To be realistic, there is no such thing as a hassle-free move. Moving an entire household involves a whole lot of things. And if you are moving hundreds of items all at the same time, there is bound to be a problem somewhere, sometime.
But you can reduce the problems immensely if you will just do the necessary planning and preparation. With the proper P&P, you will be able to make your move as smooth as silk.
Here are some tips and moving advice that can reduce the chances of problems cropping up while preparing or during the actual move. These suggestions and recommendations are from people who have been there and have done that.
Suggestion: Print this out and have it with you from day one of your moving preparation, so that you can consult it if you are facing a tough situation.
1. Take Your Phone Book
Don’t leave your current phone book behind. Take it with you when you move. You don’t know if you will have to call some of your acquaintances or business associates in your former place of residence.
2. Give Your Phone Number to the Moving Crew Supervisor or Foreman
Before the truck or van leaves for your new residence, give the supervisor or foreman your phone number where you can be reached. In fact, it is best if you can provide him with two phone numbers just in case he can’t reach you through the other one.
3. Don’t Forget the Important Little Things
What are the things that you use every day that you can’t do without? These are toilet paper, soap, snacks, a couple of cooking pans, cleaning supplies, toiletries, coffee, plates, utensils, cups, and paper towels are some of the little important things that you will need when you arrive in your new home.
Pack them all, if possible in just one box, so that you can easily retrieve these items once you get to your destination. Marked the box as the essentials, and ask the moving crew to load it last, so you can unload it first.
4. Record the Important Things
Write your shipment registration number or anything that defines your shipment on your personal notebook. Responsible movers like Enterprise and U-Haul provide such numbers and relevant documents. You can use this information if you need to call your mover about the status of your shipment.
5. Pack Your Things the Right Way
You can’t mix-match your belongings just like you want to. They need to be packed correctly. The correct method of packing is to pack heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in larger boxes.
6. Safeguard Your Important Mementos
Your pictures, videos and other personal souvenirs are irreplaceable. You can’t pack them in the boxes and let the truck carry them away, unless they are too many and too bulky. You need to take them yourself.
For large picture frames or valuable paintings, put some soft sheets or blankets between them for added protection.
7. Keep the Smell of the Fridge Fresh
Of course, you need to clean the fridge before it is moved. The problem is: after cleaning it, the smell inside will become stale after sometime if you don’t do anything to prevent it.
So, place a handful of baking soda, fresh coffee or charcoal in a nylon stocking or a sock and put it inside the ref. It will keep the smell inside the ref fresh and clean.
8. Pack Your Plates Correctly
The correct way of packing plates for an upcoming move is by packing them on end vertically, rather than packing them flat, one on top of the other. Packing plates flat are for storing them, and not for transporting them.
9. The Right Way of Packing Lighting Fixtures
Don’t pack lighting fixtures with the bulb still screwed or clipped on them. Unscrew the bulbs and pack them separately with their lamp assemblies.
10. Lighten Your Load by Selling Unneeded Items
You will definitely find that you have many things that you have not been using all these years. For items that are still functional, you can either give them away or you can organize a garage sale and sell them there.
Items that have really lost their usefulness need to be thrown away. This will lighten up your load and even save you money because they will not be included in your packing and moving expenses.
11. Keep an Inventory of All the Things You Are Moving
It is very important for you to keep an inventory of all the items you or the mover is transporting. Create a list of every item and check each one as they are being loaded on the truck. Once you get to your destination, check each item again if they have been transported or not.
If you have diligently labeled your boxes correctly, all you need to do is check out each box as they are being loaded, and later, as they are being unloaded.
