The idea of moving to a new house is extremely exciting, but the actual process can be strenuous. If you’re feeling stressed by the thought of packing up boxes and shifting all that furniture, this article is here to help.
Professional home and furniture movers are the key to a successful move, but there are still plenty of things you can do to make your life easier and get your money’s worth.
Here are 9 tips that will make moving easier and help you make the most of professional furniture movers.
1. When It Comes to Packing Up Your Home, Procrastination Is Poison
Are you preparing for a big move shortly? Don’t delay – pack today!
There are certain items you can start boxing up and putting in the back of your car weeks or even months in advance. Think about those little knick-knacks that take up space but aren’t used. You can also pack away clothes that are out of season or special glassware that gets used once a year.
If the thought of packing is too much to bear, you can start by making an ordered list of items you’re going to pack away. You can also take note of items that need to be carefully packed, such as delicate or sentimental items.
The earlier you start packing, the easier things will be closer to the day. Packing away those ancillary items will also make things easier for the furniture movers, allowing for a seamless process when it comes to moving the big stuff.
2. Tackle Your Packing Room by Room
When you’re ready to pack up the majority of your possessions, pack one room at a time. This will give you a structure and a goal that stops you from getting overwhelmed. Packing things in this way also makes life easier when it’s time to unpack, as everything will be organized according to the room.
3. Label Everything!
Label the outside of each box clearly, using different colors and materials that won’t fade, peel, or otherwise come off. This way, you won’t need to try and remember which box belongs in which room when you pull them out of the car.
Most boxes can be labeled by room. If you haven’t decided where some items will go, you can label boxes according to who they belong to or a category of item (such as books).
4. Determine What You Can’t Pack and Leave It to Professional Movers
There’s no point being too ambitious when you’re packing up your home. If something is too large, too heavy, or too cumbersome, simply make a note and leave it to the cross country moving companies. This eliminates the chance of damaging these items or your house, and it also saves you from potential lifting-related injuries.
When you know exactly what needs to be moved by a professional, you can also get a more accurate quote from your furniture movers.
5. Treat Special Items with Special Care
When it comes to valuable and fragile items, take some extra time and treat them with special care.
Items such as keys, wills, passports, and other important papers should be separated from other possessions and kept closer to your person. Put them in your handbag, backpack, or somewhere else close to you.
Other special items – such as delicate valuables – should be packed separately from general items, with extra padding to keep them safe.
Finally, not all furniture is made equally. If you have items that you want to protect, be sure to point these out to your furniture movers, who can guide you on how to pack fragile items for moving. Professional movers will always work with care and are generally backed by insurance. However, it’s still worth highlighting those favorite pieces of furniture or bulky items that you want to protect at all costs.
6. Source Storage Boxes from Wherever You Can
You can buy cardboard boxes and storage containers from stationery stores, hardware shops, dollar shops, and more. You might also be able to score some for free at fruit and vegetable markets, supermarkets, and grocery stores that are throwing them out.
Most removalists and furniture movers also offer eco friendly storage boxes and other packing materials, or you can source them yourself online. While eco-friendly or more sustainable packaging solutions may come with an added upfront charge, they are likely to last longer than typical materials, allowing you to reuse them or lend them to friends and family.
7. Disassemble Furniture Whenever You Can
Bigger and heavier furniture will be harder to move, even for professional furniture movers. To get the most value for your money, start disassembling beds, couches, and other large pieces of furniture before the movers arrive. This will make the moving process faster and easier, and it will stop your furniture from getting stuck in narrow doorways and hallways.
Disassembling furniture will also reduce the risk of the item being damaged or causing damage during the move.
8. When Hiring Furniture Movers, Choose Your Moving Day Wisely
Before marking moving day on the calendar, think about your furniture movers first. There are certain days of the week and times of the year when movers are likely to be more expensive due to high demand. You also need to make sure you book in advance to avoid delays.
In most cases, the day you collect your keys doesn’t have to be the day you move everything in. If you can afford to use professional movers on a weekday instead of the weekend, this could save you money at an already expensive time.
9. Hire The Right Team of Professional Movers
Hiring professional movers is a no-brainer, but you need to use your brain when selecting a team of furniture movers.
You can shortlist movers by researching online and looking at reviews. You can also get recommendations from friends or family members who have recently moved. Try to get a range of quotes and be sure to choose a mover with the capacity to assist you. Whether you want to move across town or the country, make sure your movers can meet your relocation needs. Look at each company’s insurance policy, and ensure they can meet any special requirements, such as moving a pool table or a grand piano.
With all this information on your side, you should be ready for your big move! Good luck and enjoy the ride.