No matter where your move takes you, here are a few essential tips for an effortless experience. From organizing your home to hiring professional movers, these tried-and-true moving hacks are guaranteed to reduce stress during any move.
Before packing up, declutter your home by giving away, selling or discarding unwanted items that won’t add much to the move. Doing this will save both time and money on packing/unpacking time and costs.
Make a Plan
Planning ahead can make any relocation more efficient. For optimal results, begin planning well in advance of any move if seasonal factors play a factor.
Now is also the time to update your address with agencies such as banks and gyms, to make sure your mail doesn’t get lost and utilities remain under your name. Doing this early can ensure all utilities remain active after moving day.
As you start packing, create two piles: “toss” and “keep”. Pack each room separately and label boxes by room; this will save time upon arriving to your new home. Likewise, consider keeping an emergency supply such as toilet paper, soap, LED bulbs or flashlights nearby just in case things get chaotic on arrival day.
Get Organized
Organizing can seem like an intimidating task, but finding motivation to begin can make the task less intimidating. Whether your aim is to find better storage solutions for your belongings or reduce clutter from around your home, setting goals is key for successful organizing efforts.
Decluttering is the ideal starting point. Take an inventory of your closets, drawers and home office on a weekly basis; when items arise for donation use an empty donation bag; any expired or no longer useful products can go directly into the trash can.
Set up a place for everything in your home using baskets, trays and crates as said by Truesdale. Additionally, don’t forget a designated spot for mail so that you can organize and prioritize incoming bills or correspondence more easily.
Pack Early
Ideal packing methods involve starting early to avoid an overwhelming last minute rush and reduce damage or loss risks. Packing early also gives more time for completion while giving more opportunities for damage prevention and reduction.
Start by packing items you don’t use regularly like books, magazines, decor artwork, picture frames and off-season clothing – they tend to have uniform shapes that can easily be packed together into bundles.
Pack items you won’t need until after the move, like cookware and extra shoes. Don’t forget a day-of box with essential toiletries, medications and change of clothing items. Finally, organize and pack important documents like bills and financial statements – don’t forget to label boxes!
Hire a Moving Company
Professional moving companies can save both time and money. They provide everything needed for packing up and transporting, such as boxes of various sizes, tape, markers, floor tarps/covering and bubble wrap; in addition, they’ll give an estimate based on your home size and service requests.
Though they may cost more upfront than renting a truck and paying friends to help move, professional moving services may save money in the long run by relieving stress levels, keeping belongings secure, and helping you stick to schedule. They have experience maneuvering tight doorways and obstacles you may not, plus have plans in place for getting from one location to the next.
Tip Your Movers
Tipping your movers is completely optional, but can be an important way to show your appreciation for their hard work. How much you give depends on various factors like complexity of your move and duration; experts often recommend tipping anywhere between 5- 10% of total moving costs as an appropriate tip amount.
At the conclusion of a move, tips should be given in cash at the end of it all. Many choose to split it amongst all crew members equally but if one person was especially helpful or attentive it may be appropriate to give them additional amounts individually. Long distance moving requires tipping both loading and unloading crews accordingly so be clear with your foreperson about whether you intend on tipping them individually.
