7 Moving Day Tips for A Stress-Free Relocation
Moving day is a stressful event now matter how well you prepare, but it needn’t be. Check out these moving day tips for a stress-free trip to your new home.
Moving to a new home is ranked as one of the most stressful life events. Anxiety is common whether you’re relocating across the country or the street.
Yet, certain techniques can help create a less stressful process for you and your family. Read on for 7 moving day tips for a simple and smooth relocation.
1. Purge Your Place of Unneeded Stuff
More people are moving towards minimalistic lifestyles. This way of living can improve your mental health, especially during a big move. It does this by helping to reduce negative thinking and feelings of anxiety.
Right before a big move is the perfect time to rid your home of unneeded items. This includes old clothing, furniture, knick-knacks as well as books and magazines.
Use this as an opportunity to purge your home. With less stuff, there are fewer items to pack. This also makes for a more clutter-free environment in your new home.
Donate these unneeded items to charity or sell them online. You can also host a neighborhood garage sale.
Another minimalist moving tip is to transfer all your paper files over to a digital system. This is easy to do with a scanner and cloud storage.
2. Create a Comprehensive Packing Checklist
A proper checklist is one of the most important packing and moving tips to follow. Start by making a full list of all items you need to pack as well as a moving timeline.
This will help to ensure you have the right packing supplies. Stock up on plenty of boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and protective pads well-before the move. Moving companies can also provide these supplies if needed.
Packing guides also recommend to work room-by-room and label everything as you go. Keep track of what you’re putting inside each box so nothing gets misplaced during the move.
Always label boxes by room as well as their inside contents. Colored tape or markers are another simple way to help distinguish box categories.
It’s best to keep all electrical cords in the same box. This makes it easier to install your electronics after the move-in.
Another tip is to group items together that are needed for the first night in your new home. This includes linens, children’s favorite toys, books, nightlights, and toiletries.
3. Snap Photos for Easier Assembly
When disassembling your furniture, it’s smart to take pictures. This helps you remember the right way to put things back together.
Other key tips for moving include keeping screws in zip-lock bags. You can also use tape to label drawers and other move-able pieces.
4. Take Extra Care of Fragile and Heavy Items
During the moving process, be sure to account for fragile items that need extra care. This includes artwork, fine china, antique furniture, and wine glasses. It helps to pack any breakable items in the same boxes.
Moving heavy pieces like grand pianos and hot tubs is always best left to the professionals. This helps reduce the risk of straining yourself or causing an injury.
Another tip is to avoid packing any boxes too heavy. Instead, use blankets, sheets, towels, and pillows as fillers. This cushions the contents inside your boxes and stops items from moving around too much.
5. Get the Right Help
Hiring a professional moving company is one of the top ways of making moving easy. This keeps everything well-organized and creates a smoother moving process. It also avoids having to rely too much on family and friends.
Full-service companies assist with packing, moving, and unpacking. You can also hire a la carte services for dis/reassembling furniture
Hiring a moving team means you have to take less time off work to coordinate the move. Moving companies also help to ensure you have the perfect-sized truck to fit all your stuff on moving day.
Renting too large of a moving truck means you’re paying for space you don’t need. Your boxes may also move around during the trip. Renting too small of a truck means multiple trips and lots of last-minute stress.
It’s best to pack boxes tightly, with larger items toward the back of the truck. Here are a few more helpful tips to ensure you’re ready for the moving crew.
Always be sure to hire trusted and reliable movers. Do your research and read online reviews to find the best company within your budget. Read over the contract to make sure there are not any extra hidden fees as well.
Ask about the moving company’s replacement coverage as well. You want to ensure they have an insurance policy that protects you and your belongings.
6. Forward Your Mail
Changing your address is another important moving step. This can sometimes get overlooked with all the other items on your moving to-do list.
You can find the forms at the post office or fill them out online. Be sure to also alert any credit card and loan companies about your address change. Any food delivery subscription services and Amazon accounts should also get changed.
Don’t forget to cancel or update utilities and other services. This includes your cable company and trash removal service. It’s best to do all this well in advance to avoid paying double fees.
7. Make a Move-In Day Plan
Creating a day of moving plan is the best way to move and ease into the transition.
Plan something special for the first night in your new home. This could be ordering pizza and renting movies.
You could also try out a highly-rated restaurant in your neighborhood. This way, there’s no stress over unpacking kitchenware and cooking a meal.
Another idea is to make a family fort in the living room for everyone to sleep in. This makes for a more enjoyable and memorable experience in your new home.
Essential Moving Day Tips for a Stress-Free Relocation
These moving day tips will help you to have a smoother and less stressful relocation process. Planning ahead and hiring the right help are key tactics for a pleasant experience.
Muscleman Moving has you covered for all your moving needs, from local to long distance.
Get a free quote and learn more about how our moving services can help.