Top 10 Moving Tips

One is guaranteed – moving is stressful. And no matter how hard are you trying, there will still be some setbacks on the way. But you shouldn’t be desperate about it, because there are some tips and tricks that will help you overcome any obstacle on the way. Let’s go over some statistics – the average person moves around 11 times during the lifetime. The last thing that you want is to go through a lot of stress whenever you are moving. 

You will think that after you go through the first relocation, that you will be the expert, but it is not like that. After the first relocation, if you had great local movers, make sure to save their phone numbers so you can call them again. 

But, let’s go and go over the list that will help you prepare. Ready? Let’s go! 

1. Make a timeline

Before you start with the actual work and call local movers, you need to have a proper plan! It is not possible to come up with all the scenarios that might happen during the relocation, but you should try to think of most of them. And make sure to write everything down, because moving is not the best moment to test your memory. Except for writing down all the information about local movers, but also write down everything that you will have to do. If you try to come up with the timeline, that will be the best, because the whole process will be much more organized. The better the plan, the better the move – it is a simple rule. You should also think of a moving budget before calling your local movers, so you can know what companies can fit it. Don’t be very strict about it, it is always better to make a range and work according to that. And don’t forget to have a ‘just in case’ fond. You don’t want to get surprised by any additional expenses and not have enough to cover them. Don’t forget to get a notebook dedicated to your upcoming move. 

2. Find good local movers to help you out

After you figure some things on your own, it is time for the most crucial step of your planning – to find local movers. Finding local movers is not as simple as typing affordable movers near me and booking the first one on the list. You will have to invest some time and energy into the research. Before hiring any local movers, make sure to check their online reviews, so you can see how they are handling their clients. Don’t be discouraged if the local movers that you want to call have a couple of bad reviews, that is normal. Dealing with a business such as moving, where you have a team of local movers who are doing physical work, damages might happen. More importantly, is to see how they are answering and dealing with claims. If you see that local movers are answering the bad reviews, that is a good sign that they will be supporting in case of any damages. Once you have found good local movers, make sure to save their contact information, so you can have the movers to hire in the future. The other way to find local movers you can trust is to ask your friends and neighbors to recommend the movers they have used for their move. This is the safest way to find reliable local movers. 

3. Take a day off for your moving day

Local movers always require someone to be present while they are doing the job. The person that is there should help them with the organization, layout at the new home, and sign the agreement. The best person for that is you. So make sure to take a day off from work if possible, so you don’t stress out about being late to work, or anything of that sort. In case you cannot take the day off, try to be there at least for the part of the move. Or you can find someone you trust to sign the agreement and be there with the movers if you are not able to be there. 

4. Get the additional insurance (if needed)

You might need to get the additional insurance, so make sure to do it in time. In case you have something too valuable or fragile, you might want to have additional insurance for it. Local movers have the basic coverage insurance included in the price, and that is usually 60 cents per pound. Make sure to get the additional insurance for the items that are too valuable, just so you can be sure that you are not risking anything. Most of the time, this additional insurance is charged per item you want to insure, so it is not going to be that expensive. 

5. Declutter

The best opportunity to get rid of all the items that you are not using or that you don’t want is to move. Since you have to go through all of your belongings anyways, you might use the opportunity to declutter. There are a couple of ways to get rid of the items you no longer want. You can have some fun and organize a garage sale with your family and friends. Or, if it is more convenient, you can have an online sale. This way, you will be able to earn some money and cover a part of the expenses for the local movers. If you don’t want to bother with the sale, you can always donate your items to the Goodwille or donate them to anyone you know might need them. And if there are some items that you cannot donate or sell, just get rid of them. You don’t want to bring the old energy into your new apartment. Your new home should be your happy place, with the items you want. A fresh start is what you need! 

