Many of us dread moving. Most people would rather live in the same house for years (despite dwindling conditions or worse) than move to another house/neighbourhood or area.
One reason is that moving can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining, especially if it is not well-planned. As unpleasant as the experience may seem, this is one of the aspects of life everyone must face head-on. Moving doesn’t have to be as dreadful as most people say. With proper planning and preparations, it can be an enjoyable experience. Outlined below are a few tips from Cornerstone Removals to make removals easy.
Take Some Time to Prepare
Proper planning is needed for a move to be successful. That said, taking a step back and preparing for the move would be advisable. This should be as soon as you realise and actualise the need to move. First, you must create a checklist to make the moving process possible. This includes everything from identifying potential movers, the need to update addresses, handing in the notice (if a tenant), as well as planning post-tenancy cleaning. Other factors, such as school-going children and pets, should also be considered when picking the ideal moving date.
Anything can go wrong during a move. It can be as simple as the mover not showing up, bad weather, or even a pandemic; who knows? Planning for eventualities is one way to deal with this. This article will outline some of the best ways to make moving a breeze.
Moving Tips, Tricks, And Recommendations
1. Declutter
Most of us unknowingly hold onto things we no longer need. These occupy tons of space in your house, making it seem more minor. Use this moment to eliminate anything that doesn’t belong or is unnecessary. Start decluttering from the kitchen towards the bedrooms and place all the unneeded items in a box or heap. Selling some usable items can earn you money; if not, consider donating them to charity. Decluttering will leave you with fewer items to pack/move.
2. Create A Moving Folder
Create a folder on your phone or computer and start recording everything that needs/should be done. Collect rental/purchase papers, new addresses, and moving contracts. Remember to keep a hard copy of these close by, just in case the computer or phone dies. Hard copies of all the necessary documents are recommended as they are easier to retrieve, especially when moving.
3. Start Packing Early
Try to start packing as soon as you get a confirmation for the move. Under normal circumstances, this will be weeks or even months in advance. Start with the rarely used items and off-season items. Start packing winter clothes/coats if the move will be in summer. Books, artwork, and souvenirs can also be packed in boxes and kept in one corner of a room.
4. Book A Mover Early
Start shopping for an affordable and reliable mover when the moving date is set. It is always early enough to book a mover; you can book it three or even 6 months before the moving date. But first, you must look into each of these movers to identify the best one for the job. Check their credentials to ensure they are certified and licensed to operate in the state. You might also want to book professional painters and cleaners at this time.
5. Schedule Services to Your New Home
The last thing you want is to move into a house without electricity, heat, or water. This can be avoided by contacting the local utility providers to schedule service to the new home. Make a written request for the same and when the services should be activated (or turned ON) for an easy transition. Remember to request for termination of services in the current house with respective utility providers as well. Keep copies of the requests and confirmations in the moving folder mentioned above.
6. Keep All Essentials Close by
Everyday essentials (toothbrushes, changing clothes, medications, paperwork, emergency cash, toys for the kids, etc.) should be kept in a bag that is easy to reach. Have the bag always, especially as the movers load your items onto the truck, preferably in your car or truck cab. Keep these essentials in your handbag if you move to another state and travel by air. This way, you will have all the necessary documents and essentials should anything happen to the truck or if they run late.
7. Invest In Essential Moving Equipment and Supplies
List all the essentials you need to make the process successful. Some essentials you should have with you include adhesive bandages, box cutters, packing tape, permanent markers, paper towels, garbage bags, packing boxes, furniture pads, tie-down straps, and a furniture dolly, among others. With these at hand, you won’t have to rush to the convenience store to get masking tapes or packing boxes in the middle of packing. These are especially important if you wish to move. Some moving companies may provide you with packing boxes and tape too.
Moving heavy equipment on your own can take a toll on your back. Avoid hurting yourself by renting moving tools from a mover or convenience store. There is plenty of equipment that can make hauling heavy appliances, such as fridges or furniture, much easier and more manageable.
