Top 10 Moving Tips

Moving is a frustrating and complex process that requires a lot of decisions, research, time, and energy. But it doesn’t have to be a negative experience! Besides hiring professional movers, you will have to prepare both of your homes for the relocation, and do some more tasks to ensure that your move is done safely and soundly. Don’t panic, we all moved so many times before, and probably we will in the future again. These are the top moving tips that will help you plan and organize your move in the best possible way. Let’s get to the point!

1. Have everything in written

Rule number one of successful moving is to have it all in writing. Start from the moving plan. Get a dedicated notebook where you will write down everything related to your move, from the local movers you are going to call, professional movers you have scheduled, to the moving budget, and various to-do lists that you have to fulfill. If you rely on your memory, the chance that you will forget something is near 100%. Moving can get chaotic, so you want to have everything written down so you can go back and check if you finished everything that you needed to. Not just that, but make sure that your professional movers send out all the paperwork in a written form. Once you hire your furniture movers, they should send you a confirmation email with all the details related to your upcoming relocation. Make sure to double-check the details inside, but most importantly, check the price, the date, and the addresses. You want to be sure you have the right information when it comes to this. Better safe than sorry, you know how they say! 

2. Set the moving date and call professional movers in advance

Before you even start calling professional movers, make sure to set the moving date. See if you can get a day off on that day, if not, try to clear the schedule for some weekend. It is important that you have the date in mind and not to change it unless it is necessary. Professional movers might have different prices for weekdays and weekends. You can guess, the weekend is more expensive because everyone wants it. Planning your move in time requires you to think in advance and call professional movers in advance. Otherwise, you might have to call the other local movers to move you or to change the moving day. Either way, it will increase the level of stress during your move. 

3. Research potential local movers

No, it is not enough to type local movers near me and to think that your job here is done. You will have to invest a bit more effort into finding professional movers that you can rely upon. It is very important to have someone who is trusted since those people will be coming to your home and handling your precious furniture and memories. You don’t want to let just anyone do that. So, before hiring professional movers, make sure you investigate them further. Read some reviews to get a better picture of what those local movers are offering. Don’t be disappointed if some professional movers seem to be perfect for you, and you spot a couple of bad reviews – that is normal in a business such as moving. More importantly, is how they handle those reviews and their clients. Before hiring professional movers, make sure to call a couple of places to compare the services. Oh, and don’t forget to hire only licensed and insured professional movers. You don’t want to stress out about some damages and your local movers not picking up the phone after you spotted those. 

4. Don’t wait too long with packing

I know, I know, if you could, you would never even start with it. That is an option too, you just need to hire your professional movers to help you with both, packing and moving. If that is the case, you can freely skip this paragraph. But if you are going to pack on your own, make sure to start in time. You will be surprised how many people greet their professional movers with a half-packed home. This is stressful not only for you but for local movers as well. They will come unprepared for packing. So, be realistic when it comes to the number of items that you have in your home and plan your packing timeline accordingly. Yes, professional movers can finish packing and move in a day, but you won’t be able to do so. After all, they are trained and professional to do it, so don’t even hope for that. Once you have a timeline, make sure you pack at least something each day. This way you will be secure that your home will be packed at least a day before your professional movers arrive. While packing, you should label the boxes because it will be easier for you to unpack, and your professional movers will know where to place boxes once they arrive at your new home. Add notes such as ‘fragile’ or ‘this side up’ so your local movers know if some boxes require special care. Try not to overpack the boxes, because in that case, your professional moves won’t be liable for any damages. If you are struggling with packing dishes, you can opt for a partial packing service. In this case, professional movers can pack up your most fragile items, such as dishes, and you can take care of everything else. 

You should invest in quality packing material because it will keep your items safe and sound during the heavy lifting, and during transport too. One can never be too cautious when it comes to local moving! 

