Tips To Make Moving Stress Free

Tips To Make Moving Stress Free

Moving can be a very stressful event.  The goal is to make the event and transition go as smoothly as possible. This can be done by following a few steps to gain control of your possessions in your new home.

 Ease the Transition to Your New Home

This can be done with proper packing. 

- Use the right boxes, and pack them carefully. Professional moving companies use only sturdy, reinforced cartons. The boxes you can get at your neighborhood supermarket or liquor store might be free, but they are not nearly as strong or padded, and so can't shield your valuables as well from harm in transit.

-Use sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels to separate pictures and other fragile objects from each other and the sides of the carton. Pack plates and glass objects vertically, rather than flat and stacked.

-Be sure to point out to your mover the boxes in which you've packed fragile items, especially if those items are exceptionally valuable. The mover will advise you whether those valuables need to be repacked in sturdier, more appropriate boxes. Remember to mark them “fragile” in red.

-Don’t overpack, the heavier the item, the smaller the box it should occupy. A good rule of thumb is if you can't lift the carton easily, it's too heavy. Label your boxes, especially the ones containing sheets and towels, so you can find everything you need the first night in your new home 

Mark Your Boxes

Fill your "OPEN ME FIRST" cartons containing snacks, instant coffee or tea bags, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and brushes, medicine and toiletry items (make sure caps are tightly secured), flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups and utensils, a pan or two, paper towels, and any other items your family can't do without. You will want to take this box with you.  Ask your van foreman to load the other “OPEN ME FIRST” boxes, so that they will be unloaded at your new home first.  You are taking the first box in case the movers are delayed getting to your house on the day of the move.

Work hand in hand with your mover.

Give the mover's foreman your reach numbers and email addresses so you can stay in contact.

Read the inventory form carefully, and ask the mover to explain anything you don't understand. Make a note of your shipment's registration number, and keep your Bill of Lading handy.

If you're moving long-distance, be aware that your property might share a truck with that of several other households. For this reason, your mover might have to warehouse your furniture and belongings for several days. Therefore, ask your mover whether your goods will remain on the truck until delivered. If they have to be stored, ask whether you can check the warehouse for security, organization, and cleanliness.

Prepare your family

Teach your children your new address. Let them practice writing it on packed cartons. You can lighten your load and reduce any storage space you need to rent by hosting a garage or yard sale.

Keep your pets out of packing boxes and away from all the activity on moving day.

Let all your electrical gadgets like computers, TV's and video games return to room temperature before plugging them in.

Since you never know what may go on when you arrive at your new home, pack a hard copy of your most important phone numbers.