Tech: Apps to Make Moving In or Out of Davis Easier
As we move into August, some residents especially UC Davis students are starting to plan their moves, either into or out of their Davis apartment. Sometimes you just have to move to another Davis apartment at the same Tandem Properties community or a sister community. In any case, you have to gather your stuff from where it is and then move it to wherever you want it to be next. To help you out, we’ve scoured the internet to find you the best apps to make moving in or out of Davis easier. Here are a few of our favorites:
The Huffington Post has Top 6 Apps for Every Renter on the Move, which includes:
Nextdoor: The social aspect of moving can be very daunting. But, with over 33,000 neighborhoods already participating on Nextdoor, downloading this community centric app should be on top of your moving to-do list. You’re probably wondering if you’ll like your neighbors, how long it’ll take to make new friends, or who would know the best neighborhood bar. Nextdoor is a safe and secure social network that connects neighbors to one another to uncover the answers to all of the above. Nextdoor promotes neighborhood safety, but also creates a forum for sharing (babysitters, cooking supplies, etc.). We’re calling this one a winner.
Sortly: You’ve got your sharpie markers, durable masking tape and extra large brown boxes — it’s time to start packing! Not so fast — have you downloaded Sortly? Sortly is a must have for any renter on the move. This app allows you to organize all of your items by creating a visual inventory that you can take on the go. Simply choose a category, snap a picture and tag the item with a description. Create a different folder to match each of your boxes and fill the folder with pictures of all of your stuff. When it finally comes time to unpack and you and your roommate are arguing over where you boxed the wine opener, just defer to Sortly — you won’t be screwed!
BrightNest: Whether you’re moving from your college dorm to your first apartment or you’re just on your way to fresh start, BrightNest has tons of home improvement and organization hacks that are sure to impress even the savviest of renters. This app essentially helps create and maintain a customized to-do list for your home. BrightNest is especially handy for renters who are moving to an entirely new and unfamiliar city. The app incorporates unique data specific to your area (based on your response to a few basic questions) and then curates tasks specifically designed for you and your home. Stick with this app and your life post-move will be bright from the start!
CableMover suggests:
Organization
There are at least half a dozen apps to get your move organized.Moving List (iPhone, $2.99) and Moving Planner(Android, 99¢) are two of the most common. These apps do little beyond providing checklists, but they’ll keep you on track for doing what needs to be done and knowing when to do it.
For more advanced assistance, choose the My Move(Android and iPhone, free) or Moving Day(iPhone, free) apps. They go beyond checklists to help you find and review moving companies, calculate the size of moving truck needed, and create barcodes and labels for your boxes.
Stores, Services and Reviews
Around Me (iPhone and Android, free)
Is the moving van running low on gas? Need to find something for that pounding headache? Locate the nearest grocery store, gas station, bank or post office with this indispensable app. Newer versions enable you to make hotel or dinner reservations and track down the best gas prices.
Yelp (iPhone and Android, free)
Find nationwide reviews from real people on everything from auto mechanics to (petting) zoos. Or locate a restaurant that can accommodate the diet of your gluten-free five year old.
Homefinder has Top 10 Moving Apps To Make the Big Move Easier, which suggests (in addition to some of the apps mentioned before):
1.) MoveMatch (Android ™, Free) – Only available on the Android platform, “MoveMatch” can help you determine the approximate weight of all your items, and it also creates a list that you can forward to professional movers, explaining where to drop off which boxes.
6.) SmartStop Self Storage’s Inventory Tracker (iPhone, Free) – Regardless of whether or not you have a storage unit at a SmartStop Self Storage facility, you can use their app to keep track of where your items are inside your storage locker, regardless of the facility.
7.) Let’s Storage (iPhone, $1.99) – “Let’s Storage” is great if you have multiple self-storage units. This iPhone app helps you estimate the amount of space you will need to store your items, and it’s perfect for keeping track of the location of your stored items.
8.) Moving Van (iPhone, $1.99) – As you pack your boxes, use the “Moving Van” app to record the exact contents of each box. If you’re looking for an item that you haven’t unpacked yet, this app will allow you to run a search on your phone to find out which box that item is located in. “Moving Van” also allows you to export your inventory list as either a PDF or as text in the body of an email.
10.) iMoving (iPad, Free) – This aesthetically well-designed app allows you to simultaneously obtain accurate moving quotes while you build your moving inventory room-by-room.
Got other to suggest? Please let us know!
