Moving can be an incredibly stressful experience. As professional movers with years of experience under our belts, we want to share some of our top tips to help make your move as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Follow this practical advice and your relocation will be efficient, organized, and dare we say it – even enjoyable!
Start Planning and Organizing Well in Advance
The earlier you start preparing for your move, the better. Two months in advance is ideal if possible. This gives you time to declutter, organize paperwork, plan logistics, and make any necessary renovations or repairs to your old or new home. Here are some things you can do to get a headstart on the organization front:
- Go through each room and decide what you want to keep, sell or donate. Downsizing before a move helps avoid clutter and unnecessary effort later.
- Begin collecting boxes and packing supplies. Many companies offer free boxes, or you can pick them up cheaply. Get enough bubble wrap and padding material too.
- Sort important documents like medical records and financial statements so they’re ready to go in a safe place. Scan them if possible for extra security.
- Plan how furniture will be transported – take measurements to ensure large items fit through doors and hallways in your new home.
- Start using up food from the pantry and freezer. A few months out is a great time to avoid waste.
- Speak to schools, banks and other services to transfer records and arrange changes of address.
Getting these ducks in a row early removes a lot of 11th-hour stress!
Be Ruthless About Reducing Your Load
Moving presents the perfect opportunity to downsize and declutter your household items. Be ruthless in deciding what makes the cut – if you haven’t used it in over a year, pass it on. Follow the tips below to lighten your load considerably:
- Check for items buried in basement, attics, garages and storage spaces that can easily be discarded.
- If you’re purchasing new furniture for your new home, consider selling or donating the old.
- Take a minimalist view of clothes, kitchenware and linens. Be strict about getting rid of extras.
- Limit personal item boxes to 2-3 per person – you can pack more memories than you think.
- Avoid transporting large appliances if possible. Sell or donate them and buy new. Pare down until you have only essential possessions you love or need for daily life. You’ll be thankful later for the reduced load!
Invest in Quality Moving Equipment
Moving is tough on your possessions – you need the right supplies to give them sufficient protection. Investing in high-quality equipment is prudent to avoid breakages or damage. Here are the key items we recommend:
- Use strong, double-walled boxes with reinforced bottoms, ideally 1.5 cubic feet size.
- Wrap delicate items individually in premium stretch wrap or bubble wrap.
- Get heavy-duty tape and high-grade packaging labels.
- Use thick, durable furniture pads and moving blankets to protect upholstery.
- Invest in a professional-grade hand truck (appliance dolly) for moving heavy objects.
Don’t skimp on cost here – quality moving equipment is well worth the extra spend to protect your valuables during the move.
Label Absolutely Everything
There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to identify what’s inside a tightly packed box on moving day. Avoid this by labelling clearly and extensively as you pack:
- Label the top and at least one side of each box in large bold letters. Include both the room and a brief description of contents.
- Use color-coded labels for better visual organization, e.g. red for kitchen, blue for bedrooms.
- Affix a list of contents to the inside of box lids – this aids easy unpacking later.
- Label small items with masking tape, including cords and hardware stored in bags.
- Keep a master list of all boxes and their contents for easy reference.
Taking time to label thoroughly during packing will save huge headaches when unloading boxes in your new home. It’s well worth the extra effort.
Handle Valuables and Important Items with Care
When moving, extra care and attention should be given to valuable and important items to prevent loss or damage:
- Keep jewelry, cash, coins, watches and other small valuables on your person, not packed with movers.
- Pack financial, medical, and legal documents yourself in a lockable fireproof safe or lockbox.
- Back up electronic data and store the backup offsite – online cloud services can help.
- Use TV boxes and special cartons designed specifically for paintings, mirrors and other fragile items.
- Pack blankets carefully and use wardrobe boxes for fine clothing items.
- Secure antiques, heirlooms and unique art pieces with specialty packing if needed.
Take time to identify what requires special treatment – the last thing you want is movers carelessly tossing these items into truck. The extra care is worthwhile.
Take Special Care with Appliances and Electronics
Major appliances and electronic equipment are amongst the top items damaged during moves. Follow these tips to move them safely:
- Drain water and disconnect hoses completely from washing machines to prevent leaks.
- Securely brace TV screens and computer monitors to prevent cracks and dents.
- Use original manufacturer boxes for flatscreen TVs if possible for maximum protection.
- Back up computers and disconnect all cords, hardware and accessories and pack separately.
- Lift large appliances like refrigerators with appliance dollies or pancake hand trucks only.
- Wrap appliance fronts with moving blankets and tape doors shut on washers and dryers.
Don’t trust movers fully with these – the best approach is packing and moving them completely yourself if feasible.
Give Yourself a Buffer on Moving Day
No matter how carefully planned, moving day often involves unexpected delays and headaches. Give yourself generous time cushions to reduce stress, such as:
- Start packing the truck or container 2-3 hours before the driver is scheduled to leave. You’ll inevitably need the extra time.
- Expect loading and unloading each to take 2-3 times longer than predicted. Complex furniture moving always involves adjustments and maneuvering.
- If traveling long distance, book accommodations allowing you to take 2-3 days to drive and unpack on the other end. There are always roadside delays.
- Set up basic essentials like bedding and toiletries first so you have what you need if unpacking extends over multiple days.
Adding in buffers upfront makes for a much more relaxed and manageable moving day – take our word for it!
Moving is far from fun, but staying organized, planning ahead, and following professional advice can remove much of the stress and chaos often involved. Implement these tips from our years in the moving business, and your relocation will go much more smoothly. Let us know if we can be of any assistance with your upcoming move – we’re here to help!
Conclusion:
Moving requires significant preparation, time and physical effort, but following these 7 professional tips will help streamline the process. Start organizing early, be ruthless in decluttering and downsizing, use quality packing materials, carefully label boxes, safeguard valuables, take extra care with appliances and electronics, and build in time buffers on moving day. Implementing this practical moving guidance will help alleviate stress and chaos, resulting in a far smoother relocation. With ample planning and organization along with careful execution, your upcoming move can be achieved with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency.