Planning and adjusting to a new living space can be an exciting, adventurous time—as long as it's properly planned, of course. With New Home Owner's Day on May 1 kicking off a flurry of fair-weather moving, we thought now would be the perfect time to share four simple senior solutions for those who are making the move from a house to an apartment.
Collectively, they'll help streamline the moving process and keep stress levels low during the move itself.
1. Have a Master Plan
A trouble-free move is about a lot more than just placing things in boxes. Popular home design blog Apartment Therapy suggests making a list well before moving day. Writing out what needs to happen and assigning time periods to each task can help organize your efforts and those of family, friends, or professionals who may be helping you.
Ask yourself questions such as these when you're writing or dictating your list:
- Do utilities and services need to be shut off in your house after your move?
- Have you measured larger pieces of furniture and planned where they will fit in your new apartment?
- Will larger pieces of furniture fit through doorways and corridors in your new building?
- Do you have a plan in place to move pets, important medical supplies or delicate items safely?
- Have you notified your post office, doctors and other offices about your impending change of address?
2. Clean Out Clutter and Unused Items
Provided you have enough time to do so, plan to sort, donate and pare down your belongings just before a move. As Apartment Therapy advises, hauling a dusty, unused dinette or outdated television cabinet to the cozier confines of your new apartment could be a waste of resources and floor space. Packing up clothes that don't fit or aren't in style just means extra boxes to lug to and fro. Your new apartment home is a fresh start, and buying comfortable, contemporary furniture or personal items to celebrate that will give you something fun to look forward to.
If you're ordering new furniture—and, again, make sure to measure to see if it will be a good fit—many furniture showrooms will deliver right to your new address, which saves you the hassle of packing, so make sure you ask about delivery policies and rates.
3. Pack Smart and Be Prepared
Sometimes the best solutions for moving seniors can be the simplest—picking up free boxes from supermarkets and retail stores, for example. When selecting boxes, however, don't forget about padding. Even if the boxes are packed and stacked carefully, one pothole or sharp turn of the moving truck could damage your belongings. If you are bringing linens and clothing with you to your new senior apartment, these can pull double duty when wrapped around plates, vases and other delicate items. Newspapers, bubble wrap and even packing peanuts can also be bought at most office supply chain stores.
4. Set up a "Safe Spot" on Moving Day
Even if you never lift a box, the clutter and disorganization that moving day can bring is very stressful to stare at all day. Designate a room or area, both in your old house and in your new apartment home, as a "clean" space. Explain to anyone who is helping you move that no boxes or items should be placed in these two spots. If you feel overwhelmed or just need a break, these areas will give you a place to go back to and mentally settle for a few minutes. Additionally, if your moving effort runs through lunch or dinnertime, it's a great place to share a snack with your helpers.
If you're worried about something going wrong during your transition to a new apartment, remember that simple solutions like organization and planning will eliminate many issues before they can start. Follow these four tips and you'll be well on your way to a great moving day!
