A complex moving venture can sometimes take weeks to plan, and if not planned correctly – it could easily turn into a nightmare. We have helped thousands upon thousands of people and families alike relocate their homes, apartments, businesses and storage units, and know that the key to a successful move is good preparation. Staying organized during the entire process will help you vastly when moving day comes, and it can make your move seem much easier than it actually is oftentimes. When moving gets tough – we make it easy. Below are 10 moving tips from our professional moving teams, that are bound to ensure a smooth relocation.
- Call movers
When it comes to hiring movers to take care of your relocation, the three vital things you need to validate before you pick a certain company is if they are licensed, insured, and reliable. This is the first thing you should ask the moving company you are calling when requesting quotes. It is important to gather at least three different quotes, in order to assess which company is offering which kind of moving service, and which fits your moving needs best. Hiring the cheapest movers could be good for your budget, but it can often harm your entire moving experience and result in a much more expensive endeavor than you have budgeted for. Hire the most reliable moving company, with a good reputation, and provide yourself with an enjoyable moving experience during which you won’t have to worry.
- Pick a date
Sometimes moving companies charge much more for weekend or end-of-the-month moves, which is why you should ask for this piece of information before you reserve your movers for a specific day. If you are flexible, and changing your moving date can save you some money, it is a good option to have as well. If you are set on a specific date and can’t relocate on any other, make sure to reserve your movers at least four weeks in advance, as these dates tend to get reserved much faster than others.
- Buy packing supplies
If you aren’t having your professional moving company also pack up your belongings in addition to relocating them, you’ll have to complete this process on your own. Searching online for cheap packing supplies is a good option to consider, as well as visiting your local grocery store and possibly scoring some boxes for free. Make sure that these boxes are in good condition, though, as you wouldn’t want them to fall apart in the middle of your move and damage your items.
- Find alternatives for boxes
If you don’t want to overspend on packing supplies, you can always find some alternatives in which you can pack up your belongings. Suitcases, trash bags, laundry baskets and other similar items can often come in handy when you don’t want to buy a million boxes for your move. If you’ve run out of packing supplies, this can save the day. When it comes to padding, consider using clothing, blankets, pillowcases or anything similar you can find around the house to protect your fragile items when packed.
- Declutter
This is the perfect opportunity to start the process of decluttering your home. As you are going through your valuables, consider getting rid of items you no longer have use for. Throw away, donate or sell these items, as each item you get rid of will be one less item to move and have to unpack again. You could also organize a yard sale to gather some money to fund your move.
- Visit your new home
Once you are granted access to your new living space, it might be a good idea to head there to add some finishing touches before moving day arrives. Not only will it be much easier to clean your entire home with absolutely no furniture in the way, but you can also paint the walls and prepare everything before you settle in, so you can move into your new home with complete peace of mind. It will be much harder to do any improvements once you move your furniture in, so use this opportunity to its fullest.
- Start packing early
If you have a busy schedule, you probably want packing to interfere with your life as little as possible. The best way to achieve this is to start with packing at least a month before your move, and pack for an hour or two a day. This way, you won’t get exhausted from this process, and you will be much less stressed as it will be easier to stay on track and complete it by the time the day of your move arrives.
- Pack an overnight kit
Don’t pack up your essential items that you will most likely be reaching for as soon as you move into your new home. Instead, either pack these items into a separate box, clear plastic box, tote, or anything similar so you can have easy access to them the second you step into your new living space. These items can be quite unique to each person, and usually include a toothbrush, soap, mediation, a change of clothing, and a box cutter.
- Move your boxes into one specific space
Having your boxes moved to one specific area in your home before your movers arrive can provide them with easy access to them and a much faster loading process than if you have left them scattered around your home. If you want to make the loading process more efficient, speed up your entire move, and save some money in the process, following this tip is a good option to do so.
- Label your boxes in detail
If you don’t want your unpacking process to be a chaotic venture that isn’t organized by all means, consider labeling your boxes. Instead of only labeling the rooms in which each is supposed to go, taking the extra step and writing down each box’s contents will provide you with a much simpler and smoother unpacking process, as you will know where each item is and which boxes to start with.
Moving is an unavoidable part of everyone’s lives, and the way it can take a toll on your stress levels can be quite overwhelming. Fully preparing yourself for this process is the only way to ease the experience, and make it a much more enjoyable one at that. Here you will find a complete moving dictionary that will prepare you for your moving day, and help you overcome any moving challenge that may occur.