No one likes moving. Whether you’re moving homes or to a new office, the process can be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. Luckily, technology has made moving easier for everyone. With the help of automation, virtual assistants, and apps, relocating is easier than ever. Here’s how technology is used to streamline relocations:

Property Apps

Imagine finding your dream home before the invention of the internet. Previously, you had to rely on a realtor to find homes in a particular area. While many people still use realtors, they can start shopping for their next home or office from the comfort of their homes to help prioritize the features they want. 

Property apps can help you find houses and offices in any location and sort them by property type, price, and features. These technologies save real estate agents and their clients time and energy because you only have to tour properties you’re interested in. Then, once you’ve found one you want to see in person, you can book a tour directly from the app. 

Calculators

Online affordability calculators can help prospective homeowners learn how much they can afford to borrow from a lender. By answering just a few questions and providing some basic information, you can determine how much you need for a deposit based on a home’s price. You can also use these calculates to determine how much of a home you can afford based on your salary, credit score, and current interest rates. These calculators can also be helpful for renters to see how much they can budget out for rent payments, especially with the growing trends in rentals, including higher rent.

Apply for Loans Online

Traveling to office buildings is a thing of the past. Now you can meet your mortgage lender online from the comfort of your home. Applying for a mortgage is easy; simply fill out an online application and provide all the documents they ask for. Of course, you still have to communicate with mortgage lenders, especially if you have questions. Still, getting approved for a loan is faster because lenders use digital tools and automation to streamline the approval and underwriting processes. 

Online Bookings

We’ve already mentioned that you can book home and office tours online, but you can also book your movers directly from their websites. Most movers allow you to obtain a quote by answering a few basic questions and immediately booking your move.

Digital Inventory Apps

Technology can make your relocation more efficient by helping you document all of your belongings. If you have a large office or tons of stuff you need to move into a new home, you should always keep track of all your stuff to ensure nothing gets left out. Depending on your moving company, you may have to document all of your belongings, which means reading through the inventory pages and signing off before they can leave. This time-consuming task is now streamlined by digital inventories that allow the company to use barcodes and labels for every item and box. Then, as each item is loaded, it’s automatically scanned and documented digitally to ensure everything is on the truck. 

Tracking

If you’re making a long-distance move, you might have anxiety about when your belongings will arrive at your new home. There are tons of logistics to take care of. For example, you have to ensure you’re at your new home before the movers so you can welcome them. Additionally, you have to ensure the moving company can meet you at your new home in time. 

Digital tools allow you to track the moving truck by logging onto the company website. From your account, you can see the truck’s location and estimated arrival times or receive updates via text or email. 

Digital Payments

Online banking makes moving easier by automatically paying for services without worrying about getting billed. With digital payments, you don’t have to send a check or wait in line at the bank to make a payment. If you are a business owner, you should also consider utilizing digital payments for your business bank accounts, incase you have to move offices in the future.  Instead, you can enter your credit card information on the website to put down a deposit or pay for the services in full. Additionally, many moving companies offer discounts for individuals who pay online.  

Moving Equipment

Moving technology isn’t just limited to digital tools. Now, moving companies use high-tech moving equipment to enable them to provide better, more efficient services. For example, moving and storage companies might use climate-controlled storage units and moving trucks to protect your belongings from the elements. While this might seem like a small advancement, it can benefit individuals or business owners with perishable goods that need to be transferred long distances or any other goods that need to be protected. 

Furnishing Your Home or Office

Online shopping has made it easier for people to furnish their homes and offices. Instead of visiting multiple stores in a single day, you can order everything you need online and have it shipped to your new location. For example, you can order personalized photo plaques for the office or furniture like mattresses, sofas, chairs, and televisions for the home. 

Social Media

While moving companies use social media to market their services, consumers use it to learn more about service providers in their area. Many people use social media to find reviews for local businesses, and it’s no different for moving companies. Now, people can more easily decide which moving companies to use by searching social media or asking for recommendations from family and friends. 

Online Consignment Stores

Consignment stores not only allow you to find clothing, furniture, and knick-knacks for your new home or office, but they allow you to sell the things you no longer need. For example, when you clean out your closet for a move, you might find clothes you no longer wear. Some of those clothes can be sold to online consignment stores, which will send you a box and shipping label and purchase some of your old belongings. In addition, online consignment stores can help you earn money during your move and put that money to good use by using it to pay for some of the various expenses associated with moving. 

Move Smart

Technology has changed the way we move. As more companies switch to advanced technology, they’ll pass the advantages on to their customers. Now, you can track your moving truck, pay online, and purchase or sell belongings from the comfort of your home. As technology advances, moving will only get easier and more cost-effective. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer who loves to share knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness, and financial tips. During her free time, she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

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