3 Tips for Moving a Short Distance in Des Moines

Short distance moves are a different animal than long distance moves. You don't have to pack as tightly and thoroughly as you would for a cross-country move, and you probably don't have to worry about details like registering your car and changing your auto insurance.

That being said, a short distance move in Des Moines still requires a lot of work. If you get lazy and neglect your planning, you could end up in a disastrous situation. The following three tips can help.

It's not necessary to actually write everything down, but it's important to know about how much stuff you'll be moving. This will help you to determine what kind of truck to rent, how many boxes and packing supplies to acquire, and how much help you'll need.

If you find that you have more stuff than you want to move, make a plan for getting rid of some of it. You might hold a moving sale, or you can donate unused items to a local charity like Goodwill. You could also post pictures of unused items on social media and see if any of your friends could use them.

It's easy to get lazy and think, "I'm just driving a few miles. I'll just throw everything in the car and drive back and forth." It's true: you could try this method, but this is a recipe for a move that will seem endless.

Don't underestimate the power of a box. It allows you to sort, label, stack, and carry quite a lot at one time. If you don't want to spend money on boxes, ask your local produce department if they can hold some apple boxes for you. Liquor boxes are also great for transporting breakables.

One of the most difficult aspects of moving a short distance is that most people don't take enough time off. They figure they can just squeeze their move into their off hours or on a weekend, so they don't take time off from work.

If you find yourself in this situation, give yourself a break by keeping necessities handy at all times. Pack a special box with essentials: a towel, soap and shampoo, pillow, clean sheets, a change of clean clothes, non-perishable snacks, etc. This box can be a lifesaver when you find yourself in your new apartment home amidst a sea of boxes and disassembled furniture.

Remember that we're here for you. Take a break from unpacking at our free coffee bar and don't hesitate to contact the on-site management if you have questions as you're moving in.

What short distance moving tips can you offer? Leave them in the comments section below!