The best apps are designed to make your life easier, whether that involves setting up a date for Friday night, building a grocery list or teaching you to meditate.
So it should come as no surprise that there are dozens of apps that can ease you through one of life’s most stressful transitions: moving.
Need a ride?
Maybe you don’t need professional movers, but you do have a few larger pieces that can’t fit in your car, no matter how many Tetris-inspired maneuvers you try. If you’re an Uber fan, there are a couple of moving apps that also contribute to the sharing economy.
Buddytruk can help you find drivers who have larger vehicles and are willing to help with your move. Adam Singleton, marketing coordinator at the international coffee shop Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen, recently used a similar app, Haulzi, and called it a lifesaver for his move.
“You can connect with people with large flatbed trucks based on geographic proximity, you negotiate a price within the app and you’re all set,” he said.
A little wary? Both companies provide liability insurance and run background checks on their drivers. Buddytruk and Haulzi are both limited to certain areas for now, so check their websites to find out which one can help you get that dresser from point A to point B.
Where’s my can opener?
You’ve finished bringing the last boxes to your new place and you can’t wait to climb into bed. But which box contains your pajamas? Your alarm clock? Your clothes for work tomorrow?
Instead of frantically tearing open box after box or deciphering your spouse’s illegible Sharpie scrawl, download an app that helps keep your items organized and sorted throughout the entire moving process.
Both Sortly and Encircle allow you to create intuitive inventory lists organized with custom categories. The best feature for your move is the ability to print labels complete with QR codes. With each box labeled, you can scan the code and quickly identify the items inside.
Would you give me 20 bucks for it?
Why do you have three toasters? We’re not sure, but when you’re moving, the last thing you want to do is pack and haul items you don’t need.
Enter Listia, Wallapop, and Gone. These apps give you access to peer-to-peer marketplaces where you can either find a new home for your unwanted possessions or scout out new items you need.
Wallapop helps you carry out fast transactions by organizing listings by the seller’s proximity to you. This app also features a photo-centric design that makes browsing a delight – and maybe a little addicting, noted Wallapop user Liz Thompson of Austin, TX. Thompson loves the app’s chat feature, which can also speed up negotiations and transactions.
Listia sets itself apart by using a barter system. Users can get rid of unwanted possession, receive payment in the form of points and trade those points in for new or second-hand items.
“Everyone gets something they value and no money really changes hands,” said Listia user Jennifer Ashworth of Raleigh, NC.
If you really don’t want to lift a finger, try Gone. You simply take a picture of your electronics and this app does almost everything else. It determines the appropriate price, sends you boxes with prepaid shipping labels and makes the sale – all while you sit back and wait for the payment. If you live in Austin or San Francisco, someone will even come to your home and pick up the items – no packing necessary.
