Moving is one of the most stressful things to do and you may do it multiple times in your life. Many people procrastinate which can make moving day even more painful. Therefore, we recommend that you plan, just in case any pitfalls come. The more time you give yourself for your move, the less chance the things that may fall through the cracks will affect moving day. Many people that hire a professional moving company do not realize the expectations of the moving company. This lack of knowledge can cost you money and time in the long run.
Here are 7 things that will keep your moving preparation and moving day running smoothly.
Schedule the Moving Company Sooner than Later
First things first, do not try to find a moving company on the day you want to move. You will want to hire a professional moving company at least 4 – 6 weeks before your move. When you know your move in date, the next step should be calling moving companies and setting up your moving date. This gives you time to get multiple estimates and able to do the necessary research for each company. You do not want to have to choose a moving company with a horrible reputation because you waited until the last minute to schedule them.
This brings up which are the best days to move. Try to schedule your moving day mid-week and mid-month. This is usually when everything is cheaper and less of a busy schedule. The busiest times for moving companies are weekends, beginning of each month, and the end of each month.
When you do find the moving company, you want to go with make sure to read the entire contract, even the fine print. You do not want to get caught having to pay any hidden fees. Just because it was the cheapest quote, in the long run it may end up being the most expensive. Try to find a company that offers a flat-fee and assures that you will not be hit with any other additional fees.
Set Dates for Utilities, Memberships, Credit Cards, and Your Mail
About a week before you move, make sure to take the time to setup start and end dates for your utilities. Sometimes it may take a few days for the utility companies to setup a new account or do a transfer to a new address. This will make sure that when you move into your new home or apartment, that you will have the necessities such as water, electric, sewer, trash, and gas. Walking into your new home and finding out that your toilets will not flush due to no water would be a disaster.
The Next item you will want to take care of is membership program. You may have memberships at clubs or gyms, and they may not have locations where you are moving. You will want to make sure to cancel those memberships. You do not want to be charged for something you are not using. If you are taking any medications, make sure to switch the pharmacy, unless you are still close enough to pick it up from the original pharmacy.
Make sure to contact your credit card companies and bank. You will want to switch your billing addresses. It would be a hassle if you were purchasing something online and your credit card was getting declined due to the provided address is wrong. Some online stores require you to ship to the billing address due to protect you from credit card fraud.
Finally, make sure to notify USPS about the change of address. They will forward all your mail from the old address to the new address for one year. This gives you plenty of time to switch any mailing addresses that you may have forgotten about.
Order New Moving Boxes! Do not Use Used Boxes
We cannot express the importance of not using old used boxes. First, the boxes are dirty and can carry all sorts of unwanted pests and bacteria. Next, older boxes lose there integrity rather quickly.
Pack Everything Before the Movers Show Up
Before the movers even show up make sure that everything or at least 90% of your household is packed up. It is okay to have some items that you may need to be packed, but make sure a good majority of everything is packed, so that the movers can start when they show up. If you have nothing packed when the movers do show up you may be assessed a fee for the movers to wait, and that fee is usually by the hour.
If the moving company at an additional fee will be packing your items as well, you will want to have your belongings organized and ready. This will help speed up the process and the movers will appreciate the help.
Label All Your Boxes
When you finish packing your belongings into a box, make sure to label the box with the room. Place it on the top and sides.
Remember to start packing early. Start packing storage spaces and lesser used areas first. As moving day approaches closer, this is when you will want to start packing other rooms. Store packed boxes in less used rooms or in front rooms close to the front door. Keep them out of the way from walking paths. We have found when labeling boxes, color code them for different rooms. You can also leave some details what are in the moving box. This makes it easy for when you need to unpack. Also, another good idea is to take pictures of the contents of the box.
If you forget to label your moving boxes, you might find one giant pile of boxes in your new home. This is due to the movers did not know where to put the boxes and just picked a centralized location to put them. They are not going to be opening them to see what is inside.
Pack an Essentials Suitcase
Another amateur mistake is not preparing an essentials suitcase or box. Make sure to label “ESSENTIALS”, so that you will not have to dig through piles of boxes. We also recommend not having this suitcase or box packed with everything else, keep it close to you in your car.
Just think of this box as a survival box. Here is what this box should include
- A change of clothes
- Bathroom necessities (shampoo, soap, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.)
- Electronic devices (phone, tablets, chargers)
- Eating utensils (silverware, plates, napkins)
- A garbage bag
- Tools (hammer, screwdriver, wrench, pliers)
With all these items you will not have to worry about not being prepared for if you do not get certain items unpacked.
Insure Your Belongings
If you are using a licensed moving company, most states require them to provide you with basic insurance coverage. You do not want to be under-insured. There are a lot of electronics and other items in your home that have high values.
Make sure to ask the moving company about their insurance and to explain it to you. You can also check to see if your renters or homeowner’s insurance will cover your items during the move. Most companies will offer alternative to just the base insurance. It may be smart to spend a little bit more money so nothing comes out of your pocket if it breaks or gets lost during transport.
Make Plans for Pets Relocation
This is one of the most looked over items on the list. You are not the only one that may have anxiety from the move, your fur babies can experience the same stress levels. They see you stressing out which can cause them to be more stressed. Think about your move, are you moving long-distance? Will the have a long car ride or maybe they may need to travel by air. To help them with this stress you may want to contact your vet and see if there are any medications, they can take to help them. Also make sure to contact the vet to get all the records for your pets. This will be important documents to give to your new vet.
“If your pet is going to be in the car for a long distance, ask your vet about portable kennels and motion sickness medication,” says Anne K. from Better Homes & Gardens. “Also make sure to carry your pet’s papers with you, especially if you are crossing state lines.”
Once you arrive at your destination, make sure to show your fur babies how proud of them you are and what a good job they did. Give them a special treat!
Planning is important and can feel great. When you can follow through step-by-step it makes it even better. Watch out for these mistakes for moving and reduce your levels of anxiety and stress.