Moving can be an extremely stressful time. Cleaning, organizing and packing can all add to the chaos of moving. That is why you should plan ahead as much as possible before your move to help it go smoothly. Keep reading to find out the best ways to prepare for your move, pack and choose a moving company.
Preparing for Your Move
There are a lot of things to plan when it comes to moving. The best way to remember what you need to do is to write out an old fashioned list. A moving checklist can help to jog your memory of all the things you need to do to prepare for your move.
Moving Checklist
- Sort rooms
- Get boxes
- Label
- Purge items
- Donate items
- Pack
- Clean
- Change your address for mail
- Choose a moving company
Packing
Packing is usually one of the most dreaded steps of moving. It can seem like an everlasting task with no end in sight. Starting packing as early as possible can help to relieve stress and pressure when you get closer to your actual moving date. Start in areas of the house that you don’t use as often like the basement, shed or garage. Once you have packed those areas you can start with other areas in the home like spare bedrooms, closets, kitchen cupboards, mud rooms, laundry rooms and more. When you are packing use your own clothes, blankets and towels to wrap delicate items like dishware and decorative items. Use plastic bags that securely seal to keep liquids like shampoos and lotions from spilling. Label boxes with what the items are and what room they going into. You can take photos of your current electronic set ups including your TV and computer cables and wires for easy setting up at your new home. Pack an overnight bag with the toiletries and clothes that you will need the next day so that you can be all set on the day of your move.
Choosing A Moving Company
Choosing a moving company can be challenging because you are putting so much trust into the company to safely transport your belongings. Since you most likely do not move very often you may not have had recent first-hand experience with a moving company lately. Here are some helpful tips to help you choose the right moving company to meet your needs.
- Get recommendations
- Do a screening
- Get in-home estimates
- Compare Prices
- Make sure that the moving company has insurance and is legally licensed
- Select the mover
- Confirm with the moving company a couple days before your move
- Meet with the movers on the day of your move to give them an inventory list and any special instructions
Moving Day
Once the big day has finally arrived there are a few things you can do to help it go smoothly. The first thing is wake up early. It doesn’t matter what time the movers are expected to show up, you need to make sure everything is ready to go. Make sure to go through each room a couple times to make sure you are not forgetting anything. When the movers show up talk to them about where you would like them to put things in the new house (which should be labelled on your items). Try to meet the movers at your new home if possible to help further instruct where things go.
Moving can be easy and fairly painless through planning and hiring the right help.