So you’re moving. It’s an exciting time, and you can’t wait to begin your new life at your new digs. While you should be happy about the opportunity to get a fresh start, it would help to note that the moving process itself isn’t a walk in the park, especially if you’re taking on the role of the moving coordinator. Luckily, this read provides some great tips to help you make things move smoothly.
1. Create a Plan
Whatever your motivation for moving, getting all your belongings from one house to another is no easy feat. Rather than winging it and hoping everything gets done on time, developing a sound strategy as the moving coordinator is wise long before your move. Start with a basic plan and add to it as you get more details, create a rough schedule, and determine a timeline. Consider what has to be done in your present house, such as packing, de-cluttering, or minor repairs and renovations, if you intend to sell.
Come up with a rough budget estimating your relocation expenses, accounting for the cost of everything from moving company fees, boxes, bubble wrap, to packing tape. Create a timetable that will help you remain on track by determining what you need to buy for your new house to be move-in ready and noting information like when you’ll get the keys so you can start moving things in.
2. Pack Your Smaller Items
When you think about packing for your move, it may seem pretty easy. You only need a few boxes and things to put in them, right? Well, no. There’s a science and art to it; your local moving company understands this.
Much consideration goes behind deciding which items go into which boxes. You can’t just throw everything together. Otherwise, some of your stuff will be tossed around during the drive, resulting in significant damage. Think about it. If you pack fragile items such as your glassware in an excessively big box with a lot of free space, you’ll be out shopping for a new set as soon as you get to your new home.
The surest way of guaranteeing that everything gets to the destination in one piece is by enlisting the help of a professional mover. However, here’s a great tip if you’re handling the packing yourself. Place small things in small boxes. After that, put them in a bigger box. Ensure every size box, large or small, has a label. Box, bag, and securely seal small, loose items before putting them in a larger box.
3. Prepare Your Larger Items
Packing your larger items presents a unique set of challenges, from an increased risk of injury to potential damage. Ensure the packaging is strong enough and safe to avoid pulling muscles and breakage. You should also pay attention to how much each box weighs after it’s filled with stuff. Here are some pointers to help you get going as the moving coordinator.
Select strong, padded boxes that are larger than the products you’re packing. Heavy-duty, double-ply boxes are best for heavy objects. You can also find specialty boxes for heavy objects like books, framed paintings, and dishes .
Use thicker wrapping than you normally would for lighter items to lessen the likelihood of damage if you or the local moving company drop a box. Put the heavy, large object or objects inside the box, keeping some distance between them and the sides. Then, fill the gaps using cardboard, clothes, foam sheets, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts to fill the gaps. Finally, use high-quality packing tape to reinforce heavy boxes and secure the protective wrapping.
You need the right equipment and expertise in preparing, packing, and transporting large furniture pieces or bulky items like fish tanks, televisions, workout equipment, and appliances. So, if you have a grand piano that you need to move to your new home, give the local moving professional a call and request an estimate.
4. Finalize Arrangements
With the dates set and an idea of the basics involved, it’s your responsibility as the moving coordinator to finalize arrangements with your chosen moving business. Don’t leave anything to chance. Confirm all the specifics. For example, verify the exact time you should expect the team of movers to arrive. Doing this will help clear any feelings of uncertainty you may have.
On the same note, ensure the contract is in order. Double-check the total fees, special conditions, services, and time frames. Don’t forget to go through the section highlighting your rights as the customer and the mover’s responsibilities.
5. Enjoy Your Final Moments in Your Current Home
Moving to a new home in a new location is a healthy and great way to gain a fresh perspective on life. However, even though you’re excited about the move, you’d be lying to yourself if you believe you won’t miss the place you’re leaving, at least if you enjoyed your time and made life-long memories. Try to enjoy your final moments there to give yourself a sense of closure.
A great way to do this is by throwing a party a few days before the long distance moving service arrives. Invite family and close friends over to take a walk down memory lane. Reminiscing on the moments and ordeals you experienced in the house can make for a fun time. Plus, it’ll give you the closure you need before moving on to your life’s next chapter. You’ll also have a valid excuse to blow off steam before the big move.
Your new home likely won’t have the same amenities and features as your current one. Even if you’re upgrading, it may lack one or two things the previous one has. Make the most use of such features while you still can. For instance, if your current home has a pool and the new place doesn’t, why not throw a pool party and go crazy? While you’ll still miss it, you’ll have the memories and pictures to show.
6. Don’t Forget to Eat
Shifting to a new home is an exciting endeavor representing a fresh start. However, moving is naturally labor-intensive, from dragging heavy boxes and furniture up and down stairs to cleaning and packing. A great way to reward yourself for all the hard work as the moving coordinator is to purchase or prepare snacks for the moving day.
Doing this will ensure you always have something to replenish your energy when you need the boost. You’ll also save money as you won’t have to buy costly and unhealthy fast food. The ideal snacks for your move should be easy to prepare, nutritious, filling, and light because heavy snacks can make you sluggish and tired. Here are some ideas
Sweet potatoes are great for fighting midday fatigue. They’re abundant in vitamins A and C and carbohydrates. You can either mash or chop them for a quick snack. If you’re feeling up to it, cut them into strips, fry them in oil, and finish by baking them for a few minutes for a healthy and tasty substitute for French fries.
Sandwiches are another great for moving day. They’re easy to prepare and are often healthy. You can use various ingredients, from tofu, ham, chicken, and eggs. Consider making the sandwiches using different types of bread. Whole wheat bread and peanut butter sandwiches are tasty and energizing.
Along with all these treats and snacks, remember to stay hydrated throughout your move. Consume lots of fluids, including water, cold tea, and fruit juice, to keep your body in optimal shape. Hot tea and coffee is a good idea if it’s a winter move. Avoid carbonated, frosty, and energy drinks since they’ll do more harm than good for your body. Remember, you can always share your snacks with the team of your local mover.
7. Throw Out Old Items
As the moving coordinator, note that the fewer things you have to move, the lower your moving expenses will be. However, this isn’t the only benefit of downsizing your possessions before a move. Packing and loading will be easier and faster, you’ll have fewer things to keep track of, unpacking will be faster, and most importantly, there won’t be any junk or unnecessary clutter in your new home.
Therefore, while packing for a move, only bring items you genuinely want to keep and like having around. Whether something is valuable enough to bring along depends less on its monetary value and more on its functionality or emotional significance. If you only use something on rare occasions (if at all), is old or worn out, isn’t working correctly (like a broken ergonomic chair), won’t fit in your new home or flat, or won’t be beneficial in your new way of life, it would be wiser to leave it behind or donate if it’s still in good condition.
Items that may hold sentimental value include keepsakes, personal cherished treasures, and family heirlooms you’re emotionally attached to. These should undoubtedly be on your packing list since they’re irreplaceable possessions you will want to keep at all costs. However, don’t bring every item from your past; keep what’s truly important. Things that are extremely difficult (or impossible) to replace, such as collectibles, vintage items, works of art, and other unique artifacts, should also be on your to-keep list unless they don’t mean much to you anymore.
8. Prepare Your Car
As the moving coordinator, you’ll need to enlist the services of an auto transport firm to move your automobile from your old house to your new one. Whether you have one car or a whole fleet, these professionals can accommodate all your needs. Note that these businesses don’t drive your automobile and park it in the driveway of your new home. They instead load it onto a multi-car carrying truck and deliver it to your new house or their local depot.
So, to ensure your ride(s) arrives as expected, you must prepare it for shipping appropriately. The first thing you should do is to get professional car cleaning services. Dust and dirt can easily conceal dents, scratches, and dings. Have your car thoroughly washed before having the auto transport company come and pick it up.
It’ll be easier to notice damage that may have occurred during the shipping process on a clean car. Remember to clean the interior as you can be sure it’ll be joisted a bit during transport. To prevent items from being thrown around, clean the interior and remove everything that isn’t fastened.
There’s no need to fill up your gas tank before loading the vehicle because it’ll be transported, not driven. Plus, a full tank of petrol adds weight to your vehicle. More weight means more money and an increased risk to the shipment.
When preparing your car for transport, ensure it has as little fuel as possible. Once the transportation company loads the vehicle onto their truck, there’s no valid reason for anyone to open it until it’s delivered. So, lock it up to minimize the likelihood of theft during transport.
9. Have an Emergency Plan
No matter how much you believe in your moving coordinator and driving skills, always have an emergency plan for car troubles if you’re driving the moving truck. Imagine driving down the road with all your belongings in the back, and the engine suddenly breaks down. After a brief inspection, you realize you can’t address the issue yourself. While this can feel like a nightmare, it doesn’t have to.
With a roadside assistance service, help is only a phone call away. This service helps motorists who are stranded by the roadside. Packages often include battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, towing, a lockout service, a flat tire change, and winching.
10. Pass the Time During the Drive
Entertainment may seem like an insignificant thing to plan for as the moving coordinator. However, things can get boring quickly during the drive, especially if it’s a long-distance move. One of the easiest ways of passing the time is to listen to music. Curate a playlist for the car audio system. Be sure to consider everyone’s taste so no one feels left out.
Planning a move involves a lot of moving parts. It’s not the type of undertaking you can freestyle. As the moving coordinator, you need to start making plans from the day you decide to relocate. This read provides some great tips.