Tips to Ensure a Smooth Move
If you’ve ever moved into a new home, you know how chaotic it can be. Bring some order to the chaos by using the following moving tips. Feel free to print out this page and refer to it before and after the move so that you don’t forget any minor details.
Before Moving Day
Packing
The key to good packing is to pack heavy and pack light. Put your heavier belongings in small boxes. Your lighter items should go in bigger boxes.
If you have plates and record albums, don’t stack them on top of each other. Pack them vertically.
If you have framed photos or works of art that can’t be replaced, don’t take any chances. Bring them in the car with you. If you must pack them, be sure to add blankets or sheets between them to ensure that they’re protected.
Before you pack your lamps, unscrew and remove the light bulbs.
You don’t want to move a refrigerator that's full of food. Clean and dry the inside of it thoroughly. After you're done, put a fistful of coffee, baking soda or charcoal into a sock and keep it in the fridge so that it smells fresh.
Your plants should ride along in the car with you. Don’t let their foliage rest against the windows, or you’ll risk scorching the leaves.
Keeping Track of Important Information
Write down your shipment registration number and keep it with you at all times. You’ll need it in case you have to contact the moving company with questions regarding your shipment.
You might need to contact residents and businesses in your former city, so bring a current copy of your phone book with you.
Helping the Family Get Ready
Give your children an assignment that’s related to the move. For example, ask them to write their names and new address on their moving boxes. This will help them memorize the address.
If you have a pet, it’s best to keep it away from the chaos of moving day. Ask a friend to watch over your pet until it’s time to leave.
On Moving Day
You'll need your sheets and towels on the first night in your new home. Instead of packing them in a box, put them in a dresser drawer. This will make it easier to access them.
Give both your phone number and an alternate number to the van foreman before he or she leaves for your new home.
Set aside the bare essentials that you’ll need on the first night. This includes toilet paper, phones, toiletries, snacks, coffee, coffee pot, flashlights, screwdrivers, pliers, can openers, disposable dinnerware, pans, paper towels and cleaning supplies. Pack these items into a single box. Ask the van foreman to load it into the van last so that it can be unloaded first.
Don’t plug in your computer the minute you step into your new home. Give your computer a while to acclimate to the new room temperature.
Finally, relax and leave the rest of the hard work to the professionals. You're about to start a new chapter in your life, and you deserve a break. Most importantly, get a good night’s sleep before pickup and delivery days.
Remember, the better planned you are, the smoother the move will be! So, relax, create a list, and watch your move worries disappear.
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