9 Tips For Making A Long Distance Move Out Of Tampa More Manageable
Relocating can be a hassle, especially when you’re moving a long distance. Packing your belongings and uprooting your entire life to resettle somewhere unfamiliar will stress anyone out.
However, many factors make long-distance relocations necessary. A survey suggests that 28% of Tampa locals wanted to leave the city as they were spending over 40% of their income on rent alone. If you’re also thinking about going away from Tampa to more affordable places, you’re going to have to learn how to make the move more manageable. Here’s how you can do that:
- Plan your move early
A long-distance move becomes easily manageable when planned early. When you plan to move only a few days before relocating, it ceases to be an enjoyable experience, especially if you also have a family. You need 2 -3 months to ensure everything is properly organized and prepared for the move.
- Hire reliable moving services
Enlist the help of movers to make relocation more manageable. You can ask your friends and family to come over and lend you a hand. However, long-distance moves will necessitate recruiting licensed movers experienced in traveling the distance. Data suggest that some 36,000 Tampa residents left Florida for other states annually. Hiring licensed and reputable Tampa long distance moving companies will make relocation stress-free and easily manageable. Make sure these companies have offices in different states and they also:
- Offer online shipment tracking services
- offer the shipment of vehicles and furniture
- Offer the essential packing materials
- Research your new neighborhood
How well do you know your new area? Research your relocation destination and get familiar with it. Meet your new neighbors, find out where the nearest hospitals or supermarkets are, and make sure your friends have your new address. A long-distance move becomes easily manageable when you are familiar with your new home and its surroundings. Researching your new home will reduce your stress about this long-distance move. So, give the new place a look before relocating.
- Move during the off-season
You can save a lot of money on moving services by leaving Tampa, Florida, during the off-season. Since most people relocate during summer (especially in June and August), moving company and real estate rates can fluctuate and not be in your favor. Instead, choose some other months for the long-distance move. Anytime between September and May would be fantastic for an out-of-Florida relocation.
- Declutter, rent storage units
Here’s one tip to make your out-of-Tampa move more affordable and manageable, declutter. 1 in 4 Americans have a clutter problem, and a long-distance move is the right excuse to overcome it. Clean your attic and basement, find all unnecessary items you’ve been hoarding, and throw away the stuff you don’t need in your new home. If you have items too important to throw away, such as family heirlooms, collectibles, and seasonal equipment, rent a self-storage facility to keep them.
An average 5×5 storage unit in Tampa, FL, will cost you $50. But if you don’t plan on returning to Tampa, look for similar services in your new neighborhood.
- Gather packing supplies
Manage your out-of-Tampa long-distance move by overcoming the most common stressor, i.e., the packing process. Packing your entire life and then unpacking it hundreds of miles away can be a very stressful process. But you can make it stress-free by gathering these essential packing supplies:
- Scissors
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Furniture covers
- Moving blankets
- Boxes and cartons
- Labels and markers
- Label all your boxes
Labeling and packing your belongings in boxes will make unpacking easier; you won’t have trouble identifying where items are and where they should go. Use a permanent marker to write the name of the room the box belongs to, such as “dining room” and “bedroom.” Put only the stuff from that room inside the labeled box so you unpack your things in an organized manner.
Also, add a brief description of each box’s contents and any special handling instructions. For instance, write down “fragile” or “handle with care” to help movers know if they’re handling easily breakable stuff. Using plastic bins/tubs is an even better way to store and manage your belongings.
- Don’t leave your current home in a mess
Many landlords require tenants to clean the apartment before leaving. If your lease stipulates such a requirement, you should restore the place for future tenants. Also, change your address before leaving so your mail will be delivered to your new address. Ensure your correspondence is aware of this transition to avoid miscommunication.
Move all utilities, such as gas, water, electricity, and the internet, before leaving Tampa so you won’t have to pay for these services after leaving. On the other hand, make sure these utilities are set up in your new home. So, you can immediately settle in with your family.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget to inform your employer about the move and change your voter registration if you’re moving out of the state.
- Preparing your new home
But preparing the house also requires you to secure it for your folks. For instance, you must change the locks and get new ones made after moving; you don’t know who else has keys to the place. Also, repaint the whole place from top to bottom. Repair the old façade of the house and call professional cleaners to deep-clean the house so you can easily move in.
Conclusion
A long-distance move can be made easy if you plan it right. Try to relocate during the off-season to save your time and money. Pack your stuff properly by procuring all the necessary supplies. Declutter so you have fewer things to transport. Inform your employer about the relocation and change your utilities. It is better to keep-clean the house before settling. Hire long-distance movers to make moving easier.
