Moving is a complicated process, whether you're moving across town or to the other side of the country. Packing up your entire life is a chore that can easily take weeks or even months, but you don't always have that much time. Circumstances can sometimes force moves to take place in relatively short order, but you don’t need to panic if you find yourself with less time than you'd like.

As with any significant project, the key to a quick move is to plan as well as you can and take a systematic approach. This guide will help you to understand the steps you should take to ensure your move goes off without a hitch, even if you need to get packed and moved out in the blink of an eye.

Step 1: Hire Movers

Whether you're moving on short notice or you've just procrastinated, your first step is to get in touch with movers — right away! Many moving companies have busy schedules and may not be able to accommodate an exact time or date on short notice. Scheduling conflicts can be especially tricky to navigate if you're moving a long distance or across states.

All of this means that the sooner you call to schedule an appointment, the less stress you'll have as your moving day approaches. Some movers may also want to schedule an in-person visit before giving you a quote, especially if you're hiring a packing service. More importantly, you can plan the rest of your preparation and packing based on the availability of your movers.

Step 2: Develop a Strategy

Once you know when your movers will be available, take stock of your current situation. Be realistic about your plan. Moving out of a small apartment in a week is a much easier task than packing up a two-story house in that time. If possible, try to identify the rooms in your home that will require the most time and effort to pack.

For quickly moving, there are two generally useful strategies to keep in mind: rapid downsizing and minimal organization. To downsize rapidly, be prepared to toss out anything that you aren't sure you want to keep. Taking this approach will minimize how much you need to pack and also reduce trips to the store for additional packing materials.

When packing things that you do want to keep, don't worry about excessive organization. Pack your items safely and securely, but don’t spend an excessive amount of time packing items by room or purpose. Instead, focus on getting your possessions into boxes as efficiently and quickly as you can.

Step 3: Consider Professional Help

After taking stock of your situation, don't be afraid to admit that you do not have enough time to pack all of your belongings. Hiring a professional packing service is a great way to turn a month's worth of packing into a day or two of work. In many cases, you may be able to use the same moving service also to help you with packing.

To reduce costs, you can focus on packing smaller or easier rooms and only use professionals for tougher jobs. Taking this approach can help you to save money while still enjoying the benefits of professional packing help.

Step 4: Don't Skip Final Preparations

It's easy to miss the simple stuff when you're rushing, but don't neglect to take a few steps to make your home safer for your movers. Before moving day arrives, be sure that you remove loose items from floors and keep a safe path to the truck. If you are leaving furniture or other large items behind, move them out of the way to help your movers get their work done more quickly and safely.

Whether you're packing quickly or you have all the time in the world, O'Sullivan Moving & Storage Co. can be your reliable moving partner. Contact us when you're ready to start developing the perfect moving plan for your situation.