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Did you know, that according to a study done by Vitals.com, the moving process is the third most stressful thing that people will go through in life, after death and divorce.
The key to making your moving day run as smoothly as possible is to ensure you plan ahead and consider some of these tips and situations that might arise, and how to work your way around them.
Having just completed three major moves in a one month period (A new home for our family, our recent move into the newly built Re/Max office, and a new apartment for our daughter in school), we have a few important tips to share that will help your upcoming move go as smoothly as possible.
#1 - Start packing early!
Even if you think you have lots of time to get your entire life packed up into boxes I can guarantee you have way more stuff than you realize! You will want to start collecting boxes as soon as you know you will be moving. If you are on a budget a great place to source boxes is at your grocery stores, convenience store, or liquor stores. Ask them if they have any boxes around you can have and if they don’t have any that day ask them to save some for you and arrange to pick them up on a specific day. Also, if you have a friend or family member who is moving just before you, ask if you can re-use their boxes after they move in! Another source for boxes is to purchase them at your local Home Depot or at a moving supply company. I find the best sizes are the small ones and medium ones because the bigger the box the heavier it is to pick up and move, but get a few large ones for lighter bulkier things.
#2 - Hire a reputable moving company!
We can’t begin to tell you the amount of moving horror stories that we hear, about people who went with the cheapest movers they could find and experienced nothing but disaster and disappointment.
When in the process of looking for a mover, ask your Realtor, neighbors and friends for recommendations. Ideally, you should get three quotes and review them all carefully. Looking at what they provide, testimonials, what makes them stand out, and of course price is a factor. During our most recent move into our new home we got three quotes. The first one was from a trusted local company, and the other two were from advertisements we received in the mail as soon as our home went on the market. We got quotes that ranged from $4000 cash, to $1800! That is a very big range in price! After getting to know each of the companies and speaking with each of the sales representatives, we went right down the middle. We were a little skeptical because this was a company that we were not familiar with. Alas, moving day arrived, and four men showed up with two large trucks. They were very professional and efficient. We have no complaints about their work during the move. It took a total of 12 hours from start to finish, they worked very hard and professionally throughout the entire process. The only upset came when it was time for them to leave and we were expected to pay our bill. Our costs went up by $900.00 from the quoted cost! They had only quoted us for 8 hours and then had to charge us for the additional four hours.
At the end of the day, you have to make sure you read the quotes carefully, and know what exactly is included in that quote! Always know what you are agreeing to before moving day, because it always takes longer than anticipated; no matter how smoothly it goes.
#3 - Have Children?
If possible send them to school or to a family member's house during the move. Kids generally have a lot of emotion surrounding moving day. They might be excited, scared, nervous, happy, sad or all of the above. It is better for them to have a regular day, enjoying regular activities, rather than be involved in the move.
Prior to the move, be sure to discuss with them about moving day and let them pack and label their own boxes. Then, tell them when they get home later their boxes will be in their new space waiting for them to unpack! It will allow you to focus on the move rather than their meal times and their possible emotional upsets.
You will be able to better direct the movers so your stuff is placed in the correct rooms when unpacking the truck, not worrying about your kids running around. The movers will have lots of questions for you whether they are hired, or simply just friends and family.
#4 - Expect the unexpected!
No matter how organized a person you are and no matter how far in advance you plan your move, the day of always brings unexpected delays and surprises. It is very common for you to have your whole house packed and ready to move and then be sitting around for hours waiting for the lawyers to have paperwork and legal documents in order to release the keys to the new house. Moving trucks break down, people get ill, the new place is not fully cleaned out when you finally do get your keys….Now what? it’s hard to know what surprises will greet you during your move, but tip #5 will help lessen the stress that will arise.
#5 - Give yourself more than 1 day!
This is something you have to plan for during the buying/selling process, and your Realtor and mortgage lender can help you understand this process better. Simply put, you can keep your current mortgage and close on the new house for an overlapping amount of time. The cost of doing a bridge loan is minimal but the advantages are HUGE. If you are planning on making any immediate improvements to your new home you will have a few days (or weeks depending on how much work you are doing) to complete the work before you fill the house with furniture and boxes. You will effortlessly eliminate delays and minimize stress on moving day, because you will already have the keys and know the condition of your new home.
Be sure to give yourself at least a day on the selling end to go back into the old house and make sure you have removed any forgotten items. Even if you think you were thorough on moving day, you WILL leave things behind! We left a message board on the wall of our kitchen when we moved and it had precious pictures on it of our children. When we phoned and asked the new owners if they had it, they informed us that they already threw it out! Another small tip is to have the old house cleaned. This is a small gesture, but a very important one for the new people moving in. The extra day or 2 allows you to complete all of this without feeling completely overwhelmed
#6 - Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If hiring a mover and getting a bridge loan is not in your budget, ASK FOR HELP! Friends and family are always a great place to go when you need a hand or two, or five. Not all of them will step up, but a few will and that’s all you really need! Just be sure you shower them with gratitude, buy them meals on moving day and make sure they keep hydrated. You will have to repay the help one day when they make their move, but it’s a small price to pay in our opinion.
Finally, breathe and smile! If surprises you didn’t plan on arise, know the chaos is only temporary. No matter what your reasons for making a move, just remember that everything will be okay once the dust settles.
If you ever have any questions, are confused, or simply want some advice, you can always feel free to contact us! After all, we’re writing this blog to help you!