8. Rent A Truck with a Ramp
Hiring a truck with a loading ramp will prove beneficial if you consider handling the move yourself. The loading ramp makes lifting heavy equipment to the truck relatively easier than lifting the same manually. Although a little expensive to hire, the added feature/functionality is worth every penny. It should also make your work easier, with no sore muscles at the end of it all.
Top 10 Packing Tips When Moving
1. Use The Appropriate Boxes When Packing
Always think ahead while packing. First, it is advisable to load heavy items (e.g., books) in small boxes and lighter items (e.g., pillows and linens) in large containers. Packing heavy items in large boxes will make them too heavy to carry or load onto the truck. The box might not even hold the weight.
2. Place Heavy Boxes at The Bottom
This is important if/when loading the truck yourself. Start by loading the heaviest boxes at the far front of the truck. Lighter ones should follow, with the lightest at the top and closest to the rear. This will help improve balance.
3. Make Sure Every Box Is Full
Do not leave gaps and spaces in boxes. Fill the empty spaces with packing paper, towels, or even clothes – this will go a long way in keeping them balanced, especially when stacked.
4. Don’t Mix Items from Different Rooms
Do not use items from a different room to fill up a box. Boxes from a specific room, say the kid’s bedroom, should only contain such. Mixing items up will only make unpacking harder.
5. Label Each Box Accordingly
In addition to the above point, labelling each box as per the contents and destined room would be advisable. Record these in a notepad or on your phone for easy retrieval. Labelling or colour-coding boxes according to their destined room will make unpacking and settling in much easier and faster.
6. Tape All Boxes Well and Securely
Always severally tape the top and bottom seams of cardboard boxes to make them secure. Professional movers wrap around the box several times to help secure weak points within the box. This eliminates the risk of contents spilling from the bottom when the box is lifted and while loading.
7. Ask For a Special Crating for Expensive Art
Extra care is needed when preparing expensive art for a move and during the moving process. Consider looking for special crating used to package expensive art for long-distance moves. Most movers will have these at hand – you only need to inform them of the expensive art, and they will take over. Use bubble wrap or newspapers to safely wrap pictures and other pieces before putting them in the frame box. Mark all boxes containing expensive and delicate art with an X using masking tape or a permanent marker.
8. Handle Kitchen Packing with Care
The modern kitchen holds more items (delicates) and valuables than any other house room. This is why you should always take your time packing kitchen items for moving. Get all the necessary packing materials needed for the kitchen before starting off. These include packing paper, bubble wrap, old newspapers, towels, and cardboard dividers. Use packing paper to wrap around each glass/porcelain dish, then wrap them in bundles of 6 with even more paper. Dishes, on the other hand, should be packed on their side, with lots of bunched-up paper in between for padding. Add a layer of padding below and above the dishes to prevent sudden shock and breaking. Pack bowls and cups inside each other but with packing paper in between and in bundles of 4. Use special dish-barrel boxes for all these.
9. Prepare The Wardrobe
Packing your wardrobe for moving can be easy but tricky if approached wrongly. Either way, you can pack the clothes folded in suitcases or cardboard boxes or leave them in the dresser. A special wardrobe box may, however, be needed for hanging clothes.
To prepare shoes for safe packing, wrap each pair of shoes individually to prevent one damaging another. Better yet, you can roll socks into the shoes before wrapping them – the socks will help them hold their shape. Use toilet paper rolls to pack necklaces and earrings. You could also string necklaces through straws to prevent them from tangling.
10. Pack the TV
Preparing your TV for moving is relatively straightforward, especially if you still have its original box. Use packing paper to add extra padding to the TV box. Carefully slide the TV into the box, then secure it with packing tape. Run a few rounds of packing tape for a tight and secure box. Plasma TVs, however, have to be moved into special wooden crates. You might also need quilted furniture pads for added cushioning for the TV while in transit.
These are some of the simplest ways to make moving easy. With proper planning and packing early, moving house should be a wonderful experience and even a time to spend with your family while packing and unpacking. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a stressful or tiring experience.
Ref: 3242.28204
POSTED BY 
