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Blog August 20, 2021

Best Moving Tips You Can Find

Posted in Moving 101
Michael Vaughan

Moving through the Bay Area, Michael works as a freelance writer in the moving and transportation industry.

Knowing some of the greatest moving tips has never been more important than in 2020 and today. The year 2021 is the year that recorded a significant rise in the number of relocations in the whole US. The main reason for that is the Coronavirus pandemic and that many people went on working remotely. Around 20 million Americans are planning to move this year, so making it as easy and safe as possible is a reasonable way to proceed.

Maybe the reason for your move is switching to working from home, or you just want a fresh start. But no matter why the relocation is happening, the question we have to answer is “how can I make moving out easier” and do it effortlessly. Relocation stress can be the main cause for the bad experience, but if you take some proven steps, not only you’ll adjust to the new home faster, you’ll also feel more relaxed for the next relocation process. That’s why we prepared the best tips for moving to another state or just around the corner.

What Is the Most Efficient Way to Move?

The efficient move equals a stress-free move. Not having to worry about all those tasks you have to do before, during, and after the relocation day is possible only if you have everything prepared and planned. Sometimes it is better to go with the flow, but when it comes to the cross-country move, it’s more than recommended to plan your every move and know the exact timeframe of every step you’ll take. So, once you decide it’s time to move and figure out where to move, roll up your sleeves, and start with making a thorough plan that will guide you through the whole process.

Organizing a move isn’t an easy task. The first thing you need to figure out is your budget. How much money you can set aside for all the long-distance moving services, and can that budget cover all the expenses, from tipping movers to getting relocation insurance for your precious belongings?

Make a Checklist of Tasks and Stay Organized

One of the best ways to achieve a successful move is to create a relocation to-do list of all tasks that need to be done. This is an essential step in the whole relocation process and one of the first ones you have to do because keeping everything in your head will lead you to some of the worst relocation mistakes. So, here are some things that have to be on every relocation checklist:

  • Organize important documents – all the important paperwork and documents should be in one place and well-protected. It’s important to have them gathered in one place, and when the relocation day comes, you’ll know exactly where to look for them.
  • Change address – you surely don’t want to deal with someone’s mail once you move. That’s why you should change your address before professional cross-country movers come. You can simply fill an online form, and you’ll be done in just a few minutes.
  • Create a household inventory list – the main reason for making this kind of list is to be sure all items you want to bring are listed.
  • Transfer utilities – having all the comfort of your new home means all the utilities are already turned on – water, electricity, cable, and internet. The same goes for your old place – arrange with utility companies to turn off everything the day after you move out.
  • Clean the old place – leave the apartment clean and in the same conditions as when you first moved in.
  • Notify everyone about the move – banks, insurance and credit cards companies, and all other institutions should know you’re changing the address.
  • Get your car checked – be sure your four-wheeler is checked by the mechanic if you decide to use the professional auto transport.

Hire a Professional Long Distance Moving Company or DIY?

Saving some money for the relocation services is always a good idea. However, if you think that DIY-ing will help you in this process, you should think twice. If you do it on your own, you’ll have to deal with a bunch of other tasks you won’t have to deal with if you hire a professional relocation crew. For example, you’ll have to rent a truck, disassemble furniture and other bulky stuff, and also unload everything once you arrive at your destination.

Professionals can do many things instead of you

Packing and Moving Tips and Tricks for Efficient Prep Before the Relocation Day

For some of us, wrapping up our stuff is probably the most tedious task in the whole relocation process. It can last for days if you don’t know the packing tips to do it efficiently and like a pro. So, the first thing is to know the answer to the question “when should I start packing to move?” The answer is “as soon as you decide to move.” If you’re in a last-minute move, the whole process will be a bit challenging, but with the right relocation hacks, manageable.

The crucial thing is to know how to pack items. For example, you can’t wrap the fragiles in the same way you would wrap books. Here are some steps you can take that will ease the boxing-up process:

  • Leave the drawers filled with stuff in the dresser,
  • Leave clothes on the hangers,
  • Fill pots and other stuff with smaller things,
  • Fill suitcases with towels and sheets.
Wrapping up efficiently will save you a lot of time

Decide What You’ll Pack and Avoid Clutter

Before you start gathering needed materials and supplies and wrapping up tools and other belongings, you should first inspect your entire home and toss everything you don’t use. Deciding what not to pack will not only save you money but also precious time. You certainly don’t want all that clutter in your new house, so set aside everything you think it’s useless. Such stuff you can donate to charity or even sell.

