Moving Tips

Starting a new life in a new home is exciting but let’s face it,  moving is a pain. Even if you hire a professional service, you still face weeks of turmoil and disruption. There’s not much you can do to make it a joy but there’s lots you can do to make it easier.

Getting Organized.

There’s three crucial things you can do to minimize the stress of moving. They are plan, organize and prepack. The more you get done before the actual day of the move, the smoother things will go.

Ideally your preparations should start at least two months prior to the move, even if you have not finalized your new home.

Get The Facts

Every move is unique and no general guide like this can prepare you for all possibilities. You need to consider special circumstances like:

-   The distance and weather conditions.

-    Regulations for crossing state or international boundaries, especially if you are carrying restricted items.

-    Delicate items like antiques, plants and pets.

-    Dangerous goods like firearms or caustic materials.

You will also want to:

-    Research and book the services you will need; movers, rentals, cleaning help and set a budget for the services and materials you will need.

-    Cancel or transfer subscriptions, utilities and services.

-    Gather and transfer medical, dental, school, legal and financial records.

-    Empty your lockers, safety deposit boxes, drop off your library books and pick up the dry-cleaning.

-    Plan when to turn off cable, electric, phone, water and other services or the next bill will still be your's.

-    Talk to a florist about moving your plants.

Lighten Your Load

        Do you really need that twenty gallon stock pot or the antique anvil collection? Is there really room for two pianos in your new home or just for one? The more you get rid of the less you have to move. Have you used it in the last year or two? If not, Leave it behind. Cash takes up less room than clutter.

-    Have a garage sale but keep it simple. Sell the good stuff for a fair price and you’ll be done by noon. Clothes, books, junk, damaged goods; donate them or trash them. Get a tax receipt for your donations if possible.

-    Sell big-ticket items early so you aren’t stuck running a desperate “must sell” ads at the last minute.

-     Have a “Take Something With You” farewell party (just make sure that the portable items are clearly marked).

-    Consume the consumables. Now’s the time to eat the roast that’s been lurking in the bottom of the freezer and to get reacquainted with your canned goods.

-    Clean out and clean up. Carefully dispose of hazardous goods, flammables, pesticides, paints, aerosols, old batteries and such. Clean and wrap any messy items so they don’t cause problems on moving day.

-    Empty the fuel, oil and other fluids from lawn mowers and such. Disconnect the gas tanks from your barbecue.

Packing – Packing is like playing a 3D version of Tetris, except when you win you get to stop playing.

-    Buy a tape gun and a few rolls of tape.

-    Plastic sheeting and sturdy garbage bags will help protect items from dirt and damage. But get bags in two or three different colors! That way you won’t chuck away your towels and haul your last trash bag half way across the country instead.

-    Get coloured labels for marking where boxes will be going at the new home and to highlight special instructions like “fragile” and “this side up”.

-    Start hunting for those special boxes to pack those special items in.

-    For smaller items try to find boxes that are the same size, these stack easily and don’t waste space.

-    Find special boxes that will fit in the spaces under and inside furniture.

-    Keep boxes a reasonable weight. Put heavy objects in small boxes and lighter things in large boxes.

-    Use sturdy drawers as boxes for clothes and lightweight items.

-    Figure out what you need to function comfortably and then pack everything else!

-    Wrap tape around dressers and cabinets with doors and drawers. Use cardboard strips to protect the finish from the tape and to guard the item from damage.

-    Use clothes, towels, blankets and such to wrap and pad delicate items. Socks are just made for glassware.

-    Number each box and note on a legal pad where it belongs, never let the pad leave your hands until it is back in packing central your work area.

-    Take awkward items apart to save space and prevent damage. Lamp shades, lamps and light-bulbs each have very different packing requirements.

-    Bag screws, clamps, legs and other hardware then tape the bags inside or underneath the furniture and appliances they go with.

-    Consider getting specialty packing materials for dishes and other fragile items. It’s a little more expensive but then so are broken dishes. Be generous with the padding.

-    Have a packing party.  Get a little low stress help from your friends and a chance to visit too.

Take Stock

        Make an inventory of your goods for insurance purposes and for establishing claims should anything go wrong during the move. Photograph or video your valuable items, noting their condition. Get sufficient replacement value insurance based on your inventory. Put visible or hidden identifying markings on or in valuable items.

        Important documents, computer data backups, small valuables and irreplaceable items should travel with you, not on the truck. Make copies of as much as possible and leave the copies with a friend or relative when you go.

        Keep your important contact numbers and shipping information handy.

Loading

        The better you pack and load the safer your things will be. Supervise the loading, whether you are using professionals or volunteers to help you.

        Pack things snugly so they don’t rattle about. Use cardboard, paper, plastic and even cushions to pad and fill spaces. Use cords or strapping to secure large items.

        Pack useful items last (like the vacuum cleaner, the coffeemaker and the stereo).

One Last Look

-    Check all closets, drawers and cupboards for missed items.

-    Make sure that appliances are unplugged and that the fridge door is propped open.

-    Shut off outside water supply taps and make sure no inside taps are left on.

Stay Sane

        Make sure that you allow some time to relax and recharge as you prepare. Get lots of sleep the night before and drink lots of water on the day. Dehydration causes drowsiness and impairs your thinking. Energy and wits are going to be essential on the day.

On The Road

        Make a survival kit for the trip and to sustain you for the first day at your new home. Pack convenience foods, toiletries, spare clothes, basic tools (scissors, tape, utility knife, multi-driver, a flashlight, hammer, light bulbs), utensils (can opener, travel cups, paper plates, paper towels, plastic cutlery, dish soap}, useful supplies (garbage bags, toilet paper, toiletries, prescriptions, pain relievers).

Getting Settled

        Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen. In whatever order. Take care of the basics and then take the rest at your own pace.

        If the carpets need cleaning, never hire a carpet cleaner that uses hot water or steam as wet carpets become moldy if not completly dry within 24 hours and you can never get that moldy smell out of the carpet after that. Use a dry carpet cleaner company like Dry Concepts. If you must use a wet carpet cleaning company, insist they come with clean water in their tank not filtered recycled water or you're putting the dirt and mold of the previous customer into your carpt. To dry the rug run the AC at the coldest setting for 24 hours, don't let anyone talk you out of this or you will regret it for years or have to buy new carpets.

        If you have pets you’ll want to find some time to spend with them as soon as possible, when it’s quiet (and the doors are shut). Use an airlock system during the move, lock fuzzy in the bedroom bathroom during the move at each end and never open the bathroom door if the bedroom door is open, this way there is no chance of escape.