Moving Tips and Advice
Advance planning is the first step to a successful move! By planning in advance you can can take the pressure and stress out of moving and be prepared well before moving day. Here is some really good advice and great moving tips that 5MOVERS has prepared for you!
How To Get Organized For your Move!
*Start Planning Early!-Everybody without exception has more stuff than they think they really do and we all tend to push things off! Suddenly we realize moving day is right around the corner and there’s not enough time to pack! So, start planning and packing early!
*Room Lists- Start off making two lists, one for your current location and one for your future residence. This will help you manage your belongings. It will also help you decide what to take and where to put it in your new home.
*Room Inventory- Go through each room and list a list of everything that need to be packed, for example, the furniture items, length of shelving, closets, everything. Have a page for each room and write it all in a notebook using a pencil. This way if need to make changes or corrections, it will be easy!
*Time Allotment- Make sure to leave enough time! Most of us will need a month to pack. It takes on average about 4-5 hours to pack an average dorm room, so that should give you an idea of what’s needed.
*Calendar- Pull out a calendar and plan by day what you will be doing and when each room will be packed.
*Delegate the Work- If you’re moving with family members, create a schedule with them. List the tasks they will be doing and a date they will be finished.
*Keep Track your Progress- Once a week take stock of where you are against the date on the calendar. Revise your plan if you see you are falling behind!
How to Find a Great Mover
*Only Hire the Best!-If you choose to hire professional movers, do your research and hire the best. You can do your research easily here at www.5movers.com
*Licensing- Only consider movers that are licensed, bonded and insured.
*Do Your Research- Check out the moving companies! You can check them out through the U.S. Department of Transportation
.
*Prices- Prices aren`t the only factor. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is a low ball bid!
*Feel Comfortable with the Mover!-Feel comfortable with your mover! Trust your instincts! Don`t agree to move your belongings with anyone you don’t trust.
General Packing Tips
*Pack a Suitcase- Before moving day, pack a suitcase for each member of the family moving. Pack the suitcase as if you’re all going on a 3-day vacation. Include changes of clothes, medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, etc. Keep the suitcases separated from everything else being moved. This way you will have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
*Create “Open Me First” Boxes- Pick one or two boxes per room as "Open Me First" boxes. Pack them with the things you`ll need first at your new location. Mark these boxes clearly, so you will be able to identify them easily and quickly.
* Pack one at a time- When possible, pack just one room at a time. This way you can to keep things focused and organized.
*Less is more!- Packing is a great way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale, and/or the recycling center. Aim to eliminate 1/3 of your belongings. This will save time you and expense.
*Off the floor- Avoid packing of the floor. Use a completely cleared-off table top or counter in each room for packing your boxes. You`ll find you get much more done!
*Track the Small Parts- When disassembling items to be moved, such as tables, tape screws and other small parts securely to the underside of the item. You can put them into small plastic bags before you tape them. This way you will know exactly where to look and save lots of time reassembling.
*Save Space- Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items. It will save room in your boxes and save you money on packing supplies.
*Cross the Tape- Tape boxes along the seams where the flaps meet. Then tape the boxes at the center of the first tape, forming a cross.
*Stacking Your Boxes- Stack your boxes with the heaviest ones on the bottom and lightest on top to prevent crushing!
*The 30 Lbs. Rule- Keep the weight of each box below 50 pounds and below 30 pounds wherever possible. Heavier boxes lead to injury and are much more likely to break! Remember, the heavier the box the harder it will be to move.
*Scale- Keep a bathroom scale in the room during your packing so you can keep the boxes below the weight limits.
Packing Electronics
*A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words- Use a digital or cell phone camera to take pictures of complicated wiring (computer cords, speaker wires) and how it`s connected. Be sure to use plenty of light and carefully focus so the pictures will be clear. Print each picture and put it in the top of the box holding the item. This will make hooking up the items in your new residence that much easier.
*Original IS Best- Use the original packaging when it`s available. It`s always the best way to pack items like your TV.
*Double Boxing- For especially fragile electronics, first pack them in a box with an excessive amount of packing materials. Then pack that box in a larger box filled with more packing materials. The two-box system does a better job isolating items from jarring impacts.
*No Loose Ends- Wrap each cord carefully with cable organizers, heavy twist ties or heavy rubber bands. Never throw unwrapped cords into boxes. They cords will get tangled, caught on other items and be damaged.
*Cord Labels- Consider getting a label maker and labeling the end of each cord Then you will know exactly which cord you`re seeing and where each end connects when you put things back together.
*The Two Inch Rule- Use at least 2 inches worth of packing materials around each side of fragile items.
Box Inventory and Labeling
*Markers- Use the thickest, darkest marker you can find for labeling your boxes. Do not use pencils, pens, tin or light markers. They are almost impossible to see, even just a few feet away.
*Two Sides- Label each box at least on the two broadest sides, opposite one another. That way if a box gets turned, you can still identify its contents.
*Abbreviate the room names- Start labeling your boxes with the abbreviated name of the room, followed by a box number. For example, “BTH2-6” would stand for "second bathroom, 6th box." You can then track each box to make sure everything has arrived safely.
