My husband and I are moving in a few weeks. Moving is stressful but we’re doing well because this is our 19th move. We are good—darned good—at moving. Thanks to experience, I’ve learned how to make moving physically and emotionally easier. These tips may help you.
Start early. Fall is one of the busiest times for moving companies. Pick a tentative moving date and get your name on the company schedule as soon as possible. The same is true if you’re renting a truck.
Gather facts. What is the mover’s hourly rate? Is the company insurance enough or do you need to buy more? Ask those who have used the company if they would recommend it.
File documents and receipts. Buy a three-ring binder and plastic page protectors. File every moving document in this notebook. You may also file pictures of decorating ideas. Keeping a notebook saves you time and hassle.
Order a rubber stamp. Having a rubber stamp with your new address makes filling out change of address postcards a breeze. Mail the cards one month before you move.
Get a floor plan. Though this isn’t always possible, it’s worth a try. The first time we toured our apartment the marketing director gave us a floor plan and furniture stickers. If you can’t get a plan, ask for room dimensions. Furniture stickers are available online.
Make paper patterns. Would the round table I just ordered fit in our apartment? To answer this question, I taped newspapers together, set them on the table, traced the outline, and cut out the pattern. Use paper patterns to determine furniture placement.
Fix broken stuff. The shade on one of our favorite lamps ripped, so I ordered a new shade. I also repair scratches with scratch remover or furniture crayon. Doing this prevents the moving company from listing your furniture as damaged.
Lighten the load. Donate or sell items you haven’t used in a year. Since Goodwill is just a few blocks away, I donate to them. I file the receipts for tax purposes. We also donated furniture to a church that helps immigrant families.
Hire a mobile shredding truck. You’ll find companies that have shredding services online. A mobile shredding truck came to our home six times and shredded 32boxes of documents for $10 a box.
Take a break. Moving is physically and emotionally tiring and that’s why you need breaks. Moving breaks are part of self-care. Take a day off every now and then and do something you enjoy. These tips will help you have a smooth move.