An effective plan will make any move smoother, from long distance relocations to local moves. When creating your inventory list for each room, keep track of anything that may vanish during transport – it could save money when filing insurance claims!
1. Packing
Packing is an integral component of moving. Before packing anything up yourself or hiring a moving company, start by creating an inventory list of all items in your home; this will help determine which to pack first and provide reference later when unpacking. Taking photographs of high-value items may prove useful when filing insurance claims later on.
Once you’ve gone through and sorted through your belongings, start packing items that are no longer used daily into boxes for storage in either the basement or garage until needed again. Out-of-season clothing should be placed into wardrobe boxes before being stored until next season arrives. Breakables should be wrapped with bubble wrap or newspaper before being kept safely apart from your other possessions in a designated spot.
Be sure to label all boxes by room and include an inventory list on their sides. When hiring a moving company, confirm their services and set an exact date and time for your move. When moving long distance, confirm with FMCSA whether both your mover and broker have licenses. Furthermore, request from them Your Rights and Responsibilities When Moving so that you understand their responsibilities should anything go missing or become damaged during transport.
Complete all official tasks associated with your move, such as filing an official change-of-address form at the post office, notifying friends, family and businesses as well as updating your address with credit card companies and online banking, taking vacation time for your job if necessary, ordering appliances and furniture as needed for your new home and arranging nonperishable food from refrigerator and pantry, plus hiring a babysitter/pet sitter on moving day.
3. Organizing
Relocating can be an extremely stressful process; having an organized approach will make the whole experience much less strenuous and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Making a comprehensive checklist and timeline to keep yourself organized will keep everything on track so nothing gets left behind or overlooked.
As part of your move planning process, the initial step should involve sorting through all your belongings to determine what to keep and what to get rid of. Begin by going room by room until every inch has been examined – from drawers and cabinets to closets – looking through everything to see which items fall into one of three buckets: usefulness, sentimentality or value to you personally – otherwise consider donating or trashing them altogether.
Once you’ve organized your belongings, packing them up can begin. Make sure that each box is labeled with its number and contents (both on the spreadsheet and the actual box), making it easy for you to keep track of them during your move as well as unpack them later on. Staying organized is key for keeping movers on schedule while not missing any vital items!
Create a moving legend to further help your movers. Use circular sticker labels for designated areas where each box should go. Print several sheets out and hang them on doors so movers know where each box goes when it arrives – this will save time in the long run and should be completed well in advance of moving day. Organizing your move is an important task that should be accomplished well ahead of the actual date of relocation.
4. Moving Day
Moving can be an anxious time. That’s because you are literally uprooting your life and moving it somewhere new. Unexpected hiccups may arise; to stay organized and minimise stress levels effectively make a thorough checklist before packing begins.
Set reminders in your phone or calendar one week before moving day for each of these:
Account updates should only take minutes and will help ensure a seamless transition into your new home.
Pack an essentials bag in order to make the move as smooth as possible, including medications, toiletries, an extra change of clothing and footwear, essential documents, tool kits, cleaning supplies and pet necessities.
Make appointments with all utility and home service providers to have your services activated in your new location, as well as arrange daycare services on moving day for children or animals that might need it.
On the morning of your move, stick to your list and begin crossing off items as you go. If you hired professional movers, remember to tip them appropriately; customarily this means tipping $4-$5 for every hour they work. Upon reaching your new home, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for all your hard work; now it’s time to enjoy and settle into your new place!
5. Unpacking
Unpacking can be an enormously time-consuming and demanding endeavor, yet planning can make this task much smoother and less time consuming. By setting an agenda ahead of time, making this experience less demanding on you both physically and mentally.
Starting off your move right, be sure to set aside one or more boxes of essentials – such as toiletries, medications and books – from your truck and unpack them immediately into your new home. Label these with color coding or room names so they are easier to sort and locate once inside.
Once your essential items have been set aside, begin unpacking the rest of your boxes. Most experts advise starting in the kitchen since this area will likely need immediate use; from there move onto bedrooms and bathrooms; finally saving rooms like living rooms or offices until last.
As soon as your movers arrive to unload your boxes, be sure to inform them which room each belongs in. This is essential as it reduces the chance that any items end up getting misplaced and keeps similar items together for quicker unpacking and placement in their proper spots.
By planning these tasks in advance, you’ll reduce stress and frustration, and have your life settled quickly into your new home. If you need extra assistance during this transition period, click here for a free quote from a professional mover in your area – rest easy knowing your valuables and possessions are in safe hands with them!