If you’ve ever experienced the stress that is involved with temporary residential moves you know stress. Managing your life while closing on a home or waiting for your apartment to be ready certainly qualifies. Even though your home isn’t ready for you to move into, you have options. We’ll walk you through your options and even give you a few tips.
Managing your life in between homes can be done! It just takes planning.
See If Your Landlord Will Give an Extension
See if your landlord can work with you with the move out date. Explain the situation and they may be willing to work with you. In some major cities, this is harder to do, and your landlord may prorate the days you stay longer.
For storage ask the new landlord if you could store stuff at your new place while they get it ready. Some times they are willing to do that. Be wary, however, sometimes there isn’t a way for things to stay safe and your items could get damaged. Local moving and storage companies are great because not only will they store your items, but they’ll also move them when you are ready.
Dorm and College Moving
Moving from the dorms back home or to your first apartment? You can make it easy with dorm room moving companies like Men on the Move. We help college moves all the time and can assist with yours!
The biggest thing you’ll have to account for is where to put your stuff. You need a secure place that will keep your personal items safe and secure. Yes you could ask your friends, but no one wants to put people out like that for long periods of time. If you’re waiting for your home to open up, and think it may be a while, you should look into temporary secure storage spaces.
If you need a company that can house your stuff temporarily, we here at Men on the Move can help. See our secure storage page for details.
You yourself will need a place to rest your head. There are a few options for you depending on the time frame of which you’ll need to. For short term displacement, family or with a friend is probably the safest and easiest. Be wary of looking on Craig’s list or random posts. Extended stays at hotels can be an option, many offer discounts if not in travel or business centers. There are temporary spaces to rent, such as short term leases and single month leasing. You’ll have to do some research and price compare to see what your best option is.
If you are moving your stuff to a storage container, we recommend thinking carefully about packing. Put non-essential items in the back, and items you’re more likely to use in the front. Boxes you would want to consider keeping closer to the front: Office items, any kitchen items you can’t live with out (coffee maker we’re looking at you), and clothes that you may need.
Pack an “essentials” Bag and Box
Make sure you leave one box (a personal bag) filled with items you will use on a regular basis. Much like a “vacation bag” pack like you’ll be gone on vacation. Clothes and toiletries you’ll need and any items you’ll want on a regular basis, make sure they are accessible. We highly recommend having an entertainment bag, a personal bag, and an odds and ends bag (for kitchen items you can’t live with out and other odds and ends that you’ll need).
For all your moving needs, choose Men on the Move to assist. We can help you with packing supplies, short term moves, temporary storage!
When preparing to move out of an apartment in Michigan we recommend giving yourself 6-8 weeks. Giving yourself enough time will reduce stress levels that come with apartment moving, and ensure that everything is prepared for your first day in your new home. If you do not have that much time, its okay, use this information as a guide for apartment moving in Michigan.
Begin your apartment moving preparation by creating a moving journal where you will keep notes 
or important information during your moving process. This is the time in which you will want to decide if you will be moving or hiring a professional moving company in Michigan. Plan your moving budget, if you are moving long distance, moving intrastate, or even moving interstate, and will be shipping items prior to moving, be sure to incorporate that into your Michigan moving budget.
Check with your apartment landlord to see how much notice is required before moving, also check with your new landlord to see any restrictions the complex may have on moving into a new apartment. Look into new school districts, begin the change of address process, and make a list of who you need to notify about your move.
Begin planning how you will arrange the furniture in your new home, this will help if you need to downsize prior to your move. Also, start gathering moving boxes or moving supplies.
Remember that moving companies typically charge based on weight and distance. Use your last 4-5 weeks prior to a Michigan Move to use some of your food, detergents, or other items that you routinely purchase from the store. If you have valuable items that you wish to not have on the moving truck, plan what you will be transporting or shipping. Begin packing your items and continue to make address changes if necessary.
Contact your hired moving company to make sure they do not have restrictions on what they can move. Look over your lease and see what types of cleaning or maintenance you must do on your current apartment to ensure that you receive your security deposit back if applicable.
Call your utility companies and schedule a day to have your utilities transferred to your new residence. This will ensure that everything is livable the day of your move and ready for you the first night in your new home.
Take time to confirm all scheduled appointments, meetings, or child care arrangements. Be sure to include a follow-up call to your moving company to ensure that there are no changes and everything is still on schedule.
Double check that everything around your apartment is ready for your move out inspection. Have a box of cleaning supplies handy in case you need to touch up or realize you missed something. Also, ensure that you keep a priority box out and accessible so that you have what you need for your first night in your new home.
If you have any last minute packing to do, do it. Be sure to do a walk-through of your apartment, turning off lights to rooms you have completed your walkthrough in. Also, turn off your thermostat and any appliances that need to stay in your apartment.
Before the moving truck leaves your apartment to ensure that they have your cell phone number and you have yours to keep contact in case something happens during transit.
When you arrive at your new home directly the movers in which room each box or item goes so that it is easier to unpack and set up your new home.
For more information be sure to check out our printable PDFs on moving tips for Michigan residents. Allow us to give you a quote for your residential apartment move in Michigan today.
