Just because moving can be a frustrating and complex experience, that doesn’t have to mean it has to be a negative one. At Clutch Moving Company, our goal is always to make your move a stress-free experience, every time. While we have your moving day under control and promise you will love the experience, there are some things you can do before your move to make things even less stressful, so today we want to share with you our top 10 moving tips.
1. Make A List And Plan Ahead
Make a moving schedule with a week by week moving checklist to stay on task. It may seem like overkill, but moving is a major process and there are a lot of little things to keep track of. Make sure you don’t wait until the last minute to get the ball rolling. Set a reasonable amount of to-do’s to check off each stage of your list and make sure you complete those to-do’s on time so you don’t end up in a stressful, rush situation.
2. Don’t Set Yourself Up For A Rush Situation
Moving day takes a while. To be on the safe side, don’t schedule plans for your moving day. The move can go longer than anticipated for any number of reasons, and between getting everything ready for the move and then unpacking and getting settled at your new place, you’ll be exhausted. There is no need to add the stress of having to be somewhere else at a certain time.
3. If You Don’t Need/Want It, Don’t Pack It
Take advantage of your upcoming move to do a deep spring cleaning of your home. Go through each room and separate out items to throw away and items to give away. No one wants to move into a new home with tons of clutter. You can donate unwanted items or host a yard sale and make some extra cash. Thinning out your belongings will also decrease the amount of money you have to pay your movers. The less stuff they need to move, the less expensive your move is going to be.
4. Choose THE RIGHT Moving Company
The most important moving advice we can give is to do research on moving companies BEFORE you select the one you are going to work with. Nothing is worse than having a bad moving experience (And if you search online review sites you will see there are PLENTY of people that have had bad experiences with movers). You don’t want your belongings damaged during a move because you have unprofessional or inexperienced movers. Spending a little bit of time up front doing the research will pay you back exponentially in the peace of mind.
5. Don’t Delay Your Packing
When it comes to getting your packing done, don’t waste time. We get it. It’s not fun, but the longer you wait the worse it will get. Start by packing up items that you don’t use as often, or seasonal items that you aren’t using right now. Then go room by room and start taking down decorations, wall art, etc. Giving yourself enough time to pack also helps make sure your items are safe and secure for the move. Still not convinced you should pack your own stuff? No problem! Hire us to do it for you. Our movers are expert packers and we’ll make sure it’s an affordable rate for you.
6. Get Everything in Writing
No matter what moving company you end up hiring for your move, make sure you get everything in writing. Whether email or printed out on paper, you’ll want to know exactly what you are being charged for and avoid any unnecessary confusion or surprises. If you have any questions about what you receive, call the moving company right away to avoid any misunderstandings and to ensure your moving day isn’t stressful.
7. Review Cancellation Policies & Insurance Requirements
It’s important to understand your moving requirements. Does your mover require a non-refundable deposit to secure your move? What is the moving day change or cancellation policy? Does the mover have full coverage insurance or just the standard coverage? These questions are important to understand before your movers arrive and start the job. Nobody ever plans for an emergency, but more often than not, if you are prepared upfront, you’ll never need to exercise those contingency plans.
8. Remember To Change Your Address
Make sure you alert all the companies that use your address for billing that you are moving. You can let the post office know by submitting a change of address form on their website, but many memberships and subscriptions you have will require you to call or log into your account to change your address to keep receiving their products or services.
9. If Possible, Knock Out Your “Honey-Do’s” In Your New Home Before Moving In
It’s always easier to paint and do some home improvements before you add furniture and other belongings in your home that you’ll have to worry about working around. If you can get into your new home before moving day, make sure that honey-do list is checked off prior to adding in all your stuff. It may seem like one additional thing on an already packed list, but it will really pay off in the long run.
10. Be Available On Moving Day
Chances are your movers will have questions for you about what’s going in the truck versus with you in your car or where to put boxes and furniture once you arrive at your new home. Make the process easy and quick by being there in person when your movers are working. You can answer any questions they may have and make sure your furniture is exactly where you want it in your new home, making your unpacking process that much easier.