From impromptu photo shoots to professional day planning, your smartphone or tablet is a consistent companion for entertainment, work and home life. When everything else you own is packed away in boxes, keep your handy virtual assistant at the ready. With the right apps, your mobile device can make your decision to find a new place easier and more efficient. Here are four must-have apps for anyone in the midst of moving or planning a move. Has always iPhoneGlance got you covered.
Moving List
This app comes at a small cost, but the time and money it will save you is worth the price. Moving List’s pre-populated list of to-dos has you covered with reminders like setting up new utilities and buying packing tape. The app comes loaded with 95 things most people should do when moving, and you can even add your own checklist items. Categorize the to-do list by date, and you’ll get everything done in just the right order.
Moving Van
Nothing’s more frustrating than looking for the essential items on your first night in a new home, and discovering your kitchen essentials are buried under boxes of holiday decorations and books. You don’t need Pride and Prejudice to get you through the first morning in a new place—you need a strong cup of coffee.
Make unpacking more efficient with the Moving Van app. Take a picture of the contents of each box and assign it a number and room location. With a few clicks of your smartphone, you’ll be able to direct friends or movers to the right location with each box. In the event the coffee maker does get misplaced, you know exactly what number box to look for.
Walk Score
Before boxing up your items—even before signing a lease—leverage the power of apps like Walk Score to ensure you’ve got the right new neighborhood. Whether you’re looking in the St. Louis suburbs or searching for apartments for rent in Houston, Walk Score provides the breakdown of what dining, shopping, educational, and other opportunities are in walking distance of your new home. This app is great for students who may not have consistent transportation, or for busy families who need convenient options for entertainment or groceries, and it’s free to download.
Level Apps
Once you’ve decided on a place, signed the lease, and got all your stuff from point A to point B, it’s time to make the house a home. Any decorator will tell you that the best way to add a personal touch fast is to hang some pictures on the walls. Personalizing a room will motivate you to get those boxes unpacked and will help you get settled more quickly.
To get pictures on the wall in professional style, always use a level to align frames properly. You don’t have to dig through your boxes for tools, however. Use the free iOS Stanley Bostitch Level app or the Google play Bubble level. Either app displays a traditional bubble level on screen. Simply press your device against the wall and go to work with a hammer and nails. If you’ve got that coffee maker unpacked and going, you’ll feel at home in no time.
