Moving into Your Austin, Texas Apartment

Most of us move rarely, and even those who move regularly describe it as a task to be avoided if at all possible. If you are moving into an apartment for the first time, whether in Austin, Dallas or anywhere else in Texas, you need to plan carefully.  The degree of difficulty is determined by what you’ve accumulated over the years—how much furniture you have, whether you have pets, and most importantly, if you have enough money to get partial or full professional help.  In any of these cases, you can make the process a lot easier by careful planning.  Treat it as a military exercise, and you’re the general.  Unfortunately you don’t have any troops.  You’re an army of one, unless you can get friends to help.  And really, that is one of the best ways to move into an apartment cost-effectively, whether in Austin, Texas or anywhere else. 

Your first job as the general of this exercise is to conduct an inventory of your resources, and those of friends if they are willing to contribute.  Let’s assume you are going to save money and move yourself, so first thing you’ll need to establish is whether you have to rent a truck or a friend has a reasonable sized pickup.  Then, assess and make general lists of all the items that need to be moved and calculate the approximate number of boxes that will be required. 

Also, make a list of all the items of furniture that need to be moved—all those things that you can’t fit into the boxes.  Start packing your boxes well before the moving day—certainly at least a week before.  Get organized as you pack and label the boxes by room or item—kitchen utensils, linens, clothing, toiletries, office equipment, books—and always keep a separate box for things you will need right away when you arrive at your new apartment, and things you might want to use right up to the moment before the move, such as:

• Aspirin (moving is very stressful and you might need them before, during and after the move.)
• Money, credit cards and keys to the new apartment.  Don’t laugh.  It’s surprising how many people pack them away.
• Snack foods, such as trail mix
• First aid kit
• Retractable blade knife and basic tool kit, including tape, screw driver, hammer, pliers, wire
• Garbage bags
• Flashlight
• Bedding
• Water

When you have estimated the number of boxes needed, make sure the boxes you bring home are clean and sturdy.  I know it’s tempting to go behind the local store and bring back boxes of differing sizes and condition.  But resist that temptation.  It isn’t worth it.  They are not necessarily going to hold together.  You might even bring roach eggs into your new domain if you use old boxes!  You can purchase good, sturdy boxes from UPS or the local moving or shipping companies.  And boxes of uniform size have the advantage of stacking better.  You’ll pay a little more but it’ll be worth it because your belongings will be better protected.  Make sure you wrap breakable items individually and minimize movement inside the boxes by using old newspapers or polystyrene.  Blankets, bedding and towels can be useful for this purpose also.  Also put your heavier items in small boxes to make them easier to carry, and remove all items from drawers before moving heavy furniture such as desks and dressers.

So plan for every contingency but, like every good general be ready for the unexpected whether you are moving into an apartment in Austin, Houston, Dallas or anywhere else in Texas. What can go wrong will go wrong, so stay calm because this too shall pass.