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How to Stay Proactive When You’re Moving

How to Stay Proactive When You’re Moving

You finally sold your home and are getting ready to move.  It’s been several months of appointments, paperwork and chaotic energy.  Then, out of nowhere, you blink, and the movers are knocking on your door!  Where on earth did the time go?!

Trust us when we say it: moving day creeps up on you.  You’ll need an organized mind during a stressful process.  Today, we’ll offer tips on how to stay proactive before moving day.  Your wallet & sanity will thank you.

Know Your Schedule (and Yourself)

Once your settlement dates are established, things start happening fast.  An ideal moving timeline is two months.  Two months will give you plenty of time to research moving companies, schedule estimates and choose the best mover.  You should select a company & schedule your move about a month in advance.  All movers have limited manpower and equipment.

Before the moving representative arrives, make sure you know your game plan and stick to it.  You know yourself better than anyone else.  Ask yourself: are you really going to sell all this furniture in time?  Can you get all your packing done while working a full-time job and raising three children?  These are factors to consider when you meet with a mover.  You want your moving quote to be as accurate as possible.

If your buyers or sellers need a fast settlement, make sure to have a backup plan and start making phone calls right away.  Ask your real estate agent about the current market trends to prevent a surprise settlement.  This is especially important in the spring and summer.

Start Packing Right Away

Packing is time consuming and no one enjoys it.  If listing your home is still a twinkle in your eye, you should also think about packing.  Once you begin to sort through your cabinets, you’ll see how much you’ve accumulated throughout the years.

The first step will be to purchase moving boxes.  Moving boxes come in various sizes & construction.  For the best quality boxes, purchase mover grade supplies from a certified moving company.  You can also find free moving boxes at liquor and grocery stores.  Always use unprinted paper when packing.

While you’re collecting moving supplies, purge.  Throw away or donate any items you don’t want to take with you to the new home.  This will save you tons of time and money in packing.  Also consider what items you’d like professional movers to pack.  Fragile ware, paintings and flat screen televisions might be worth the extra cost.  Plus, items packed by a certified mover are insured.

Use a Moving Checklist

You don’t move every day.  You’ll want a reference point as you go through the motions of moving.  A checklist is crucial to staying organized and making sure you don’t miss anything important.  Thanks to today’s technology, there are a plethora of free online moving checklists:

Bed, Bath & Beyond has a detailed & printable checklist for you

If you’re a techie, click here for the five best moving apps

Another moving checklist can be found here

Once you pick the checklist that works for you, make sure to stick to it.  Combining and using multiple checklists could become confusing.  You can also find specific checklists for people who are downsizing, newlywed couples and growing families!  A simple Google search will go a long way.

Ask for Help When You Need It

Put your friends and family to work!  A fantastic idea is to plan a “packing party”.  Serve pizzas, drinks and other refreshments while they help.  Since your friends & family aren’t professional packers, have them stick to wrapping your non-breakables and unsentimental items.  You don’t want any hard feelings if your belongings weren’t packed correctly.

Offer to give away the items you don’t want to your friends & family.  One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!  Also ask friends, family and neighbors about their moving experience and who they hired as their mover.  It will help with the stress of meeting with multiple moving companies and you may learn a few tips along the way.

A professional moving company will have an office staff readily available to help answer your tough questions.  Your movers will be understanding and guide you through a transition you’ll make only a few times in your life.  Remember to ask the important questions before hiring a mover.

Budget Appropriately

Moving is laborious and expensive.  It takes a lot of money and resources to own & operate a relocation business.  You might think the movers are just there to “pick things up and put them down” but, surprisingly, specific methods are integrated to keep your furniture damage free.  These methods include thoroughly wrapping your items in quilted moving blankets & stretch wrap, maneuvering your belongings throughout both houses, loading your goods onto the truck using a tiered system and practicing slow & safe driving.

If you have a bit of wiggle room, a great way to stay proactive is to ask for a “worst-case scenario” estimate.  Almost all moving estimates are non-binding, which means you’re only charged for the actual services the movers do.  A worst-case scenario gives you an idea on what could happen if you can’t get everything finished on time.  Life can easily get in the way of preparing for a move.  A worst-case scenario estimate also gives you a financial goal.  If your move ends up costing less than that worst-case scenario estimate, consider that money as an extra “bonus” and buy yourself something fresh for the new home.

Thanks for reading! We hope these tips help and wish you a happy moving day! Are you ready to schedule your free, in-home estimate? Click here!