Whether moving across town or across the country,
there is no denying that while going into a new home is exciting,
it can also be a stressful and time-consuming endeavor. Hiring a moving
company to pack, load and unpack on the other end certainly makes
things easier, but still requires a certain amount of preparation
and vigilance.
An organized relocation will relieve a lot
of the stress of moving day. Begin by finding a reputable moving company
and thoroughly checking their references, along with comparing prices
of various companies. Everyone has heard a moving horror story or
two, so doing the homework on moving companies is worth the effort.
Once a company has been selected and a packing
day has been set, it's time to get things organized. Whether packing
belongings personally or having the moving company pack everything,
careful labeling of boxes is a key component of hassle-free unpacking
on the other end. Merely labeling a box "kitchen" or "bedroom"
isn't as helpful as knowing the contents of a box in order to better
assess which box to unpack first. This may sound like a minor inconvenience,
but when faced with a new house full of cardboard boxes, knowing where
the coffee maker is can be extremely helpful. Before the packers come,
take some time to go through the house room by room and de-clutter.
Moving is a great time to finally get rid of
extra things that have been piling up. Make a pile to donate, a pile
to recycle and some things may need to go to the trash pile.
Take the time to look over valuable jewelry,
collections and papers. It's a good idea to move things like that
personally. It's also important to known the moving company's policies
on items like paint cans or propane tanks. The more things are in
order on the day of packing, the more efficiently (and quicker may
mean cheaper) belongings can be packed up.
After boxes have been packed and carefully
labeled with an inventory of the contents, it is time to come up with
an unpacking plan. Most moving companies offer a variety of services,
from the basic to full-service unpacking. No matter who is opening
the boxes on the other end, it's a good idea to map out where furniture
should be placed ahead of time. This certainly doesn't mean adjustments
won't be made once the furniture is in the house, but having a plan
minimizes stress for everyone involved. Another good idea is to decide
if boxes are going to be placed in individual rooms for unpacking
or a general unloading area.
Before meeting the moving truck at the new
home, have a list of contacts from the moving company on hand, such
the person responsible for the account and the dispatcher for the
truck. It's important to set up a good line of communication immediately
with the workers unloading the truck. Be sure to walk through the
house with them before anything is unloaded to understand exact expectations
of both parties. An inventory list should be provided and take the
time to check each item as it is removed from the truck. Again, it
sounds tedious but tiny details matter on moving day. Preparation
before packing and vigilance as things are being unloaded are the
extra steps that will take the stress out of the big move.
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