Moving is always a complex venture, no matter the distance between your old and new home. You still need to plan everything in detail, spend time carefully packing and protecting everything before having to load everything before having to repeat the process altogether. Not to mention everything else that comes into play when moving homes, such as canceling your utilities, changing your address and having to get to know your neighborhood. This can all add unnecessary stress to your move, and you can ease the process immensely by hiring reliable movers to handle your move. Even then, there are some steps of precaution and proper planning that you should take in order to smoothen the transition even further, and ensure a moving success before settling into your new home and enjoying the new, exhilarating chapter of your life.
1. Give your moving company a call
Once you decide on the perfect date for your relocation to take place on, consider giving your moving company of choice a call. Make sure to decide on a moving company that best suits your moving needs, and once you’ve made sure that they are reliable, licensed and insured, give them a call as soon as possible to ensure their availability for your desired date. Let them know about the exact services you’ll be needing on your moving day, and also let them know about any special requests, rules or precautions that they should know about before showing up at your door.
2. Donate, sell or throw away unwanted items
After you have successfully reserved your movers, consider the fact that you now have the unique chance to thoroughly go trough every single item you have come to own over the years, and if there are any specific items you don’t have the use for anymore, or that you simply do not want to own. Consider having a garage sale, or simply donating some of your belongings that may still be intact. Getting rid of your unwanted items before your move takes place will ease the process of packing, speed up your move and also help with decluttering everything you don’t wish to relocate to your new home.
3. Create the perfect packing strategy
Once you’ve hired your movers and decluttered some of the items you do not wish to bring with you, it is time to dive into the world of packing. Before you even think of taking your items and placing them into boxes, it is best to map out the perfect plan which you will follow during the entire packing process. Which room you will pack first, the number of packing supplies you are going to be needing, and every other packing related detail that you can think of should become a part of your ultimate packing plan.
4. Gather packing supplies
Gathering packing supplies for your packing venture is an important component of your move, as you need to evaluate what kind of supplies you’re going to be in the need of, the adequate quantity of supplies, and how to work with them. You’re going to need quality supplies, and you’re probably going to need more than you think you do, as most people tend to underestimate the number of items they own and wish to move into their new home.
5. Create an inventory
Creating a moving inventory in detail when packing your items is one of the most important aspects of your whole move that can help out in a number of moving related situations. Having a moving inventory by your side during your move, will ensure that your belongings won’t get lost or forgotten during the process. It will also help out when unpacking your items and ensuring that everything is in perfect place when you settle into your new home.
6. Pack smart
Starting with the kitchen is always a great choice, proceeding with your least used rooms, and leaving your most used rooms and items last. The kitchen is always the most complicated room to pack, as it has unique items that need to be packed accordingly, and fragile items that need proper protection when being packed, as well as the correct packing technique. Make sure to leave your most used items unpacked until the night before your move, and leave out essentials such as documents, medication and a change of clothes to keep by your side even during the moving process.
7. Labeling your boxes
It might seem unnecessary, but labeling your boxes with the room and the exact contents of it can make the world of a difference during your move and during the unpacking process. Not only will this help your movers out with which box is going into which room, but it will also speed up your unpacking process if you know exactly what the contents of the boxes are.
8. Empty your furniture
Some people might think it’s easier to just leave their clothing in their dresser, or their desks full of stuff for example, so everything arrives to your new location in the same state without having to pack or unpack the contents of these items. Most reliable moving companies will advise you not to do this, because it will not only add weight to your already heavy furniture, but it will slow down the moving process, resulting in you paying more money than you would’ve if you would’ve packed everything into a single box or asked your moving company to provide you with wardrobe boxes for your move.
9. Move your boxes into one area
Placing your boxes in one specific area will speed up the moving process when your movers arrive, and will also help them efficiently load the truck without spending unnecessary time going back and forth into every room to gather a couple of boxes. This could also save you some cash by the end of the move, as this can make a world of a difference when it comes to time spent gathering all the boxes and preparing them for transport.
10. Prepare your new home for moving in
You are provided with the unique chance to finish everything that needs to be done around your new house while it is completely empty. Cleaning your house or painting the walls is much easier to handle and complete before everything is moved in, and you’ll thank yourself for doing so.
11. Keep important items by your side
Items that you use on a daily basis, and that need to be by your side at all times such as medication, important documentation, a change of clothes as well as food and water, should be packed in a separate small box or bag and kept beside you at all times. This will also make it easier to have your essentials by your side when you move in, without having to go on an adventure through your dozens of boxes to find your toothbrush.
12. Food
Start emptying your food out at least a week before the day of your move and don’t replenish it. Consume meat, veggies and fruits, while you can even pack nonperishable foods if you haven’t had the time to consume them before your moving day, or perhaps donate it to your local food bank.
13. Utilities
Give your internet, cable, gas, and electricity providers a week before your move to determine when you’ll be needing to shut everything off. It is always a smart decision to leave some spare time in your schedule to acquire some of the necessary items that you might need to return such as cables, remotes or other devices. Keep in mind that you should do the same thing for your new place as well, to ensure everything is up and running once you’ve moved everything into your new home.
14. Meet your neighbors
Meeting your neighbors before your move is a good way to get to know the community and feel more at home once you relocate your belongings to their new address. Exploring the community and its amenities is also a great way to get to know the neighborhood, and easily construct your day to day once you’ve settled in.
15. Update your address
Settling into your new home stress-free should be your main goal during your relocation. Changing your address in advance and taking care of every detail regarding your move before it takes place will ensure that you can sit back and enjoy your new neighborhood the second you’ve moved in.