How to Make Moving Easier? 10 Moving Tips

Moving to your new home isn’t necessarily a daunting challenge because there are proven ways to streamline the process for both local and long-distance relocations. Use our 10 moving tips on how to make moving easier, avoid the relocation stress syndrome and make your move stress-free.

Plan Your Move Ahead

Last-minute arrangements might work in college but not for moving to a new home. Professional movers recommend getting ready for the relocation at least 8 weeks before the moving date.
Create your moving checklist with all tasks to be accomplished and make sure to follow the schedule.

Declutter

Decluttering, or sorting out your stuff, helps not only to cut moving costs (movers charge by weight or volume) but to reduce effort on packing and cut supply costs as well.

Decluttering= less to pack + less to move + less to unpack + less to pay

When you start decluttering, you will realize how many things you have unused. Throw away all broken things. A rule of thumb states that if you didn’t use an item during a year, probably you don’t need it. Unwanted items in a good condition can be sold (garage sale, Craigslist, etc.) or given to charity. Some charity organizations, like Gone for Good or Salvation Army, can find a good use for your items.

Hire professional movers

Actually, the right choice of a moving company might streamline the entire moving process. First, you need to decide on the type of moving service you need, whether you need only a truck, or movers & truck, or you need a full-service moving company to handle all stages of your move.

• Full-service movers take care of your move from start to finish:
• Providing all packing supplies
• Packing services and disassembling furniture
• Loading and unloading the truck
• Unpacking and re-assembling furniture at your new home

Professional movers might seem costly but they indeed take over your headache and handle tedious tasks fast and efficiently.

Reputable professional moving companies can also share tips for moving and recommend how to make moving less stressful and more efficient. Trustworthy companies like TrekMovers offer free online quotes and free in-person estimation to calculate the moving costs.

How to choose the best movers? Take recommendations from friends and colleagues, search on the Internet, and scrutinize customer reviews. Book movers early because waiting may result in higher, peak prices or a chosen moving company fully booked, particularly during the high season.

Start Packing in Advance

Keep up with your move schedule set in your checklist. If you have decided on full-service movers they will do the packing

If you go with DIY packing, the earlier you start, the fewer headaches you will have closer to the moving day. Prepare packing supplies in advance: you need boxes of various sizes, bubble wrap, tape, and markers or stickers for labeling boxes.
Just sort out things after decluttering, and set aside items that you use regularly ­– you will pack an essentials box later.

As experience shows, packing room by room is the most practical as you can sort out boxes at your new home faster. Start packing with rarely used and out-of-season items, books, interior décor items, and some kitchen appliances.

Choose the Right Size of a Truck

Full-service movers select the right truck themselves; otherwise, you need to hire the right truck. For DIY moving, look for a truck with a ramp. It may be more expensive than a regular one but lifting every box or piece of furniture using muscle power will take much more time and result in muscle pain.

If you’ve decided to go with a truck rental service and don’t know the truck size you need, here is the general guide based on moderately packed rooms:

• Cargo van or 10’ moving truck: studio apartment
• 15-foot truck: 2-bedroom apartment
• 20-foot truck: 3-bedroom apartment
• 26-foot truck: 4-bedroom apartment.

For less loaded rooms, you can consider 3 cubic feet of space per room. Do not forget to add a kitchen, reception, and bathrooms, so you can have an idea of the right truck. In any case, do not rely on this estimation precisely, and always rent a truck slightly larger than estimated to make your move less stressful.

Set Your Moving Budget

Moving can be costly, but planning ahead might save you some money. Once you have decided on a moving company, be it full-service movers or truck rental for a DIY move, be realistic about your moving budget.

Factors to consider for hiring full-service movers:

• Full-service moving fees. Professional companies like TrekMovers provide in-situ estimation and list services included in the costs. You can use an online calculator to get an idea of basic fees.
• Moving insurance (optional). Reputable movers ensure valuation coverage, but you may purchase dedicated moving insurance for additional protection.
• Additional expenses. You need to consider tips for movers and cleaning service fees (if you hire a cleaning company to clean your soon-to-be-old home). Add here vehicle shipping fees (if required) and your transportation.

Factors to consider for a DIY move:

• Truck rental + gas
• Moving insurance + furniture insurance
• Extra moving equipment rental (if required, dollies and ramps)
• Packing supplies (boxes, covers, pads, tape, etc.)

Notify about the Address Change in Advance

Make a list of companies and people to inform about your new address. Notify your bank about the new address. For utilities, turn on services at your new address a couple of days before you move, and make sure to schedule shut-off service at your old home a couple of days after you move out.

A month before the moving day, fill out the form for change of address on the USPS website to ensure your mail is delivered.

Pack an “Essentials” Box

All personal essentials for members of your family should be packed in a separate box. Prepare all items you might need within the first couple of days in your new home – you don’t want to rush between boxes searching for a toothbrush or PJs.

Checklist for the essentials box:

• Documents
• Medications
• Chargers
• Toiletries
• Changes of clothes
• Other important items you might need in the first couple of days. Oh, a coffee maker, coffee, and a set of cups might go to essentials too.

Make a list of essentials for every member of the family (including pets) to avoid the last-minute search for your toddler’s can’t-sleep-without-it teddy bear or your dog’s water bowl.

Think Over a Plan for Kids and Pets

Kids can be stressed by the idea of leaving for a new home. Moreover, they can feel your anxiety. Try to keep their regular routine. You can make older kids engaged in the moving process by offering them to pack their stuff. Younger kids might be entertained by collecting and packing their toys. Make sure to keep aside some essential items and favorite toys. Age-appropriate tasks will keep kids busy and let them feel a part of a family team. Find out more here…

Having younger children and pets on the loose during a moving day might be challenging. Make sure to arrange a babysitter (or a family member) to look after the kids. Pets can stay in a free room or a separate part of a garden during the move. Alternatively, you can make offsite arrangements for pets: with movers carrying things everywhere, pets can get anxious and stressed too. Moving with pets…

The Right Order to Unpack

If you were lucky enough to hire full-service movers, your boxes are unpacked and furniture should be re-assembled by now. Otherwise, you have one more step to complete your move – unpacking.
If you want to save time, do not jump to open boxes randomly. Make a plan and follow it.

First of all, sort out all the boxes in the relevant rooms. You have spent time labeling boxes, so the task shouldn’t take much time.

Then, start unpacking with the essentials boxes that contain all items you will need during the first hours or a couple of days at your new place.

1. Kitchen can be done first. You would like to have a cup of coffee in the morning, kids would browse all over for their snacks, and you need to make meals somehow.
2. Bedrooms come as a next step. If you labeled boxes properly with a list of items attached, unpacking might be relatively easy. Offer kids to enjoy organizing their new rooms on their own. Mess is inevitable anyway (it is an open secret how fast kids are capable of disorganizing and cluttering rooms after you’ve been a cleaning fairy), so let them help and have fun.
3. Next, get the bathrooms done.
4. Re-assemble and arrange the large furniture.
5. Then, do the dining room, living room, and guest bedroom.
6. Utility areas, like the basement, garage, storage, and laundry rooms can be organized next, followed by a patio or garden.

Voila! You are successfully unpacked.

Moving gurus can help to make your relocation easier. Experienced pros at TrekMovers, California, are always ready to answer all your questions and give advice on your unique situation relieving you from stress and worries.