By Apartment Guide contributor Elizabeth Beasley
Moving. Love it or hate it, we all do it.
Moving is a fact of living. BUT we all have options how we carry it out.
[find-an-apartment]Perhaps the lazy person’s dream move is to an apartment with no stairs, a dishwasher, a washer/dryer and a garbage disposal.
Listen up, lazy people. Here are some must-do moving tips for an easy move that will impress even your laziest of friends.
Hire a professional packer
Sorting and packing is exhausting. To save your brain cells, find a professional organizer who can help. This may seem like a splurge, but it will actually make your move more productive. An organizer can help you make quick decisions about what to keep and what to throw away. They’ll also make sure you pack your boxes in an organized way, so they are easier to unpack. Remember, the ultimate goal is EASY.
Unload your junk the easy way
Next on your to-do-list for a no-effort move is to arrange for someone to pick up the junk you don’t want. Many local agencies are happy to arrange for at-home pick-up. The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity are national organizations that are pros at this. You may also find agencies specific to your community that offer pick-up services. Look for a furniture bank, animal rescue or local resale store.
Splurge for a full-service move
Now that you’ve narrowed down the items you want to move and someone else has packed them smartly, it’s time to hire a moving company. Though a DIY move will certainly save you money, if you are commited to being lazy then you’ll cough up the extra cash for a full-service move. Let them load it, drive the truck to your new doorstep, and unload. That way you can sit back and relax while your mover does all the heavy lifting. Just don’t forget to tip your mover adequately for his awesome efforts.
Scrap your security deposit
This tip is a bit extravagant, but will be worth the money for those of you who hate cleaning and spackling. If you can afford it, tell your landlord to “keep the change” and use your security deposit to cover repairs and a good apartment cleaning. Then you can just walk away and not worry about a thing.
Throw a moving party
Show off your super-lazy moving skills by inviting your friends over for a mimosa-filled moving party to watch your well-paid movers load up the truck. Don’t forget to invite your professional organizer, donation picker-upper and landlord. If it weren’t for them, moving wouldn’t be nearly this easy!
Easy moving is an art form — and if you follow even one of these tips, your move will feel much more effortless. Go ahead, be a little lazy!
Photo credit: Shutterstock / auremar