Many of us hope for happiness in being retired. After a lifetime of labor, we finally get to kick our feet up, relax, and enjoy the bounty of our labors. Many people, however discover that when they get to senior citizen age that they now need to move. Maybe it is because they no longer need the space in their Little Rock home with their children now adults and moved out, maybe it's because they are now living on a fixed income, or maybe they just want to finally pack up to that tropical climate that they always dreamt about. Whatever your reason for moving once you achieve retiree status, it's vital to give the task some deep thought.
Tip #1: Think About Moving in the Fall or Winter
One of the great benefits of being retired is you are no longer constrained by the same schedules as people who have to work. You want to go to the supermarket on a Thursday afternoon? Go ahead, you are in charge of your schedule. Want to catch a movie matinee while everyone else is at work? Enjoy the show! And if you want to move, then you could do so off-season, when both demand and costs at their lowest.
Spring and summe are the busiest times for moving for several good reasons (mild weather, children are out of school, etc.), and as a result it's also the most expensive time of year to move. Changing your move date by a few months one way or the other can save you money.
Tip #2: If You Don't Need It, Don't Pack It
The more years you live in a house, the more clutter you collect. Everything, from shoes you haven't worn in a long time, to papers from a job you barely recollect, fills in the nooks and crannies in your home. So, before you begin packing, have a culling. A good rule of thumb is to ask whether you have used the item in the last half of a decade. If not, you probably don't need it. So, throw it away, gift it, give it away to friends or family, but if you don't have to have it, don't pack it.
Tip #3: Make a Plan
Moving is something that requires planning, not on the fly, especially not when you're a retiree. You should pause, do some investigating, and make sure you have everything organized. You need to know where you're moving to, how you're going to get there, if you should hire a professional Little Rock mover, your timeline, and most importantly, you need to have the costs figured out to the last dollar. And, just to be extra cautious, you should have a Plan B in place, just in case something changes, or doesn't work out the way you want or need it to.
Tip #4: Prepare
Planning is when you write out your agenda; preparation is when you start getting ready. When you prepare for a move, you whittle down your possessions, setting aside cash for the moving costs, deciding when to start working with a realtor, etc. Preparation is key.
Tip #5: Take Your Time
Moving shouldn’t be done in a rush. Decisions need to be decided upon with care, and you should have all the facts on-hand before deciding on anything. Additionally you should set aside time to prepare and to take care of any loose ends that remain before you say goodbye and head off to your new home. There isn’t any reason to rush, so go at a pace you're comfortable with.
Need help with all the above? A-1 Freeman Moving Group in Little Rock can expertly guide you at every step in the moving process. Get a free estimate here.