6. To pack or not to pack

Now the biggest task of your moving – packing. The first question is whether you want to hire packers and movers or to do the packing on your own. If you decide to hire packers and movers, your only task will be to open the door for the local movers, and they will do everything else for you. Not only you will save a lot of time, but the energy as well. On the other hand, if you are packing on your own, you need to start in time. Don’t underestimate your home and think that you can pack in a day or two because it is not possible. You don’t want to greet your affordable movers and not being packed up. This will bring a huge dose of stress to your moving. 

Now, let’s talk about packing boxes. When you hire packers and movers, you can use the boxes they are selling. Those are usually high-quality boxes, and your items will be safe and sound. If you are packing on your own, you might want to consider investing in quality packing boxes. The number one priority should be the safety of your items, so don’t hesitate to invest a bit more to keep your private possessions safe. 

When it comes to packing, there are a few simple rules we gathered from professional movers. You should always pack heavy items into smaller boxes, so those are easier for your local movers to carry. Those boxes should be packed up with packing paper so there are no empty spaces. This should be applied to every other packing. When it comes to the less fragile items, your local movers can move those even if they are packed into the storage bins, suitcases, and similar, so use them to save money on packing material.   

Don’t forget to label all the boxes, so your local movers know where to place them once they get to your new home. Also, it will be much easier for you to unpack as well. Add the notes such as ‘this side up’ or ‘fragile’ so your professional movers know how to handle those boxes. 

No one likes packing, but the sooner you start – the better. Don’t delay the start and make sure to pack at least a couple of boxes every day. 

7. Find a babysitter and/or petsitter 

A moving site is a dangerous place for your loved ones. Local movers will be handling heavy furniture around, and your kids won’t be so amused with the whole relocation process, and they will want to play. With kids running around and professional movers caring for the furniture… You don’t want to think of an epilogue for that. The same goes for your pets. Just think about it, your local movers will leave the doors open because it will be convenient for them to carry the furniture that way. Your pets might use this chance to go out unsupervised. All of this will just increase the amount of stress during your move, and you want to avoid it. That is why you should hire a babysitter and someone to take care of your pets until the move is done, and you can all meet in your new home to settle down together. Not to mention that moving might be stressful for toddlers and pets because they won’t understand what is happening around them. Make sure to start your new life chapter with a smile on your face! 

8. Prepare your new home for move-in 

Before your local movers come to your home with all the furniture pieces, make sure to prepare your new home for moving in. Organize someone to transfer the utilities before your professional movers bring all the furniture. Besides that, you want to make a layout of your new home. Most of the local movers charge hourly rates, so you don’t want to waste any more time than needed. Don’t leave tasks such as painting for the last moment, because you want your walls to be dry once your local movers bring your furniture so nothing gets damaged by paint. Anything else that needs to be done, make sure it is done before the arrival of your local movers. 

9. Check if everything arrived at the new location

Local movers will ask you to check the moving truck before they leave for good, and you will have to sign the document that proves that everything is unloaded and there is nothing left behind in the truck. You should do the same before they leave your old home, so you can check if everything was loaded into the moving truck. Moving can get chaotic, and the last thing that you want is to have your items lost. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Don’t be lazy to spend a couple more minutes inspecting everything where your items might be, such as dressers that you are leaving behind or drawers. 

10. Set a deadline for unpacking

Local movers cannot help you with unpacking, no matter if they helped you pack or not. This is why you need to set a deadline for unpacking. Otherwise, you will be living surrounded by the boxes for months. No one likes packing, but unpacking is maybe an even more hated part of the move. But it needs to be done, so make sure you plan it accordingly. 

And if you need the help of professional movers, you are in the right place! NY Professional Movers is the company that is the right choice for any type of move that you are planning. With the help of our local movers, you won’t have any worry on your mind during the moving process. Getting a quote is simple, and we will help you make a plan for your upcoming move. You just need to give us a call and our customer service representative will explain the whole process. And if you don’t have the time to chat, you can always request a quote over our website and we will send you everything via email. We are flexible when it comes to our customers!