How to Move in a Hurry

Even a well-planned move can be a stressful experience that puts your life on hold for weeks at a time. Anyone will tell you that it takes a lot of time and effort to find a decent apartment, especially in the city. And packing with care and effort will greatly reduce the time it takes to get organized in your new place.

Sometimes, though, you might not have the luxury of taking your time and planning a careful move. Every once in awhile, life will throw you a curveball and you might need to move in a hurry. So when your neighbors start selling crack or your house gets listed for demolition to make way for a superhighway, here's how to find an apartment and move into it within a week.

Gather all the necessary information you'll need to apply for apartments.

You want to be prepared to apply for an apartment as soon as you find one you like. To apply for an apartment, you'll need proof of income in the form of recent pay stubs and employer contact information. If your income comes in the form of student loans or generous relatives, you'll need your financial award statement from school or bank statements to prove you can pay your rent. Generally, your rent cannot be more than one-third of your gross monthly income (or your before-tax) pay.

You should know your last several addresses and be prepared to provide current and past landlord contact information. Some rental applications are more in-depth than others, but be prepared to fill out information on your last three places of residence.

Bring identification in the form of a state ID or Driver's License. In some cases, you'll need to give identification to view an apartment, and you'll definitely need it for the application.

Make a list of apartments to see.

Scour the local papers and Craigslist for recent apartment listings. Keep track of the places that meet your needs and the contact information for each. Number each apartment on your list from most desirable to "it'll do." Then start making phone calls for each. Try to schedule viewings as soon as possible, and be prepared to get up early or go out within the hour.

In the city, the best places rent within hours of being posted, so be patient if you get a lot of voicemails. Leave specific messages with your contact information and the address of the apartment you would like to see. When you receive return calls, be very specific about what you need in an apartment so you don't waste the leasing agent's or your time. Mention any pets; ask about security deposits and things like laundry and parking. If the apartment still sounds worth looking at, schedule an appointment.

Schedule more appointments than you think you need.

Keep making calls and appointments until you've booked yourself for a couple days straight. An apartment will not usually look anything like the picture you see online, and newspaper listings rarely mention things like an apartment's roach infestation or lack of windows.

Even if you think you are going to visit your dream apartment first thing in the morning, do go to look at that place tonight. You can always call back and cancel an appointment, but you can't get back a wasted day. And if an apartment seems okay but not ideal, it's easier to say "I'll think about it" when you know you still have a few more options.

Use an apartment finding service.

If looking at apartments on your own isn't getting you anywhere, make an appointment with an apartment finding service. They will have many listings that don't get advertised elsewhere and will drive you around to look at places that match your search criteria.

The drawback to using an apartment finding service is that you can usually find a better deal on your own. Apartment finding services are free because the landlord pays (usually one month's rent) to the company for finding tenants. The advantage of using an apartment finding service is that you can see lots of apartments quickly and they can push the necessary paperwork through to get you approved in a hurry. Moving in a hurry can be more expensive than moving with a careful plan, but sometimes the little extra money saves you a lot of time in the end.

Get moving supplies.

You can sometimes score free boxes from Craigslist, local stores, or the Uhaul recycled box bins, but don't count on it. Moving in a hurry means you'll probably end up spending money on supplies.

If you buy boxes from Uhaul, buy more than you think you'll need. This might save you a last-minute trip later. Uhaul has a great policy where you can return any unused boxes for a full refund. Hang on to your receipt! You'll also need packing tape, and something to wrap breakables in. I recommend using sweaters, towels and sheets to save money and time (not to mention the environment).

Pack, and don't be sentimental.

Packing should go quickly if you don't put too much thought into it. If you have limited time to move, you can worry about sorting everything out in your new place. Throw out anything that's broken or that you haven't used in awhile, or schedule a Salvation Army pick-up if you have things worth donating. Post unwanted furniture on Craigslist and let other people haul it away for you. Now is not the time to worry about recycling or labeling every box with a specific content list.

Figure out who's going to move you, and be willing to pay for it.

If you have friends and family willing to help you lift things, use them! But if your move is extremely last minute, you'll probably require professional help. Hiring movers saves a lot of stress at the end because they bring the truck and do all the work, leaving you free to finish last minute cleaning. And...Voila! You'll be in your new place in no time.