Are you wondering how to move to Lancaster, PA? First, know that living in Lancaster is a great choice. Lancaster is one of the most excellent places to live in the North East. The big task ahead of you, of course, is to get here. Whether local or long distance, moving is a royal pain in the backside, even if you have excellent movers. There is so much to do, and so many things to remember; it can be completely overwhelming.
The good news is that MooveIn Self Storage is here to help! We’ve put together this handy list of tips on How To Move to Lancaster to make things much easier! One of our best advice is this; make sure you have a Lancaster storage unit on standby. If your closing falls through and you need to store your stuff, MooveIn is more affordable than any mover. Plus, with our month-to-month rental agreements, you can rent as long or short as you like. Now let’s take a look at those Top Moving Tips!
What’s it Like Living in Lancaster, PA Like?
We’re deep in the heart of Amish Country, and our city is vibrant and diverse. Plus, there’s so much to do here you’ll never get bored! We have a wonderful downtown area that’s very walkable. It features a wide range of excellent shops and restaurants. Last but not least, Lancaster is an affordable place to live, especially for being so close to New York City. Check out this article on where to live in Lancaster, PA based on your personality!
Is Lancaster a Nice Place to Live?
Living in Lancaster, PA, has so many pros, as we mentioned above. Residents of Lancaster have known this for a long time. Lancaster was voted the #2 Best Places to Live for Quality of Life by U.S. News. That’s out of 125 of America’s most significant metro areas based on a wide range of criteria. There’s no denying that Lancaster is a beautiful, safe and affordable place to live.
Tips on Moving to Lancaster, PA:
Tip #1: Start Planning As Early As Possible
Sometimes people start planning their move too late. There’s so much to do before moving that trying to do it in the last few days is almost impossible. That’s especially true if you’re moving from a large house with lots of stuff. Suppose you’re moving from another state to Pennsylvania, which adds even more to your to-do list. Throw in children and pets, and the next thing you know, your to-do list will be a mile long!
What we suggest is that you start planning your move at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance. Frankly, the more time you give yourself, the better. That way, you can handle one or two moving tasks a day in between all of your regular daily errands. It also allows you to get them done in a more organized, less stressful way.
Tip #2: Get A Few Moving Estimates Right Away
One of the keys to a less stressful move is to find an excellent moving company as soon as you can. Don’t wait until the last minute, or even two or three weeks before you move. If you do, you might find that the only movers available are the ones at the bottom of the barrel.
We recommend getting three or four moving estimates so that you can compare them more easily. If you only get two, then you won’t know who is correct if they’re wildly different in price. If you get four or more, all of the numbers and data can get somewhat confusing. When comparing your estimate, make sure to compare, as they say, apples to apples. The four most important things to compare are these:
- Weight your salesperson estimated
- Packing and boxes they estimated
- Insurance they included
- Any extra services like crating, piano moving, car shipping, etc.
All 4 of these things will determine the cost of your move. The weight and packing are, by far, the most costly. The more of each you have, the more expensive your move will be.
Tip #3: Have a Yard Sale To Lower Your Moving Costs
When you’re figuring out how to move to Lancaster, saving money should be at the top of your mind. After all, moving is an expensive affair. That’s especially true if you’re moving from out of state, but even a local move can get costly. As we mentioned, two of the main expenses are the amount of weight that you’re moving and the amount of packing. If you’re looking to lower your move’s cost, the best way is to get rid of stuff. The best way to do that, of course, is to have a yard sale. If you’re a single person or a young couple, you might not have that much stuff. In your case, a yard sale might not be necessary. But if you’ve raised a family and live in a large house, it’s another story altogether. It’s almost sure you have lots of things you don’t need, use, or want anymore. In your case, having a yard sale is perfect. You can get rid of all that stuff and make a couple of extra bucks simultaneously.
Tip #4: Donate Useful Things To Charity
If you don’t want to hold a yard sale, donating any useful things you have to charity is a great idea. First off, it will save you a lot of money on your move. Second, it will help someone in need. Lastly, it will make you feel good about yourself, knowing that you’ve helped someone. All cities have places to donate, and Lancaster is no different. Some of them will even come to you and pick up your gently used stuff, which is extremely convenient. (Extra Tip- If you donate a lot, make sure to ask for a receipt so that you can deduct it from your taxes.)
Tip #5: Make a List Of All the Things You Need to Do
If you’re all about making lists, then moving is your time to shine! There’s nothing better than a list that you can check off as tasks get slowly but indeed accomplished.
To get you started, we put together a list of some of the significant tasks ahead.
- Contact a few moving companies to get estimates.
- Contact a car shipping company if you plan to ship your car.
- Start gathering your children’s school paperwork and transcripts.
- Get all family medical records from your family doctor.
- Make arrangements to change banking and empty your safety deposit box.
- Throw a yard sale.
- Have your car tuned up if you plan to drive it to Lancaster
- Start gathering moving boxes if you plan to pack yourself.
- Contact all your utility companies to have them disconnected.
- Contact utility companies in Lancaster to connect your new services.
- Start putting aside anything that needs to stay with you during the move.
- Contact your local Goodwill or charities to have them come pick up things you’re donating.
Tip #6: Don’t Move Yourself
Here’s a fact; moving furniture is stressful, challenging, and even dangerous. That’s why we recommend you hire a professional moving company to move you to Lancaster. This is especially true if you have a large house filled with lots of furniture. Professional movers know how to move furniture the right way!
Tip #7: Rent a Storage Unit
One of the problems we see when people move to Lancaster is that their home closing falls through. Usually, it happens when the movers are on their way, which is awful timing. It forces you to put your items into their storage, which can be extremely expensive. That’s why we recommend renting a storage unit in Lancaster.
The truth is, our storage units are much more affordable than most moving companies. Also, we offer month-to-month leases so you won’t get trapped in a long-term contract. If you only need the storage unit for a few weeks, no problem. Plus, you can easily rent one of our Lancaster storage units online. Just fill in our easy application, pick the right size storage unit, and you’re all set! It’ll be ready when your movers arrive. Even better, moving trucks can quickly get through our large front gates.
MooveIn Self Storage offers clean and secure self-storage facilities all over Lancaster, PA. We protect our facilities with 24/7 video security, and we also have friendly managers on-site every day. That sizeable front gate? It’s keypad-controlled for extra safety, and we light our facilities at night. In short, we offer safe, affordable storage with easy access. If you have any questions, you can chat with our manager online right now. Until then, best of luck with your move and we’ll see you when you get here!