The easiest and fastest approach is to go one room at a time and leave only the things you need. The less stuff you have, the effortless you will be unpacking once you settle in your new apartment. However, decluttering isn’t the easiest thing to do, so in the video below, you’ll find some of the most common mistakes to avoid.

YouTube video

Gather All the Supplies You’ll Need to Wrap Up Your Items

After knowing what will be packed and whatnot, you can more easily figure out which packing supplies you have to buy. It’s better to get as many supplies as you can because you can always use them for the next move. However, when you don’t have enough materials, that means you have to interrupt the whole process and start it again. So, obtain as many boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, and tape as you can for protecting paintings and other stuff from your household

Use Free Wrapping Materials You Can Find at Home for the Packing Process

We all know how new boxes and other supplies can be expensive, so you might want to check where you can get cheap and even free supplies. You can visit the Craigslist website because there, you can find some free materials, from boxes to bubble wrap.

Don’t forget to use materials you find at your house – sheets, pillowcases, towels, socks, and every other soft material. It’s a great solution for wrapping up dishes. You can also pack silverware with any kind of soft material.

Check online for some free moving boxes and other supplies

Label All the Boxes Now and Don’t Think Later and Wrap Fragile Items Extra Carefully

You spent all those moments carefully wrapping up items and making sure they won’t break during the transport, right? But what about labeling each box? If you don’t label all the cartons, the only thing you’ll get is a mess during the loading, but also during the unloading and unpacking process. So, when you put stuff in a box, be sure to write down exactly what’s inside and write it on the side, not the top.

On the box where you stored the fragiles, ensure there’s a fragile tape, and the long-distance movers will carefully load it into the truck.

Color Code Boxes by Rooms and Unpacking Will be a Breeze

Imagine how it would feel if you had to open each box once you moved just to find one little thing. You maybe didn’t realize that before, but all the cartons are very much alike, so labeling is a must-have if you want to save yourself from the unneeded stress. There are many ways for a successful and efficient labeling process. One of them is mentioned above – writing the content of the carton. Another one is to mark a carton or container with different color markers or tapes. For example, you can use a red color for the bathroom and a blue one for the kitchen.

Label the boxes for the better organization before and after the move

How to Prepare for the Relocation Day and Avoid Stress

If you started with all the preparations as soon as you realized all the benefits of relocation, you can relax and wait for the date when the professional crew comes. However, there are some minor things you can still do to prevent some mistakes. For example, you can check what should you move first when moving. Just to be sure, you can make a new checklist just for this and handle it like you’ve had many successful moves. So, include the following stuff you have to do before the move:

  • Clear the hallways,
  • Measure the doors and check if all the larger stuff can get through,
  • Make some snacks and beverages for the relocation crew,
  • Get a good sleep the night before.

Pack the Essential Bag for the First Day After the Move

If you’ve never moved before, then you should be aware of the relocation essentials and what to bring with you in a separate bag that will help you get through the first 24 hours in the future house. Here’s stuff you use daily:

  • Clean towels,
  • Sheets,
  • Clothes
  • Toothpaste and toothbrushes,
  • Hygiene products,
  • Medicines
  • Toilet paper,
  • Important documents.
A bag of essentials will be helpful once you move in

Efficiently Unpack After the Move – Give Yourself Time

Once the professionals unload the last item from the truck, you might think that the relocation process is finally over. Unfortunately, it isn’t – there’s some stuff to do after the move, and one of the first is the unpacking process. Knowing how to unpack after the move is crucial because you surely don’t want to waste any of your free moments on that process.

You should start with rooms that you’ll spend most of your moments there – bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. Unpack stuff needed for the first few days, and then, once you settle in, you can proceed with the rest.

Start unpacking with the bathroom and other rooms you'll use the most

Brace the Change and Enjoy Your Stressless Move

Relocation is a challenging process, and if you don’t have some hacks that will guide you through the entire action, then it can become an experience you’ll wish to forget. However, having a helping hand from a professional relocation crew that can assist you with packing services along with storage facilities where you can keep some belongings means you’ll feel like a pro after the move.

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