*Label "Open Me First" on boxes where it applies!
*Remember to mark "Fragile" where appropriate!
*Identify Contents- Identify the major contents and where they came from, such as "Medicine Cabinet" or "Linen Closet- Towels and Wash Cloths.
*Box Inventory- Keep a notebook. Have at least one page for each room and write down each box`s room, box number and contents.
*Verify the Delivery- When the movers are unloading at your new location, check off each box as it gets unloaded. Then you`ll know everything arrived safely.
*Labels Out- Ask the movers to stack you boxes at your new location with the labels facing OUT so that you can easily find a specific box.
Letting People Know!
* The Post Office- File your change of address with the Post Office at least 30 days prior to the date of your move.
*Referrals- Ask everyone you notify for a referrals in your new area.
*Records- Get copies of your existing records-transcripts from schools, medical records from doctors, etc. Make sure they are readily available to you right away!
Change of Address- Who Should you notify?
Here is a list of important people you should notify about your move. Here are also some ways you can do this simply and easily.
Accountant/tax preparer; Alumni associations; Attorneys
Your Babysitter or Child Care Provider, Banks (auto loans, checking accounts, credit cards, home equity, IRA’s, mortgage, safe deposit box, savings account); Broker; Business cards (order new ones if applicable)
Cell phone provider; Child care/ daycare; Chiropractor; Courts, especially for traffic tickets or local disputes; Credit bureaus; Credit card issuers
Dentist; Department of Motor Vehicles; Diaper service; Doctor; Dry cleaning pick-up and delivery
Family members and friends
Health clubs; House cleaning service; House of worship
Insurance providers (auto, health, life, other vehicles); IRS (form 8822)
Lawn care; Luggage tags (replace existing ones)
Magazine subscriptions
New business cards; New employer; Newspaper subscriptions
Old employer; Orthodontist
Parent-teacher association; Passport; Pet sitter/ dog walker/ pet day care; Pharmacy (BONUS: get year-to-date expense summary for taxes); Physical therapist; Physician (BONUS: get referral for new location); Post office; Professional organizations
Retirement plan holders; Return address labels (order new ones)
Schools (BONUS: get copies of transcripts); Snow removal service; Social Security Administration; Swimming pool maintenance (pool cleaning, pool opening or closing); Swimming pool memberships
Veterinarian BONUS gets vet records and recommendations
Water delivery service
Moving With Kids
*Get a children`s book on moving for smaller kids. Consider “The Berenstein Bears’ Moving Day.”
*If appropriate, let children pick their room.
*If possible, let kids pick a decoration (poster, light switch, name banner, etc.) for their new room.
*Pack a kid`s sized suitcase or bag and let each child pick out a special toy to keep with them and a special outfit to wear on "new home day."
*If the child has a special dish or cup, include it in the kitchen "Open Me First" box so familiar items await them at their new place.
*Unpack the kids` rooms first, or at least their "Open Me First" boxes to help them settle in.
Here are some good ideas of what to include in the "Open Me First Boxes" for different rooms.
Open Me First Box: The Kitchen
Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
Break-proof or disposable flatware, cups, and plates
Coffee maker and coffee (don’t forget the filters!)
Dish detergent
A Frying pan and spatula
Pet food and bowels
Scissors
Tea kettle
Open Me First Box: Main Bathroom
Bath mat
Bath towels
First-aid kit (aspirin, band-aids, hydrogen peroxide)
Shampoo
Shower curtain and rings
Soap
Toilet paper
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Open Me First Box: Tool Room or Drawer
Duct tape
Flashlight
Flat-head screwdriver
Hammer
Level
Phillips-head screwdriver
Picture hangers
Tape measure
Utility knife
On Moving Day
*Start your Day Early- You want to have everything as organized as possible before to the arrival of the movers.
*Get a Sitter!- Recruit help in watching your small kids and pets on Moving Day. Your attention will be needed for you to be focused on the t nuts and bolts of the move.
*Have Food Ready- Having coffee, orange juice, and bagels or donuts available will make it easier for everyone to get started.
*Cell phone numbers- Make sure you have the cell phone number for the driver and foreman of the moving truck entered into your cell phone, and that the driver has yours in case you get separated or there is a problem. Remember to charge your phone!
*Proper payment- All professional movers will demand payment in full before they will unpack a single box. Make sure you the have payment ready.
*Directions- Have directions and a map ready for anyone will be driving between your old home and your new one.
Unpacking
*Unpacking Plan- Just like with packing, have a plan for unpacking. Otherwise you`re likely to end up frustrated with a sea of half-opened boxes with your belongings scattered and your necessities still "missing in action."
*Prioritize the Rooms- Focus on "Open Me First" boxes in the bathrooms and kitchen first.
*Trash and Recyclable Boxes- Keep at least one trash bag (for the real trash) and one large emptied box (to hold used packing paper and packing materials) available in each room BEFORE you start the heavy unpacking.
*Time Limits- Set an objective of unpacking a certain number of boxes each day until all the boxes are all unpacked.
