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Three Vital Tips To Make Your Household Move Go Smoother

14 October 2015 by Stephen Patterson

If you've ever moved house before, you probably know how chaotic and stressful the process can be. If your first move is coming up, you may have underestimated the amount of work that needs to go into it. Here are three tips to help your move go more smoothly, so you can relax as much as possible and save your energy for enjoying your new digs.

Create a Moving Binder

From the moment you know you're moving, create a binder to get organized. This will house all the important paperwork and notes for your move, so even at the last minute, when your computer and printer are packed, you'll have access to everything you need to stay on top of things. Some suggestions for your binder contents include:

• calendar pages for when items need to be completed
• costs: estimates, budgets, etc.
• receipts for reimbursable expenses (add a pocket or plastic sheet protectors)
• to-do lists
• list of items that go with you in the car or on the airplane
• travel stuff (motels, maps, etc.)
• utility information
• phone numbers of essential people and services
• diagrams of room layouts and/or measurements for rooms and furniture

You should also consider making a second binder for documents you don't ever want to put on the moving truck. This can contain birth certificates, passports, marriage/divorce certificates, and mortgage or lease documents.

Invest in the Right Packing Materials

Pretty much every moving company site advises people to invest in the proper packing materials, and pretty much everyone ignores it, thinking this is a great place to save money. While using a few grocery store boxes probably won't kill you, your move can be so much easier if you budget for and purchase dedicated moving supplies.

For your heavy items, buy moving boxes in a variety of sizes. Consider using wardrobe boxes for clothing, so you can just transfer clothes on the hanger from your closet to the box. Plastic bins with lids are great for moving things like kids toys, bathroom stuff, and lightweight kitchen items.

Unless you have a stack of newspapers at the ready, buy some bubble wrap and/or moving paper too. You can buy labels and tape separately, or purchase packing tape that has different rooms printed on it. Don't forget to buy a tape dispenser or two and a few large black markers to supplement your labels.

Use a Packing Service

Another place where people typically try to save on moving costs is by packing everything themselves. However, this is one of the hidden costs of moving that few people ever budget for. If you have to take time off work to pack and unpack or hire a babysitter for the kids, so you can pack in peace, this eats into your time and money. Other benefits to a packing service from a company like Bekins Van Lines Inc include:

• Your items will arrive intact, and the packing service may be accountable and insured for them if not.
• They can pack specialty items that are hard to handle, like musical instruments or artwork.
• Packing services don't have to just pack boxes; they can help you pack storage cubes as well.
• They know which items cannot go on a moving truck, like combustible cleaning supplies, so you don't pack them by mistake.

You don't have to hire a packing service to pack your entire house. Why not use one to manage those tough spots, like the kitchen, playroom, or garage? If you do a little decluttering first, you won't be paying for them to pack unwanted items.

Moving has been rated one of the most stressful events in people's lives, but it doesn't have to be. Follow the tips above, and your move can be a breeze, letting you focus on your new, exciting destination.

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