – the fewer household items you choose to take with you, especially when it comes to heavier things such as furniture pieces and domestic appliances, the less your shipment weight will be. And reduced weight means greatly decreased transportation charges.
Purge your home of anything unnecessary. If you haven’t used any items in more than 12 months, get rid of them TODAY. You will thank yourself later.
How to get rid of unwanted items when moving house
Puzzle piece #8: B*O*X*E*S
The next puzzle piece (BOXES) will help you initiate the start of the most dreaded pre-move task of them all – PACKING. But before you can even get down to packing up what you can on your own, you will definitely need tens and tens of cardboard boxes to keep your stuff safe and sound during transit.
Attach the BOXES puzzle bit to the PURGE one to realize that professional packers will come with all the high-quality packing materials required for the job, but that extra service will cost you, sometimes a lot.
What if we tell you that you can actually find good cardboard boxes without paying for them?
First, ask around your circle of friends if anyone has spare moving boxes they won’t need anymore? You can use your preferred social network to reach all of your friends at once.
And secondly, local business such as supermarkets, home improvement stores, home electronics stores, bookstores and even liquor stores will most likely give you enough clean, dry and strong cardboard boxes just for the asking.
Where to get free moving boxes [Full Checklist]
Puzzle piece #9: P*A*C*K*I*N*G
Did you just take the PACKING puzzle piece of the box? Oh, dear…
Yes, you know perfectly well that the PACKING fragment should be linked to the BOXES and PURGE bits, but it’s the idea of having to initiate the most time-consuming job in your moving calendar is not too thrilling, to begin with.
In reality, packing for a move doesn’t have to be that scary at all. As long as you start the task early enough, packing up your things little by little every single day can go as smoothly as ever.
Pack by yourself whatever you can – books and clothes, for example, are perfectly safe for all self-packers. However, you may want to leave super heavy items, breakables, antiques and valuables to professional packers who can guarantee the safety of your prized possessions.
In any case, you must follow a good packing timeline to stay one step ahead of your home packing adventure.
Packing timeline: What to pack when for moving
Puzzle piece #10: S*A*F*E*T*Y
You’re very close to solving the riddle of the home moving process – you only have 3 pieces to arrange to see the whole picture up close. The undeniable truth is that the more you understand what you’re dealing with, the better you can handle the relocation challenge.
You pull out a puzzle piece that says SAFETY. You don’t even have to ask yourself how crucial that part is for a problem-free household move.
Good planning will contribute to a good level of overall safety – make sure you plan your actions at least 3 steps ahead.
Ask some of your best friends to help you manage safely that highly transitional period of moving between two homes.
Use adequate moving equipment whenever necessary, especially when you’re about to lift heavy household items (yes, it’s all about the furniture dolly).
And, of course, use proper lifting techniques to avoid painful injuries.
Above all, hiring reputable movers to handle the toughest aspects of your residential move will introduce the ultimate moving day safety and peace of mind you’re after.
8 safety tips to avoid injuries when moving home
Puzzle piece #11: M*O*V*I*N*G + D*A*Y
There are only two puzzle pieces left in the box, and you take out… the MOVING DAY one! Did you know that Moving day is, by far, the most feared day in the entire home moving operation?
Part of that fear comes from the fact that Moving day is the culmination of all your pre-move efforts. In a way, it’s like the day of a big school test where you will have to prove that all your labors prior to that point have not been in vain.
That’s right – the stress on Moving day will reach its peak, so do your best to keep things under control.
Wake up early to give yourself enough time for one final check before your movers arrive. Don’t make the mistake of leaving any tasks for the day of the move, no matter how quick they may seem. Also, moving day safety is paramount – dress appropriately for the occasion and keep small children and pets in a room away from the epicenter of all move-related activities.
And most importantly, do not lose faith that things will be just fine in the end.
9 big moving day mistakes to avoid
Puzzle piece #12: N*E*W + H*O*M*E
The mystery is about to be solved – this is the very last piece of the home moving process and you will be able to see the bigger picture in just a few minutes.
You place the NEW HOME puzzle piece next to the MOVING DAY one, press a bit harder than usual, and it clicks in place, displaying your own house move like you’ve never seen it before.
Congratulations, you have just solved the Intricate Puzzle of Moving House!
Now it’s time to turn your full attention to the new house or apartment you’ve just moved into. Do all you can to turn that new residence, one little step at a time, into the home you’ve always wanted to have.
However, before you can take advantage of these 9 simple ways to make your new place feel like home, it’s about time you survive the very first day in your new place by knowing exactly what to do and why you should do it.
The very first day in your home: What to do and why
Also Read
Take out the very first puzzle piece out of the box. This initial tiny segment represents your viable home moving options, so you’re free to place it anywhere on the table. Talking about the freedom of choice, right?
The second puzzle piece is time-sensitive so you’re going to have to connect it to the 
The moment you have added the 
No matter how thoughtfully and cautiously you choose to piece your house move together, the 
The 
It’s always special when you know you’re midway through solving a tough puzzle – you feel that you’ve made quite a progress but you also realize there’s so much work left to do as well.
There are only 6 more puzzle pieces to arrange on the table in front of you so that you can better understand the process of moving to a new home. Are you having fun or has that puzzle-solving affair become too much for you?
The next puzzle piece (
Did you just take the 
You’re very close to solving the riddle of the home moving process – you only have 3 pieces to arrange to see the whole picture up close. The undeniable truth is that the more you understand what you’re dealing with, the better you can handle the relocation challenge.
There are only two puzzle pieces left in the box, and you take out… the 
The mystery is about to be solved – this is the very last piece of the home moving process and you will be able to see the bigger picture in just a few minutes.
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