Moving to a new home is easily accomplished by planning your move in advance, working with reputable movers, and ensuring that your belongings are properly packed. With preparedness and careful execution, you can make your move to a new home as smooth and seamless as possible.
Most people are so thankful when a move is complete. Not because they are finally in a new place but because the moving process is finally over. But moving to a new home can be simple and stress-free. With these helpful tips and the hiring of the best local or long-distance moving companies, you can make your move a breeze.
Phase One: Planning Your Move
Laying the groundwork for a hassle-free move will take some time and effort on your part, but it will be worth it when everything goes smoothly on moving day. Before you even start looking for reputable movers or buying packing supplies, begin by:
- Making a moving checklist with all the tasks that need to be completed before, during, and after the move.
- Cataloging a detailed inventory of your belongings to decide what goes and what gets donated, sold, or thrown away.
- Creating a moving budget that considers the cost of supplies, specialty moving services, and a tip for movers.
- Considering some possible moving dates based on your schedule, moving budget, and type of move you are completing (i.e., residential/commercial/local/long-distance).
These initial steps will give you a better idea of when the best time to move is, how to move without breaking the bank, and what additional services you may need to make your move as seamless as possible.
Phase Two: Find the Best Moving Companies
Finding the best moving companies to assist with your particular type of move will require some research on your part to separate reputable, professional local or cross-country movers from unlicensed moving scams. To find the best movers for hassle-free moving to a new home, start by:
- Getting recommendations from friends, family, or co-workers who have moved recently
- Verifying licensing and insurance information via the Department of Transportation, BBB, or third-party moving website
- Checking out online reviews for different moving companies in your area to get a sense of their customer service
- Using a moving cost calculator to get a general idea of how much your move will cost with different companies
Once you have found a few good options, be sure to get at least three in-home moving quotes to compare services, access fees, and other costs before you make your final decision.
Phase Three: Preparation
With the moving checklist you created in phase one in hand, you should easily be able to start preparations for your move after choosing the best movers for the job. Preparations for moving to a new home should include:
- Decluttering your home by getting rid of any unwanted or unneeded items
- Sourcing new or second-hand packing materials from retail stores, online forums, or your chosen moving company
- Packing your belongings based on importance – with the least important or used belongings packed away first. And remember an essential bag with stuff you’ll need for the first few nights.
- Dismantling furniture, emptying dressers, and removing drawers from cabinets to make them lighter and easier to move
- Labeling each box with its location at the new home and level of fragileness
Don’t forget that preparations for moving to a new home aren’t all about the move itself. Other preparations that you’ll need to make include:
- Setting up utility cancellation/transfer
- Changing your mailing address
- Updating your driver’s license/registration
- Getting parking permits for moving vehicles (if necessary)
- Organizing childcare or pet-sitting on the actual day of the move
By starting the preparations a week or two before your moving date, you can avoid any last-minute scrambling and ensure that everything is ready to go when the movers arrive.
Phase Four: Moving Day
The big day has arrived! All your planning and preparations have led up to this moment, but it’s no time to breathe a sigh of relief just yet.
To ensure that everything goes smoothly when moving to a new home, be sure to:
- Unplug/disconnect major appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc.
- Be on hand when the movers arrive to answer any questions and direct them to where your belongings are located.
- Help move boxes and belongings down to the ground level (if avoiding access fees).
- Be present to verify the final weight of your belongings (if moving long-distance) before signing off sign-off on any paperwork.
- Do a final walk-through of your home with the movers to ensure that nothing has been left behind.
You may also need to coordinate with the movers if you have stuff being dropped off at different locations, such as charity centers, a temporary storage unit, or different family/friends’ homes.
Phase Five: Move-In Day
After weeks of preparation, hard work, and a bit of stress, you’ve finally arrived at your destination – it’s time to start the next phase of your life in your new home! To make move-in day as seamless as possible, be sure to:
- Inspect belongings as they are unloaded from the moving truck to ensure that nothing has been damaged in transit.
- Assemble any furniture that was dismantled for the move.
- Help direct the movers as to where belongings go in the new home.
- Do another walk-through of the home with the movers to ensure that everything has been unloaded.
- Be prepared to tip the movers (if you haven’t already) for their hard work in getting you settled into your new home.
The unpacking process will likely be slower than the packing process, but you can start by unpacking the most essential items first and then work your way through the rest of your belongings at your own pace.
Once everything is unpacked and in its rightful place, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy your new home.
Essential Packing Tips
When moving to a new home across the street or across the country, packing your belongings correctly will save you a lot of time, money, and stress. To help you get started on the packing process, here are some essential packing tips to keep in mind:
- Bundle like items together so they can be easily found when unpacking. Dishes with dishes, books with books, etc.
- Pack heavier items in smaller boxes and lighter items in larger boxes. This will make the boxes easier to carry and prevent them from being too heavy to lift.
- Don’t overstuff boxes to save on packing supplies. Instead, use online forums and talk to local retailers to see about getting free or second-hand boxes.
- Use clothes, towels, and other soft items to fill in empty spaces and prevent breakables from shifting during the move.
- Label all boxes with their contents and the room they should be unpacked in. This will save you a lot of time when unpacking at your new home.
- Don’t pack perishable items, ammunition, explosives, open paint, living plants, or any other item that could be considered a hazard.
- Make it a game that friends and family can participate in by giving everyone a specific packing task to complete.
Taking the time to apply these packing tips to your move will ensure that everything arrives at your new home safe and sound.
Moving To a New Home the Easy Way
Moving doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, with careful planning, organization, preparation, and the help of the best possible moving company, it can be a relatively easy process.
So if you’re planning on moving to a new home in the near or distant future, keep these tips in mind to make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.
