Moving can be an extremely stressful process, no matter whether you’re moving out of your house, apartment or dorm. However, with a little planning ahead can make the big day easier on you and on the movers. Check out these five tips for some easy ways to make your move stress-free.
Get rid of all unwanted items
As you take an inventory of your belongings in preparation for the move, there’s a solid chance you’ll find you have things that you don’t really need or use anymore. Instead of just tossing them in a box, consider hosting a garage sale or donating them. E.E. Ward is affiliated with the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio and can assist with unwanted furniture donations to this nonprofit organization. Getting rid of any unwanted items not only makes the packing process easier, but it can save you money too. With fewer items to pack, less time is required for packing, and it also reduces the weight of your move. Weight is an important factor in the overall cost of your move, so anytime you can reduce it you will see the price fall accordingly.
Be available to the movers
When a move goes bad, often times the issue lies with a lack of communication between the customer and the mover. For this reason, it is important that during the move you be available for any questions that the movers might have. Ideally, it is best to be at the site of the move to oversee things, but if not, make sure that you provide them with a reliable method of contacting you. Verifying that your movers have your correct contact information can ensure that your linens don’t end up with your board games.
Pack a box with items you’ll need immediately
Instead of having to dig through countless boxes to find an outfit the day after your move, consider packing a small duffel bag or suitcase with a couple of outfits and your toiletries. This helps to avoid the issue of trying to find ‘box 179’ when you need a clean t-shirt or pair of pants. In addition to setting aside some clothes, it is easy to forget other items you’ll need immediately upon arriving at your new residence. To avoid getting there at midnight and realizing there aren’t any light bulbs, be sure to pack one box with household items you’ll require in the first few hours at your new home. Items may include toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels, sheets and light bulbs, among others.
Take inventory of each box
While packing, it is easy to mark a box ‘kitchen’ and begin tossing any and all kitchen items inside of it. This might seem like a perfectly acceptable strategy, and it is, until you need a knife and you realize you have twelve kitchen boxes to dig through. By numbering each box and writing down it’s inventory you prevent this from happening. It only takes a few extra seconds up front, but in the end it can save you from hours of searching boxes for one item.
Protect your valuables
No one wants their possessions damaged, but one of the realities of moving is that accidents happen. To protect your valuable/breakable goods, it is wise to insure the items that you don’t want to worry about replacing. E.E. Ward offers reasonably priced protection plans for any goods of value.
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