Moving house can be a stressful and time-consuming process, especially if you don’t plan ahead and avoid some common pitfalls. In this blog post, we will share with you some tips and tricks on how to make your house move easier, smoother and more enjoyable. Whether you are moving across the city or across the country, these guidelines will help you find the best moving service, prepare for the move and settle in your new home.
Decide What Kind of Move You Need
The first thing you need to do before you start packing is to assess your situation and decide what kind of move you need. Do you have a lot of furniture and belongings that require professional handling? Do you have any special items that need extra care, such as antiques, artworks or musical instruments? Do you have a tight budget or a flexible one? How much time do you have to complete the move?
Depending on your answers, you may opt for a full-service move, a self-service move or a DIY move. A full-service move means that you hire a moving company to do everything for you, from packing to loading, transporting and unloading your items. This is the most convenient and hassle-free option, but also the most expensive one. A self-service move means that you pack your items yourself, but hire a moving company to load, transport and unload them. This is a cheaper option than a full-service move, but still requires some work on your part. A DIY move means that you do everything yourself, from packing to renting a truck, driving and unloading. This is the cheapest option, but also the most labor-intensive and risky one.
To help you choose the best option for your needs, you can use online tools such as moving cost calculators, moving reviews and moving quotes. These will give you an idea of how much each option will cost you, what other people’s experiences are and what offers are available from different moving companies. Here are some useful links to get you started:
- Moving Cost Calculator: https://www.moving.com/moving-cost-calculator/
- Moving Reviews: https://www.mymovingreviews.com/
- Moving Quotes: https://www.moving.com/movers/
Find the Best Moving Service for Your Needs
Once you have decided what kind of move you need, the next step is to find the best moving service for your specific needs. There are many factors to consider when choosing a moving company, such as their reputation, experience, license, insurance, availability, rates and services. You should do some research online and offline to compare different options and read customer reviews and testimonials. You should also contact at least three moving companies and ask for written estimates based on your inventory and destination. You should compare these estimates carefully and look for any hidden fees or charges. You should also ask about their cancellation policy, liability coverage and dispute resolution process.
To help you find the best moving service for your needs, here are some questions to ask potential movers:
- How long have you been in business?
- Are you licensed and insured?
- What are your rates and how do you charge?
- What services do you offer and what are included in the estimate?
- How do you handle fragile or special items?
- How do you protect my items from damage or loss?
- How do you handle complaints or claims?
- What are your terms and conditions?
To help you verify the legitimacy and reliability of potential movers, here are some resources to check:
- Better Business Bureau: https://www.bbb.org/
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
- American Moving and Storage Association: https://www.moving.org/
Prepare for the Move
After you have chosen the best moving service for your needs, the next step is to prepare for the move. This involves sorting out your items, decluttering your home, packing your belongings, labeling your boxes, creating an inventory list and notifying relevant parties of your change of address. These tasks may seem overwhelming at first, but they can be made easier by following some simple tips:
- Sort out your items into three categories: keep, donate or sell, and throw away. This will help you reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack and move, as well as save money on moving costs.
- Declutter your home by getting rid of any unwanted or unnecessary items. You can donate them to charity, sell them online or at a garage sale, or throw them away if they are broken or damaged.
- Pack your belongings in sturdy boxes or containers that are appropriately sized for their contents. Use bubble wrap, newspaper or towels to wrap fragile items and fill any empty spaces with crumpled paper or clothes. Label each box with its contents and destination room.
- Create an inventory list of all your packed boxes and their contents. This will help you keep track of what you have packed and what is left to pack. It will also help you check if anything is missing or damaged during or after the move.
- Notify relevant parties of your change of address at least two weeks before the move. This includes your family, friends, employer, bank, utility providers, insurance company, doctor, dentist, school, etc. You can also use online services such as USPS Change of Address to forward your mail to your new address.
To help you prepare for the move, here are some useful links to check:
- Packing Tips: https://www.moving.com/tips/the-best-packing-tips-for-moving/
- Inventory List Template: https://www.moving.com/moving-forms/inventory-list/
- Change of Address Checklist: https://www.moving.com/tips/change-of-address-checklist-who-to-notify-when-you-move/
Execute the Move
The day of the move is finally here and you are ready to go. The last step is to execute the move smoothly and safely. This involves loading your items, transporting them, unloading them and unpacking them. Here are some tips to make this process easier:
- Load your items in a logical order, starting with the heaviest and largest items and ending with the lightest and smallest ones. Place fragile items on top and secure them with straps or ropes. Use blankets or pads to protect furniture and appliances from scratches or dents.
- Transport your items carefully and follow the traffic rules and regulations. Drive slowly and cautiously, especially around corners and bumps. Avoid sudden stops or turns. Keep an eye on the weather and road conditions and adjust your speed accordingly.
- Unload your items in reverse order, starting with the lightest and smallest items and ending with the heaviest and largest ones. Place each box in its designated room and check for any damage or loss. If you hired a moving company, make sure to sign the delivery receipt and report any issues or complaints.
- Unpack your items gradually and systematically, starting with the essentials and ending with the non-essentials. Set up your furniture and appliances first, then unpack your clothes, kitchenware, toiletries, etc. Dispose of any packing materials properly or recycle them if possible.
To help you execute the move, here are some useful links to check:
- Loading Tips: https://www.moving.com/tips/how-to-load-a-moving-truck/
- Driving Tips: https://www.moving.com/tips/driving-a-moving-truck-across-country/
- Unloading Tips: https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/unloading-a-moving-truck/
- Unpacking Tips: https://www.upack.com/articles/the-unpacking-order-where-to-start-first
Bonus link
Our friends from Pure Moving prepared Moving Glossary, enjoy!
Enjoy Your New Home
Moving house can be a fun and exciting experience if you plan ahead and avoid some common mistakes. We hope that this blog post has given you some helpful advice on how to make your house move easier, smoother and more enjoyable. Remember to have fun along the way and enjoy your new home!
Funny Stories and Mistakes
To end this blog post, we would like to share with you some funny stories and mistakes that people have made during their moves. These will make you laugh and learn from their experiences: