Moving is hard. You know that, we know that, and anyone who’s ever moved from one home to another knows that. It’s a pain, and it can cause a lot of stress, especially if you’re moving yourself or didn’t opt (0r don’t have the funds for) full-service household moving services. In this article, we’re going to give you some good, sound moving advice in the form of a list article, because who doesn’t like lists? We’ll discuss some ways that you can make your household move easier in the long run, especially if you’re opting for self-service moving, which means basically you pack, they drive. So, without further ado, starting with number 5…
5. You Have to Make the Time.
Most people who are moving into a new home are busy people. It’s a tough job having to juggle your packing and your house buying and your job and your kids and your wife and keeping your current house clean and not looking like Joe’s Apartment, and it can get stressful fast. This is why you want to give yourself time – being able to manage your time effectively, particularly when it comes to packing, is one of the best ways to mitigate your stress. Start packing at least a month out; if you have a big house, six weeks may be better, and it’s best to start with things you know you won’t be needing any time soon. Save your dishes for next to last, but your Christmas tree that’s sitting in the storage closet is a good place to start.
4. Get all Your Materials as you Need Them.
Something that a lot of people do is go out, buy a ton of boxes all at once, and then start packing. And you can do it that way if you’d like, but perhaps a better way would be to gather your moving supplies as you need them. Buy a few boxes, some tape, and markers, and then start packing. Once those boxes are full, put them out of the way – the garage, or a storage unit – and then go get some more. It’s easier to manage your packing and your budget if you’re buying your boxes as you need them, and that way you also save some money while not ending up with more boxes than you need.
3. Invest in Packing Materials.
Packing materials are crucial to a move. We’re not talking boxes here; we’re talking about what goes inside the boxes. Packing peanuts or bubble wrap can be found at many stores, and you can even order them online. Bubble wrap is a bit more expensive, but it’s a great material that you can use to wrap your dishes and kitchenware and other breakable items. Proper packing is important, and we truly suggest bubble wrap for wrapping up your kitchen supplies and other breakable materials (such as ceramic decorations, knick-knacks, etc).
2. Proper Wrapping is a Must.
When wrapping up anything with bubble wrap (which comes highly recommended), make sure that you actually wrap up your goods properly. This means using plenty of bubble wrap per item, and making sure to wrap them per item. They should be entirely encased in it, and you can use Scotch tape to make sure that the bubble wrap stays tightly wrapped around your goods. This way, your personal, breakable items are protected from each other during the move, and you can jostle that box all you want when moving because you know your things are safe.
1. Be Prepared for the Cost – It Can Get High.
One of the biggest complaints about household moving services is how much they cost, but you have to understand that oftentimes the cost of moving is pretty darn high – they have to be, really, because household moving companies are moving all of your heavy stuff from one part of the country to another. That takes a lot in fuel and time, not to mention maintenance on the trucks, food for the driver, and did we mention time? Yeah. It’s expensive because it has to be. You can talk to your household moving company for more information about their pricing, and we definitely recommend doing that.
At the end of the day, being prepared to move all of your worldly possessions from one part of the country to another is a big step, and an expensive and time-consuming one as well. But it’s worth it, in the long run, and you want to make sure that you make the move worth it too. Follow our tips and you’ll find yourself in a better position come moving day, and you’ll find that a lot of the stress that plagues so many people just passes you by. Fill out our free online quote form to the left and get multiple household moving quotes, as that’s the best way we can tell you to get a hold of reliable household moving companies. You can also give us a call at 800-930-7417 to speak to one of our live agents who can answer your questions and give you more tips on household moving.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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