5. Declutter

No matter if you have hired professional movers to help you with both packing and moving, or you are doing it on your own – decluttering shouldn’t be missed. You will be grateful to yourself once you unpack, trust us! There should be four piles of items (or four lists if you have your local movers packing for you): keeping, selling, donating, and throwing away. Keep only the items you are using. If you find some paintings that are almost destroyed or sitting in your basement, the chance it will be the same story, just the new basement is huge. The new place should have some new energy! When it comes to selling, you have a few options: doing it online or organizing a garage sale. I always recommend having a garage sale because you will be able to meet some new people and to have fun with your friends or family. It is also way faster than waiting for some people to see your items online and call you about them. I don’t have a lot to say when it comes to donating, it is wonderful if you decide to do this, and many organizations will be happy to take your unwanted stuff. Now, if you have some big furniture pieces and you are thinking that your furniture movers might help you with throwing them away, you should know that professional movers have certain rules. You are responsible to find an official dumping area and being there with your furniture movers while they are getting rid of your items. No matter how you decide to declutter, you must do it! I wish you a fresh start at your new home! 

6. Essential bag, valuables, forbidden items

Let’s start one by one! The essential bag should contain everything that you will need on a moving day or during your first day at home. Your professional movers will take all the boxes that you want them to, but just imagine coming to your new home and not knowing where are your toothbrushes, linens, and similar. That is why you will need an essential bag. Pack chargers, linens, cups, toothbrushes. Prepare enough water for you and your local movers on a moving day, and if needed some snacks too. When it comes to valuables, such as documents or jewelry, those will be the safest if they are packed and moved by you. Professional movers have some items that they cannot move even if they were packed by you, so make sure to find out everything about the restrictions you might have. Most of the local movers won’t be able to move any boxes that contain anything flammable, liquids, poisons, or anything of that sort. But since professional movers have different rules – this should be stated in the confirmation email. If you are still not sure if your local movers can move something that you have, feel free to give them a call. 

7. Prepare your new home for moving in 

Not only that your current home needs some preparation for the moving date, but your new home also does too. Before your professional movers bring your furniture in, you want to check if the painting should be done. Also, see if some repairs are required and schedule a repairman to come to your home before your local movers. Since most of the professional movers are charging hourly, you might want to create a layout for your new home. Local movers will place your furniture where it should be, and you don’t want them to carry your items around for too long. Not only because of the money but also because everyone will be nervous. Don’t forget to transfer your utilities so you can settle down immediately when your professional movers leave. Change your address everywhere where you need to, so you can receive your packages and mail them to your new home. 

8. Be there at the moving day

Professional movers always require someone to be there and sign the contract. The best-case scenario is that you are there with your local movers during the whole process, and that is something that furniture movers love the most. Not only because of the agreement, but you can instruct them on what should and shouldn’t be moved, or packed. Also, once professional movers get to your new home, you are the one who should navigate where to put which piece of furniture. So, try to get a day off if your move is scheduled for a weekday. If you cannot make it, try to find someone reliable to be there instead. 

9. Check if everything was moved

Professional movers will ask you to sign the document that guarantees that everything was unloaded from the moving truck. Not only you should double-check the truck, but before your professional movers leave your old home, you should make sure they have loaded everything. This will last for a couple of minutes only, but you will be sure that all of your belongings will get to your new home. Sometimes local movers might miss something, and they will also appreciate it if you tell them before it is too late. 

10. Set the deadline for unpacking

Professional movers cannot help with unpacking, that is why we all have the tendency to delay the whole process until we figure that our move was done two months before, and we are not even half unpacked. That is why it is important to set a deadline for unpacking. The best your local movers can do is to unpack your belongings to the flat surface. This might be helpful, but it is questionable if they will be willing to do it. 

Since you are reading this text, we assume you might need a recommendation when it comes to professional movers. Down the Block Movers is a moving company that is helping its neighbors move for a long time now. If you want to have a smooth moving service, with a group of professional movers who are trained, experienced, and licensed – you are in the right place! Give us a call and get your moving quote for free! Our moving consultants are available for any question or concern you might have along the way, every day of the week. Put your trust in us, and we can promise you that your move will be done most efficiently and safely possible. Looking forward to talking to you!