At Ruck Up Moving we move a lot of families and there’s no denying that moving day can be stressful. A great moving company will handle the heavy lifting, but there are also some things you can do to make your move easy and smooth. Here are some simple steps you can take to reduce the stress of moving and most are easy to do.
Pack a bag that will get you through the first few days.
Pretend you are going on a weekend trip and pack your bags. The last thing you want to do is search through dozens of boxes for a toothbrush or cell phone charger on an already stressful move day. Pack clothes, toiletries, medications, chargers, iPads, toys and the anything else you know you will need in the first few days. You should be able to live out of these bags for the first few days. You may want to keep these bags with you, instead of in the moving truck.
Pare Down
We all have stuff we really don’t need. Now is the perfect time to take an inventory and make the hard choices about what you really want to keep. The last thing you want to do is spend money and energy packing, moving and unpacking a bunch of unnecessary stuff. If you have unwanted items of value, eBay or a yard sale a few weeks before the move can reduce the stress of moving day. Local charities like the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and others are great options. Keep donation paperwork for your tax preparer.
Label Your Boxes
For goodness sake, label those cardboard boxes. We suggest labeling each box with the new room it should go to and a brief description of the contents. Bad labels: ‘Box 1’ or ‘Clothes’ or ‘Stuff’. Good labels: ‘Master Bedroom-Kate Summer Clothes’, ‘Family Room-Pillows’, ‘Office-Computer Accessories’. You might also consider buying a few rolls of colored tape so that you can color code the boxes by location and content type.
Let Your Groceries Dwindle
This one seems like a no-brainer, but people forget. You don’t want to pack any more than you need to and perishables add stress you won’t need on moving day. Try to shop one last time about a week before move day. You might be surprised by how many meals are in that freezer!
Hire a Reputable Mover
A reputable mover can make all the difference on move day. So, how do you know if your moving company is a professional group instead of a couple of guys with a rented truck? Make some calls and do ‘interviews’. You may want to ask: How long have you been in business? How many trucks do you own? How many employees do you have? Can you prove in writing that you are licensed and insured? What services do you provide? Once you are comfortable with a few companies, get their estimates and compare rates.
Zip Lock Bags Are Your Friend
The contents of drawers, liquids (shampoo, makeup) in your bathroom, that bunch of keys, computer cables … keep them grouped together in ziplock bags for easy packing and unpacking. Ziplocks can also save your bacon if a liquid breaks or comes open inside a box with other stuff you want to keep dry and clean.
Consider a Pro Packer
Consider hiring a pro to do the packing for you if you own a larger house, don’t have time or would just prefer to avoid the stress. Pro packers have all the needed supplies and equipment. They will probably do a better job of padding and protecting your items. Finally, pro packers are on the clock. They can get you packed quickly. Packing is like anything else, you get better at the more you do it. Pro packers have the know-how, strength and time to do it right.
WANT A QUOTE ON PACKING? GIVE US A CALL. 281-769-4071
Address Changes
The post office needs to know if you are moving. The USPS website makes it easy to notify them of the address change and forward your mail at the same time. You also need to contact all the companies you work with to provide your new address. Think about your bank, cell phone provider, credit cards, magazines, utility companies, etc. You can make these calls in advance and give them a ‘cut-over’ date.
READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR MOVE? GIVE US A CALL. 281-769-4071
