Moving can be one of the greatest events in your life — the prospect of starting afresh in a brand-new home, possibly in a brand-new town, with all new things to do and sites to see. But it can also be very stressful, which is why so many people opt to engage a full-service professional moving company to both simplify and expedite the process. But planning accordingly is crucial to a smooth operation: prepping the environment for the packers and movers to arrive on the scene will benefit all concerned parties. Here’s a list of top-ten tips to help you optimally get ready for the big day:
- Clear your schedule. A homeowner who is late, distracted, or even absent on packing and/or moving day can lead to a lot of headaches and misunderstandings, so it’s best to clear your schedule for the entire time the moving company will be present.
- Gather trip essentials. Items you plan on taking with you personally should be set aside in an area that the movers will not have access to. Make sure you clearly separate what the company is transporting from what you want to stay with you throughout the move.
- Reduce crowd traffic. If possible, arrange to have your pets out of the way and engage your kids elsewhere while the movers are on-site, to keep the moving space safer and less chaotic.
- Assign roles. Let everyone involved know the game plan before things are set in motion — this will drastically reduce confusion and keep people on task.
- Take measurements. Measuring furniture and entranceways will keep the plan intact and will allow for any necessary arrangements to be made ahead of time. If a piece was constructed in-room, for example, it might need to be deconstructed to get it out the door. This applies at both the departure home and the arrival home.
- Pack fragile items separately. Breakables should receive their own dedicated packing, whether you do it yourself or whether the moving company will be responsible for properly encasing your valuables. There are special packing materials used to protect fragile belongings, so either procure them yourself or have your movers supply them.
- Dispose of perishables. Defrost your freezer and empty your refrigerator, throwing away any perishable items. The last thing you want is a nasty surprise in the fridge once it’s delivered to your new home!
- Eliminate dangers. Drain or remove all fuel sources from pertinent equipment, like gas from your landscaping tools and kerosene from heaters and lanterns. Take batteries out of all electronics and store them somewhere you can easily retrieve them later; back up your computer files; and empty entertainment devices of CDs, DVDs, and cartridges.
- Take inventory. Have a list of all the items in your home. Or, if you just want to use the mover’s inventory as your guide, at the very least, take stock of all your valuables, such as jewelry, expensive technology, and heirlooms.
- Confirm. Always confirm your scheduled dates and times with your moving company well in advance.
Following these steps can lead to a much better experience, ensuring that you can move forward without any obstacles blocking your path to your new home.
BB&D Moving Services
301-573-5447 (MD) | 571-375-2826 (VA) | 786-409-4799 (FL) | bbdmoving.com/