A Moving Day Magic Box of Tips
I read the story of the true minimalists one day. He talked about following his life path by living with the bare minimum. Surprisingly, he really did have a large following of groupies.
But for Me?
Well I just don’t see myself living with one blanket, three pairs of jeans, one pot and one pan. For some reason, things just seem to pile up at home, which means that moving to a new home can be a real pain.
Besides, let’s face it, unless you live with the bare minimum, moving is going to be one of the biggest tasks you have and it can be an extremely overwhelming one.
However, if you start early and stay organized, you should be able to make it through the process unscathed. Here are 10 tips to help moving day be an organized process.
1 Get Organized Early on
Don’t leave anything until the last minute. You usually get notified of the termination of a rental contract 30 to 60 days before you have to move out. So that gives you enough time to make sure that your moving day runs smoothly. Make a countdown list and itemize every process you need to accomplish on a week to week basis.
2 Decide on a Strategy
Think of how you are going to move from point A to point B on the exact move day. Or sharp move, you may have friends that are willing to help. But for a bigger move you may need to rent a truck or higher moving company. If this is the case, contact the service providers 3 to 4 weeks prior to your move to make sure they have the equipment or the time to help you.
3 Keep Everyone in the Loop
Moving a small apartment is one thing, as you probably only need boxes and help moving a few small pieces of furniture. But when it comes to the big heavy stuff you need to let your movers know what to expect. When you contact the moving company, explain your requirements and your expectations. Your mover needs to know if he has to move a piano from the fourth floor or that you need to be out of there by 10 AM on the day of the move.
4 Pick the Right Type of Equipment and Transportation
If you’re only moving a short distance you can probably get away with making several trips in a pickup truck. But if you have heavy furniture, be sure to contact the right type of transportation. The same goes for equipment. You don’t want anybody to get hurt, so be sure to rent a dolly or cart to help the movers.
5 Known Your Specifications
In general, the contents of a one-bedroom apartment will fit into a 16 foot truck. You know the ones you can get a rental company. Whereas, the 2 to 3 bedroom apartment will need a 24 foot to 26 foot truck. Larger homes can often be moved with the same 24 foot truck. You’ll just have to make two trips.
6 Packing Tips
Probably the hardest part of moving is packing, and it’s the activity that most people hate. But it’s all in the way you look at things. See this move as an opportunity to organize and purge. Create a “donate,” “throwaway,” and “sell” box in each room. Go through each of your items and dispose of those you no longer want by placing them in the correct box.
See moving as an opportunity to organize and purge. Make “donate,” “pitch,” and “sell” piles in each room for belongings you no longer want or need. By all means, go through your junk mail or outdated documents. Carrying these around from house to house just uses of space could use for other items. Remember packing can also be a trip down memory lane, so take your time but not too much time.
Bottom Line
Follow these tips and you should never have any real problem with the moving day. The real key to making a move into a new home pleasant lies in organizing your move ahead of time.