Moving can be a stressful experience, but with the right preparation, it doesn't have to be. Here are some useful tips on everything you need to do before your moving company arrives. First, check with your moving company to make sure you understand all the details of the move. Then, go through each room in your home and get rid of any items that you no longer need or use.
Classify them into boxes labeled Trash, Donate, and Give as Gift. Spend time packing valuables such as jewelry, gadgets, chargers, and toiletries. Keep medicines within reach, as well as a change of clothes for the move. Clothes, dishes, tools and other items pack and move more easily when they are not a mess.
Before packing, try to minimize your belongings as much as possible. Host a garage sale, donate items in good condition to a local charity, or find a loved one who wants the things you're getting rid of. This will reduce the number of boxes to move and make the moving day faster. Choose an appropriate valuation protection plan and purchase additional insurance if necessary (highly recommended in case you intend to move items of high monetary or sentimental value).
Make sure you know all your options and understand all the differences and specific conditions of the different types of liability protection offered by your chosen moving companies. Plan a proper escape route to leave your house: Measure the doors and see if your larger furniture will fit through them and along narrow corridors, tight turns and steep staircases. When you've found the easiest way to get your stuff out, make sure the path is clear of obstacles and is as safe as possible. You can even disassemble bulky furniture that can cause problems (keep detached parts and small hardware items together with the piece they belong to) and wrap them in plastic blankets or warp for extra protection. If you are not up to the task, you will at least be able to tell your carriers which parts need to be disassembled beforehand and how to squeeze them out as easily as possible.
Recharge the energy levels of your moving employees to ensure efficient and fast work. Offer bottled water and some refreshments to the moving crew and designate a bathroom they can use (must be equipped with liquid soap and disposable hand towels).If you are only hiring movers, not packers, then you will need to know the right ways to pack for the move. Whether it's a really valuable vintage record player or an old music box that has more sentimental than collectible value, this tells packers and movers to be very careful with these items. The standard liability coverage offered by moving companies free of charge is known as Replacement Value Protection and covers your belongings with as little as 60 cents per pound per item. A well-prepared moving company will provide physical protection to minimize any potential damage that may be caused during the move.
While tips for tipping vary from person to person, many experts will tell you to tip your moving agents, either 5 percent of the total bill (divided by carriers) or a reasonable flat rate. And while most movers bring materials to protect their carpets, walls, and floors from damage while they are working, you should ask about these practices before moving day and ask if these measures will incur an additional cost. So it's a good idea to leave your toddlers and pet companions with a trusted friend or relative on the day of the move; this way, those who move won't accidentally stumble upon their crawling toddler or nosy dog, your little ones' daily feeding and napping schedules will be kept on the right path and you will not have to do it, constantly monitor your child or pet and you will be able to concentrate on the movement tasks at hand. If you choose to pack for your move on your own, you may have hired a moving company just to carry your things from one place to another. Unless your move includes packing, it's up to you to properly pack most of your belongings before the movers arrive. This type of service allows you to choose whether carriers pack some or all of your belongings, depending on your budget and preferences. Courageously designate and label (or remove from home) items that carriers do not carry in their truck. Mark it as a room “without a package” and consider closing it to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts with those who move you (in case a valuable object mysteriously disappears, for example).But for movers who do an excellent job, what better way to show their appreciation than with a few dollar bills? Before moving employees arrive, plan to have cash available. Before you relax too much, there are a few things you should consider when preparing for a move, even if you're not doing the heavy lifting.
With these tips in mind, you'll be ready for whatever comes up on moving day!.
