Do you have a move planned? You are far from alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 40 million of us move each year. That’s over ten-percent of the American population. That is a lot of cardboard boxes, aching backs, and broken glasses. It is also a lot of stress, frustration and craziness. If you will be changing residences in the near future, here are 6 moving day tips that will save your sanity. Ask yourself these questions and be better prepared for a smooth move.
1. Is It Moving Day, Packing Day or Unpacking Day? The average person in the United States will move about 12 times in their lives. Why doesn’t it ever seem to get easier? Part of the reason is, we don’t set the proper expectations. Moving day should be moving day. That means the majority of your belongings should be pack-up and ready to go when the day arrives. Sure, there will be last minute items to pack, but the average time from offer acceptance to closing of real estate is 45 to 60 days. That is up to about 8 weeks to organize, plan and pack. One of the reasons it becomes difficult to find people to help move is because they have “been there done that”. They don’t mind moving items, they just don’t enjoy packing up your stuff. If you want to save your sanity on moving day, make sure the vast majority of your items are packed up and ready to go. Let your help know there will be little packing or unpacking involved. You just need help moving.
2. Organize for the truck. Truck rentals, for the purpose of moving, are big business. U-Haul alone has over 16,000 dealers ,18,000 employees and over $4 billion dollars in annual revenues. Truck rentals can be one of the most expensive parts of moving. That adds pressure and contributes to the insanity on moving day. You can improve things dramatically by being prepared and following these steps.
- Find your best price. You may save money by renting from one location and dropping the truck off at another location closer to your new home. Some companies charge more per hour but less per mile. Other do the opposite. Do the math. Not watching the meter ticking on a idle truck can remove stress.
- Know what items you will load into the truck. You can save money and stress by just using a truck for the large items that can’t be transported in private vehicles. Load them in, move them, and unload them. Don’t “store” items unnecessarily overnight in the truck. Don’t forget outdoor furniture, grills and other large items. Make sure all items, in the truck, are properly secured.
- Know the best places for the truck to back up to load and unload. The area needs to be large enough to get items moved easily and allow for close proximity for the vehicle.
3. Label boxes as to where they go into the new home. This may sound simple but remember, you want to also label the doors of the rooms where they are headed. Post It notes are a good solution. Labeling boxes “Bedroom 1”, “Bedroom 2”, “Dining Area”, “Kitchen”, “Garage” and so on can make moving easier on those helping you if the rooms are also identified. Make sure every box is labeled. Imagine how comforting it will be to see neat stacks of boxes in their intended rooms at the end of the day.
4. Do You Have Enough Help? Is It Too Much Help? There can be a fine-line between not having enough help to move, and having too much help. You don’t want people stumbling over each other. If you seem to have adequate help for moving day itself, perhaps recruit for a “packing day” the weekend before. You can also organize people in shifts. It can be very helpful to recruit a couple of family members or friends to serve as secret “foremen” to help keep things moving on your behalf. If you are struggling to find help, you may want to consider these tips.
5. Have You Schedule an Organized Break? Not only should you have ample beverages available for your help, you should be ready to have everyone take a social break for pizza, fried chicken or other finger foods. This is a good time for everybody to relax and re-energize for the remainder of the move. You can encourage your help at this point by expressing your gratitude.
6. Is Your New Home Ready for the Move? If you want to improve your chances for a sane move, do your best to ensure your new home is ready for you. This means making sure your furniture will fit. Large pieces need to be able to get around tight corners. Are there patio doors that might be utilized? Would going through the garage be simpler? One very important aspect is making sure the flooring of your new home is protected from potentially wet and muddy feet, sliding boxes and gliding furniture. Moving in will be easier if cupboards are lined and closets painted.
Saving your sanity on moving day is all about being prepared and having the right expectations. Much of the stress involved, in moving, can be dissipated through having most items packed, labeled and ready to go. Use the money spent on a truck wisely and build in a break. If possible, make sure your new place is ready for the move and make sure the floors are protected. It can be done, if you’re ready.
2 Point Highlight
If you want to save your sanity on moving day, make sure the vast majority of your items are packed up and ready to go.
Labeling boxes “Bedroom 1”, “Bedroom 2”, “Dining Area”, “Kitchen”, “Garage” and so on can make moving easier on those helping you if the rooms they are destined for are also identified.
