Moving is a significant transition for anyone – whether packing up to head across town with your family or loading your belongings into a truck for a cross-country relocation solo. But knowing how to prepare for a move can help simplify the process and make things go smoothly.
As one of the nation’s largest moving brokers, we know a thing or two about successful moves. We’ve helped thousands of customers navigate this transition by finding and booking the moving services they need to move from one home to another.
Let’s explore some of our favorite moving tips to help you save time, money, and frustration when moving to your new home.
Preparing for a Move
One of the most common moving mistakes is failing to plan adequately. By taking the following steps, you can set the foundation for your successful move early.
Make a Moving Checklist
When it comes to moving to a new home, there are many moving parts. In addition to the hands-on stuff, there’s a lot of paperwork to complete. You’ll need to organize and pack, make a plan for movers, and figure out new schools, utilities, and other information.
A moving checklist helps you complete those items and stay organized. It can also help you build your moving budget. If you have questions about how to prepare for a move, the right checklist can help you answer them – even if you’ve never asked them before!
Decluttering
Decluttering may not be much fun, but it’s one of the most significant steps to reduce friction for your move. The fewer items you own to pack, the less time it can take. More importantly, fewer boxes can considerably reduce how much you’ll pay your movers to load, transport, and unload your belongings.
Most people choose to declutter their home by categorizing their belongings in the following way:
Keep: This is self-explanatory, but it is items you can’t bear to part with and should stay with you through your move. Consider packing these away as you go, especially if you’re staging your home for sale and won’t use them soon.
Sell: Reduce the cost of your move by selling items and putting the proceeds toward your move. You can list them on social media, in your community, or host a yard sale. Don’t forget about “buy nothing” groups, where people offer to take items off your hands as a trade or just because.
Donate: Donating items to those who need them isn’t just a great way to reduce your number of possessions. It’s also rewarding to help others in your community. For those who need that extra nudge, consider the potential tax write-offs you can get for donating things.
Discard: If you can’t think of a reason to keep it, it won’t sell, and isn’t in a condition to be donated, toss it out!
Decluttering goes a long way toward making your move go smoother.
Finalizing Administrative Tasks
Preparing for your move isn’t all packing and heavy lifting. It also involves a lot of paperwork. Take stock of important documents like passports, car titles, birth certificates, etc. Put these in a safe, accessible place, especially if you’ll need information from them as part of your move. You’ll also want to update your address with the USPS and anyone who regularly sends you mail. Transfer utility ownership for your current and new home. Ensure you put these important dates in your calendar so you don’t forget them.
Book Movers Early
One of our best tips for how to prepare for a move is to book your moving services as early as possible. Doing so has numerous benefits. For example, you might pay better rates if you can plan your move for a weekday. You also potentially avoid overpaying because the only available movers left for your requested day charge a premium. If you’re not sure where to start with this step of the process, consider outsourcing the task. Working with moving brokers like Safe Ship can take the guesswork out of finding and booking movers that fit your unique needs.
Measure Furniture (Just in Case)
Measuring your furniture isn’t just crucial for calculating your moving truck needs. It’s also necessary to ensure your belongings can fit through the doorways and in the spaces of your new home. The last thing you want is to sell your favorite sofa or expensive TV stand because you can’t move it into your house or apartment.
Packing Tips for Moving
Some of the most important moving tips are related to the tasks that happen before movers arrive.
Efficient and safe packing of your belongings makes a world of difference when safely transporting them from one home to another – especially if you’re moving long-distance. Whether you’re transporting the items yourself or leaving them in the care of your movers for the trip, the following moving tips can reduce the risk of damage and speed up your move.
Packing Materials and Techniques Make a Difference
Properly packing your home’s contents really starts with buying quality packing materials. Don’t skimp on tape, bubble wrap, packing papers, and boxes. Buying good boxes (and packing them correctly) ensures they won’t collapse during loading or transit.
How should you pack items to ensure they stay safe and secure? Pack heavy items at the bottom of boxes. It’s also important to use the correct box size. Small boxes are best for books, records, and small yet heavy items. Large boxes are excellent for throw pillows and comforters. Investing in vacuum-sealed space-saver bags for these items allows you to pack more.
As you pack, remember that packing order matters, too. You don’t want to pack daily-use items too early. Keep your toothbrushes, shampoo, and towels out until you absolutely need to pack them.
