You’ve packed up your belongings, and now it’s time to move. You’re a little nervous about how smoothly the process will go, but there are a few things you can do to make sure your next move goes off without a hitch. Follow these expert strategies for minimizing damage during a move—and keep yourself stress-free in the process:
Start planning 4-6 weeks in advance
Start planning 4-6 weeks in advance. The more time you have, the less stressful your move will be. You’ll need this time to get rid of clutter and decide what to keep, so it’s important to plan ahead.
De-clutter your home—this will make packing much easier!
Make a list of things that need to be packed up or put away before you move. This way, you won’t forget any important items while packing on moving day.
Pick the right moving company
Before you begin your next move, it’s important that you choose the right moving company. This can be done by asking a few questions and making sure they have the proper experience to do the job.
Ask for a quote. They’ll give you an accurate price with all of the details included in writing.
Ask for references—and check them! A good mover should be able to give you at least three references from previous customers with whom they’ve worked, who are willing to talk with you about their experiences with this particular moving company. You’ll want to ask them how long ago their move took place as well as what exactly was moved (how many boxes were there? How many pieces of furniture?).
If possible, ask about any damage that may have been caused during these moves; if so, how did it get resolved? Lastly, ask about insurance coverage; most reputable movers will carry liability insurance on each individual shipment made by their business so that customers aren’t liable for damages incurred during transit (although this doesn’t necessarily mean your items won’t get damaged or lost).
Purge your belongings
Your move will take a lot of effort and money, so it’s important to make sure that you’re not moving a bunch of stuff you don’t need or use. If you have lots of clutter lying around the house, there’s no doubt that the movers will be the first ones to notice. So, before they come knocking on your door and ask to see everything they’re going to pack up in boxes, take some time off and go through every room in your home.
Get rid of all those items that have been sitting around collecting dust for years—the broken vase, the old textbooks from high school/college/university/trade school (take note: if it’s neither high school nor college nor university nor trade school), etc.—and start packing accordingly!
Pack early
It’s a good idea to pack early so that you can easily return anything you don’t need. This will reduce the chances of forgetting anything and help ensure that your new home is ready for you when you arrive.
Start by packing clothes and other essentials, then move on to items that may be harder to find later on. Finally, pack the things that are most important first—such as prescription medications or keepsakes—so they’re not forgotten in a rush at the last minute.
If possible, do all this while staying calm: It’ll make it much easier for your mind to remember what’s where and keep track of what needs doing next.
