16 Tips to Help Your Pet Transition to Your New Home

Moving is already a stressful ordeal, but having to move on short notice comes with added challenges. Transtar Moving Systems understands how difficult this situation can be and how hard it is to find advice from people who have moved in a short time frame. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best tips and tricks you can use to make the most out of this situation. Let us guide you through the process of packing up a house, selecting a moving company and flourishing in your new home, all within a short amount of time.

General Tips for Moving on Short Notice

In the best-case scenario, you would have plenty of time to plan your move. However, there are instances where you have to plan and execute a move within a short amount of time, and it can seem like there’s a mountain of tasks to accomplish. Even if you don’t have extra time, there are some tips you can follow so you can still have a successful move:

• Organize everything: Make a checklist and schedule so you can stay on top of all moving tasks. A checklist will help you prioritize what’s important and remember what you need to complete as deadlines approach.
• Take inventory: Go through every room in your house and find out precisely what you have. Take this opportunity to determine if anything needs to be replaced, like a sofa or an old TV. Consider buying a replacement for your new home instead of holding on to the outdated version. Knowing what you have will also make it easier to pack once you get to that stage.
• Get rid of clutter: Once you’ve taken inventory, you’ll likely find things that you don’t need or don’t use anymore. Use this time to sell or donate what you don’t need, saving you a lot of space during your move.
• Collect packing materials: You don’t want to run out of boxes or packing tape before you’ve finished the job. Start collecting packing materials early, such as packing peanuts, labels, tissue paper and plenty of boxes.
• Pre-pack: Once you know you’re moving, you can start packing items you don’t use often. Packing these items in advance will help cut down on the packing you need to do the closer you get to your moving date.
• Create a labeling system: Now that you’ve started to pack everything, you’re going to want to have a plan in place, so you know what is in each box when you go to unpack. You can do this by writing on each box with a marker or creating a color-coded system that assigns a color to boxes organized by specific rooms.
• Pack a first-night box: After the move, you’re likely not going to want to spend your first night looking through boxes trying to find the things you need. Instead, pack a first-night box with all of the essentials, such as blankets, toothbrushes, soap, chargers and any other items you’ll need. Be sure to label it so you can find it easily when you arrive in your new place.
• Discuss the move with family and friends: Let your family and friends know that you’re going to move. They may be able to offer advice or even help you during the process! If you’re moving with children, sit down and discuss why the move is happening and listen to their feelings. Young children may not fully understand what it means to move yet, and they may have questions and concerns that you can answer.
• Ask for help: Friends and family may be able to help you pack and load boxes into the truck, but you can also hire a moving company that will help you move on short notice. The trained professionals will help you load the van, move to the next destination and unload the truck efficiently and quickly.

A short-term move doesn’t have to be stressful. Take it one step at a time, create a plan of action and make moving arrangements as soon as possible. That way, you have a solid foundation and jumping-off point. If you need to, ask for help from your support network or a moving company near you to help with the process.

How Do You Plan a Move?

A successful move requires careful planning and a well-thought-out strategy. Whether you’re making a big move across the country or moving across town, you’ll want to follow a plan of action you’ve created to achieve the best results. Some of the best moving plans include:

• Planning ahead: Not setting enough time aside to organize your move is one of the most common moving mistakes you can make. You’ll need plenty of time to alert moving services and pack up your residence. There will also be paperwork and other logistics to handle that should be accounted for early on.
• Creating a checklist: You should start your checklist early and used it as a moving schedule to complete certain tasks by a specific date. For example, you’ll want to begin packing around six weeks before your move date and start taking care of the cleaning process a few days before the move, so you don’t have to do it the day of.
• Setting a budget: Multiple costs go into a move, such as hiring a moving company, buying moving supplies and travel expenses. List all of the expenses you anticipate and create a budget, so you know what you’re spending and where.
• Researching moving services: Start researching moving companies as soon as you know you’re going to move so that you have plenty of time to pick the best one and can fit into their availability. Get a free quote or estimate to compare and see if it fits into your budget.
• Taking care of necessities: An efficient move requires a few essentials to be taken care of, such as servicing your car and ordering moving supplies. Make a list of what you need to get done and tackle each of these promptly.

Take into account what your moving date will be as well. It is better to move on some days than it is on others. Weekdays are often the best time to move — weekends are generally busier, both for moving companies and for other businesses. If you can schedule your move on a weekday, you’ll likely have an easier time getting a moving date that works with your timeline.

How Do You Pack up a House to Move Quickly?