Room-By-Room Packing Strategy
Packing your belongings one room at a time is one of the best strategies for moving because it allows you to stay organized. Proper box labeling also ensures you know exactly which items have been packed and in which boxes.
Packing items room-by-room also allows you to pace your efforts better. Instead of trying to pack everything at once, it makes sense to pack the necessities from one room, take a break, and start on the next.
Handling Fragile Items
Careful preparation prevents damage when packing fragile items. Wrap each item individually with bubble wrap, soft cloths, or multiple sheets of packing paper. You can also use packing peanuts or foam inserts within boxes to provide extra cushion.
All computers, monitors, and TVs should be kept upright and wrapped with anti-static bubble wrap. After packing your fragile items, fill any empty spaces with additional cushioning to prevent movement during transit. Towels are an excellent choice for this.
One last thing: labeling boxes with fragile items ensures they are handled with extra care during your move.
Label, Label, Label
Labeling boxes is one of those moving tips you may have heard before, but you’re still wondering: How exactly should I label boxes? The answer is simple. As much as possible!
Label each box clearly with the room of origin and its contents. Label the box on at least one side and the top. This ensures you (and your movers) know exactly where each one goes upon arrival. More importantly, it can keep fragile items from getting crushed: if the loaders or movers can read what’s on the box, you reduce the risk of stacking fine crystal dishes underneath a box of dumbbells.
Separating Valuables and Essentials
Not everything goes in the moving truck or van. Several items should stick with you as you move. This essential bag (or box) contains many different important items you can’t afford to do without. The essentials bag should include a change of clothes, snacks, basic kitchenware, toiletries, and medications. You’ll also want to keep valuables like birth certificates, jewelry, passports, or other irreplaceable items separate.
Transport these valuable items in your car instead of the moving van for peace of mind.
Day-Of Moving Tips
You’ve made your checklist, carefully packed, and are ready to embark on your new adventure. The day of your move can be a chaotic affair, but these moving tips can help reduce the risk of last-minute stress.
Preparing Your Home for Movers
Your movers need to move around your home without obstructions. They also need to easily find items they’re responsible for. Consider doing the following before they arrive:
Clear all pathways of obstacles.
Protect floors and walls with plastic sheeting or blankets.
Make sure boxes are labeled.
Disassemble furniture to make it easier to transport.
Secure all pets in an enclosed area to keep them stress-free and out of the way.
Move your essentials bag out of the way so it doesn’t get packed accidentally.
Your movers have a lot on their plate. Make their job easier by preparing your home.
Communicating with Your Moving Team
Ultimately, one of the best ways to ensure your move goes smoothly is to adequately communicate with your movers throughout the process. Knowing what each party is responsible for and when to take care of it will go a long way toward erasing the stress of your move, especially if your movers are going to be packing certain items for you. Reducing confusion also helps reduce the price of your move if your movers are paid hourly, which can be important for long-distance moving services.
Final Thoughts: Making Your Move a Success
Moving is a process. But it’s also one you can simplify with the right amount of preparation. In addition, working with professionals who have years of experience can help. If you’re in the process of planning your move and need help finding the right professional moving services, Safe Ship Moving Services can help. We’re moving brokers specializing in sourcing quotes to facilitate cross-country residential and corporate moves. Contact us for more information about our services or for a personalized quote.
FAQs
How do you prepare for movers that pack for you?
Declutter your home, organize valuables, and ensure all pathways are clear. Make an inventory of items and boxes and communicate any special packing instructions to the movers. Transport personal and irreplaceable items yourself for added security.
How long in advance should you start packing to move?
You should start packing at least four to six weeks before your move date. Start with non-essential items and gradually pack everyday essentials closer to the moving day. This timeline ensures your packing process stays organized and reduces stress.
What do movers do first?
Most of the time, movers begin their job by assessing your belongings and creating an inventory. They may also prepare your home to start moving items out by protecting and wrapping door frames and hallway corners. Next, movers can start packing your belongings carefully. Following this, they disassemble large furniture and prepare everything for safe transportation.
What is a moving broker?
Licensed and bonded moving brokers act as intermediaries between customers and moving companies. They arrange the logistics of the move, providing quotes from different moving companies. They do not, however, own the moving trucks or employ movers directly. Instead, they facilitate the moving process and simplify it for their customers.
