Do you have to move into a temporary house or apartment? Whether you plan to do renovations, your new home isn’t ready yet, or you relocate for a temporary work assignment, a short-term move combines the challenges of any big move with the unique needs of a temporary housing stay. How can you have the best success with yours? Discover five key tips.

1. Use Professional Movers

The added complexity of a short-term move makes professional assistance invaluable. Not only will you need to keep things more organized, but you’ll have to move everything twice. Your friends and family may not appreciate having to do double the labor, and you may not have the time or energy for it.

Make sure your budget includes a minimum of professional moving services. If you can’t afford to let movers do all the work, at least hire them for the heavy lifting or specific tasks. But the more you outsource, the less you’ll have to stress about during this complicated time.

2. Bundle Multiple Services

Keep your temporary move more organized and simpler by using one moving company for as many services as possible. Start by choosing a company that can transport your household goods and store them for you too. This may include either offsite storage at a secure facility or even on your property if doing a remodel or mitigation project.

In addition, some moving companies also offer cleanup work, hauling services to landfills or recyclers, sales of moving supplies, and even assistance with tasks like setting up utilities. You’ll have fewer companies to organize, and you know who you’re dealing with.

3. Think Ahead for the Duration

Look ahead at what may occur during the time you’ll be out of your permanent living situation and pack accordingly. Will this include a change in seasons? Will the kids return to school or sports? Do you or your spouse have work engagements? Are the kids likely to become bored? While you can’t foresee everything that may come up while in temporary housing, try to plan for the most likely eventualities.

4. Keep Your Stuff Organized

One unique facet of using temporary housing is the inclusion of two destinations when packing up your house. Some of your belongings will likely to go your temporary abode while other things – often many more things – will go to storage.

Avoid confusion and misplaced boxes by developing a good organizational plan before you start. The most basic plan may be to simply label each item or box with a color indicating whether it goes to temporary storage or housing. You might also use an app designed for inventory or create your own organizing system online or on paper. Do what works intuitively for you.

5. Don’t Overthink Essentials

For most people in your place, one of the biggest challenges is trying to figure out what the essentials are your family needs in temporary housing. Some like toiletries, work gear, and pet stuff are relatively easy to choose. Other things, like kitchen items or winter clothing, can be a harder decision.

Don’t get so weighed down by this quandary that you’re overloaded. Instead, add a line item in your moving budget to occasionally replace things you may not have realized you’d need. This simple step allows you freedom from worrying that you may miss something. You can even plan to sell duplicated items once everything is over and done with.

Want to know more about managing a move that includes a temporary housing stay? Start by consulting with the experienced team at Island Movers Inc. We’ll help you assess your moving needs, your budget, and your timeline to come up with a plan that minimizes stress and confusion. Call today to learn more.