Few cities in America come close to Chicago when it comes to aesthetics and architectural excellence. After all, it inspired Christopher Nolan’s Gotham. So, if you’re moving from Minneapolis to Chicago, IL, welcome to Gotham (except that there’s no caped crusader).

But as with moving to any new city, there comes a set of challenges. The challenges range from finding a new home to planning the trip and packing the bags. The problems compound if you have a large family with many belongings.

In this article, we will explain how to transition when moving from Minneapolis to Chicago, IL, smoothly. Explore the tips and strategies experts share and implement them when it’s time to move.

Get the right packing supplies

Arguably, the most arduous and time-consuming aspect of relocation is packing. It’s where you’re going to spend most of your time. And it’s also where most people mess up. So, let’s start with packing 101.

To pack items, you need to have the necessary supplies at your disposal. These are:

• Boxes
• Tape
• Scissors and utility knife
• Markers
• Plastic bags
• Bubble wrap
• Blankets

Each of these items has a specific purpose, even the blankets. They are used for wrapping hyper-sensitive items like mirrors with an additional layer of protection.

Another packing item to focus on is boxes. You should ideally get boxes of varying sizes. Corrugated fiberboards are the go-to option for packing. These fiberboards are labeled as A, B, C, E, and F. A and B are used for fragile, smaller items. C and E are for heavier goods and are often used in retail packaging. F is fiberboard used for shoeboxes and packing clamshells.

Packaging will take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on how many things you have. So, set aside an adequate amount of time to complete this task.

Take pictures of certain items before packing

Before packing, you may need to take certain items, such as modular furniture or beds, apart. Before doing that, it’s a good idea to take pictures. This will give you some idea of how to join the pieces back together once you get to your new home.

You should also take photos of the arrangement of certain things in a room. This could be how the sofas are arranged or how a shelf is organized. The point is that this way, you won’t have to start from scratch at your new home. How you’ve already put things in order will give you a framework for setting up those items after your move.

Label, label, label

When packing you will want to know which item goes in which box so you can put boxes in the right rooms and unpack intelligently. That’s why you should label every box with its contents.

Labeling also helps with handling. When a box containing a mirror is marked, “Mirror inside, handle with extra care,” that’s how everyone will handle it. As a result, add any other important information to each box. For example, label fragile items,  indicate which side of the box should go up, and so forth.

Take care of address changes before leaving

Your postal address gets changed when you move from Minneapolis to Chicago. This needs to be reflected in your important documents. Some folks request for address change after they’ve moved in. But it’s better to get this sorted even before you leave Minneapolis.

So, start notifying the post office, banks, utility offices, and other important contacts a few days before leaving. The changes rarely take effect immediately. So, the agencies will take a few days to update the address. The last thing you want is an important mail delivered to your Minneapolis address after you’ve left.

Research your new neighborhood

Once you’ve done the packing and labeling of items, shift your focus to the new home in Chicago. Assuming you’ve already finalized a home, it’s worth looking at the neighborhood.

The crime rate in Chicago is, unfortunately, on the higher side, 67% higher than the national average. There have been reports of motor vehicle theft, assaults, and murder lately. Therefore, for your own safety, you should learn more about the neighborhood you’re relocating to and make sure that your new home is in a safe location.

Some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago are Englewood, West Englewood, Washington Park, Altgeld Gardens, South Deering, etc. The safest ones with low crime rates are Forest Glen, Lincoln Park, Lake View, and Edison Park.

Take the help of Google and public forums to learn more about the locale before moving in.

Road, Rail, or Flight?

Minneapolis and Chicago aren’t far away from each other. Even though they’re in different states and you have to cross Wisconsin, the distance between them is merely 400 miles.

When moving, you need to decide whether you’re traveling via road, rail, or air. Road travel takes 6-7 hours when following the I-94 E and I-90 E. Via rail, you should expect a travel time of 8-9 hours. Flight travel is the shortest, and you should reach Chicago within 2 hours.

Either way, you should decide on the mode of travel. Last-minute tickets usually cost more, and you wouldn’t want to leave in a hurry That’s a recipe for making mistakes and leaving things behind.

Inform loved ones before leaving for Chicago

You’ve laid the foundation for successfully moving from Minneapolis to Chicago. You’ve got things in order. There’s just one final piece – letting friends and family know about your move. Ideally, you will let them know when you make your decision to relocate, giving them plenty of time to help you with the logistics and say goodbye. During your trip, you can also keep them updated about how things are going, in order to ensure a smooth move and strong connections with loved ones even after you relocate.

Hire a Professional Mover

Lastly, to make your move from Minneapolis to Chicago a success, you must hire a reputable and reliable mover. A professional long-distance mover will help you move your belongings safely and securely in a way that causes minimal damage.

So, look for a successful mover near you like Piepho Moving & Storage to take care of your stuff from Minneapolis to Chicago.  As a premier agent of Allied Van Lines, we have 70 years of experience for you to rely on. Contact us to get a quote today.