Tips for a Smooth Moving Day
Moving is a long and complicated process that starts the second you choose your next home. The secret to an efficient and hassle-free move lies in those weeks or months between that moment and moving day. If you are gearing up for that adventure, here are a few important things you should be planning, considering and expecting.
Using Professional Movers
The first question many people ask themselves when planning a move is whether to use a moving company. Professional movers can save you and, let’s face it, your friends and family hours of manual labor, as well as the hassle of renting a van and driving an unfamiliar vehicle.
Before you hire a moving service, you need to do some legwork to ensure you’re getting a company that’s reputable and trusted. Otherwise, you could find yourself with more problems than if you’d tackle this part of the process yourself.
The rental van option only really works if you can fit all of the necessary belongings in one rental van. This is not the case for most families with children, particularly if they are moving all of their furniture. On the other hand, a couple moving between furnished apartments will have much less to carry and may be better off renting.
Moving can be hard work. If you have lots of heavy furniture to move, it may be dangerous to try to do it yourself. Professional movers know the best techniques to proceed safely, whereas you and your friends may be at risk of injury.
Packing and Boxing
According to Apartment Therapy, it is never too early to start packing. Start by going through your things and deciding what is going to stay. Moving is a great opportunity to de-clutter, so take the time to comb through all your possessions. Make sure to include the whole family in the process, both for your own sanity and to allow them to sort through their own things.
Anything that rarely gets used, such as holiday decorations or seasonal clothes, can be packed ahead of time. When it’s getting closer to moving day, instruct every member of the family to pack a bag or suitcase with the clothes and things they will need; these items will stay with you throughout the move. Everything else can be boxed. At the very least, calculate a day of packing for every room in the house, plus some extra to give you a buffer for time.
Transitioning Information
Chances are you won’t forget to update your driver’s license and plates, but there are several other things that need to be updated in conjunction with your move. As Apartment List notes, the post office is a great place to start. As they forward mail to your new address, you can catch loose ends that you miss in your pre-move efforts. Some others you don’t want to miss are entities like the IRS and your banks, and it’s also important to update your insurance.
It’s possible you’ll have to put some work into getting your home move-in ready as well. Instead of doing your own cleaning (moving is stressful enough), hire a maid service to give your home a deep cleaning. Need your chimney swept? Don’t attempt this job on your own. Hire chimney sweeping services to remove soot, debris, and blockages. Cleaning typically costs between $80 and $150, but if you need an inspection as well, this will add to your bill.
Moving with a Pet
The best way to deal with a pet during a move is to get a pet sitter. This is not only for your own peace of mind, but for theirs as well. Moving can be extremely stressful for an animal. Loud noises, strange people, unfamiliar scents, and disappearing furniture are just a few of the reasons.
Get a pet sitter to take care of your furry friend for a few days to a week before the move. If you are not moving far, you can even get them to keep the pet for the first few days in the new house so they can move into a space that is relatively stable. If this is not an option, remember to keep a few comforting objects or toys handy for the move itself, and confine the animal to one room in the new house at first so they don’t get overwhelmed.
All in all, the secret to a smooth moving day lies in all the work you do leading up to it. The more you plan and prepare ahead of time, the quicker the moving process will be. Professional movers can help with lifting and the physical move, but it is up to you to do all the groundwork before the big day arrives.
Guest Post by Suzie Wilson
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