If you’re moving soon, you probably have to pack quickly, and making this process easy will help you move more efficiently. Here are some quick packing tips to help you move out on short notice:

• Stick to your checklist: The checklist is here to guide you and keep everything organized, so you don’t forget anything. Keep track of your inventory here, a comprehensive task list and what you should have completed at the end of each day.
• Have a packing process: The method you choose to pack your house may be different from someone else’s but come up with a plan to organize the process. This way, you’ll be able to keep track of everything and be able to find it easier when you unpack. Choose something that will help you, whether that’s labeling everything with stickers or color-coding your boxes, so you know what belongs in each room.
• Recruit a team: Friends and family can help you pack when you haven’t got a lot of time. You can even make a day out of it. Host a small get-together at your home and offer food and drinks to those who help you pack.
• Be picky: There are probably a lot of items in your home that you don’t need or don’t even realize are taking up space. When you find these items, choose to either sell them, donate them or throw them out. They’ll only take up space when you move and require more effort to pack.
• Plan a day to run errands: There are tasks you’ll have to take care of outside of the home to make your transition from one location to the next will be more seamless. Take a day or two to get all of this done. Get your car serviced, transfer your utilities, change your mailing address and check with your home and auto insurance providers to determine what changes need to occur. Also, take this day as an opportunity to stock up on moving supplies if you’ve run out or haven’t purchased them yet.
• Look for short notice movers near you: Moving companies are great for helping you move across town or out of state, and some can even help you do this on short notice. Do your research and see if you can find a company to assist you with your move so you can focus on other important tasks.

How Do You Move out of State on Short Notice?

Whether you’re following a job or just looking for a change of pace, moving out of state can be an exciting new adventure. Moving on short notice can be overwhelming, but that’s why we’ve compiled the lists above and these additional tips to help your move run smoothly:

• Give your landlord notice: As soon as you know you have to move, let your landlord know, if you have one. There will likely be some paperwork to sort through, and there might be early termination fees to account for.
• Collecting necessary records: You’ve collected a lot of records over the years, whether that’s for school, medical or pet procedures. Make sure to have these records transferred to your new location, so your new doctors and school systems have access to what they need.
• Schedule a vet appointment: When you’re moving out of state, you may find that you need to have something called a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). This document would include helpful information such as vaccine records, breed information and the location you’re moving your pet to. In some states, if you don’t have a CVI with you, they may quarantine your pets to ensure they are healthy and are carrying no diseases. CVI’s have different expiration dates depending on the state, so be sure to get one from your vet right before you move.

How Do You Move Locally on Short Notice?

Moving locally isn’t as life-changing as moving out of state, but it does come with its challenges. Here are some additional tips to make a local move seamless:

• Request time off work: Let work know that you’re going to need a day off to meet the moving company and get everything to your new home. Many workplaces require these requests to be submitted in advance, so let your boss know as soon as you can. If you can’t take time off on your moving day, have a family or friend meet your moving company instead.
• Plan alternatives for your kids and pets: Young children and pets may be stressed on moving day. Have a plan set for them to be somewhere else, if possible, such as with a family member. Then, you won’t have to worry about them while you’re loading up the moving truck.
• Do a final sweep: You don’t want to leave anything behind when you move, so when you’ve got everything packed into the moving van, run through your home one more time to make sure you’ve loaded everything you’re taking with you.

How Much Notice Does a Moving Company Need?

While many movers work with people who know well in advance that they will be moving, there is such a thing as short-term movers. There are a few questions that need to be answered that will influence how much notice a moving company needs:

• What day are you moving? Is it during a weekend or holiday?
• What is the size of your move?
• How complex is the job?

Generally, a moving company needs about four to eight weeks’ notice to prepare for your move properly. You’re more likely to get a date sooner if you choose to move on a weekday. If you’re moving to the other side of town, moving companies may only need about two weeks’ notice.

At Transtar Moving Systems, we can help you with every step of the moving process. This includes packing your belongings into an organized system, loading everything into the moving truck and transporting your possessions to your new home. Our movers are highly trained, so none of your items get damaged in transit. Once we arrive, we unload the truck for you and help you set up the furniture in your new home to simplify your move.

Schedule Your Move With Transtar Moving Systems

If you have to move on short notice and need a short-term moving team, Transtar Moving Systems can help. Our professional team of movers can help you transition from one location to the next with proficiency and ease. Whether you’re moving to the other side of town or out of state, we’ve got you covered. Request a free quote today or call us at 855-720-7833.