8 Ways To Minimize Stress on Moving Day
All aspects of moving have the potential for high stress, but perhaps the most stressful time is moving day itself. Moving day is THE day–anything not done by moving day needs to be crammed at the last second. Any disorganization will catch up to you on moving day. It’s the day you’ve been working towards and anticipating, so if you are not ready, you’re going to feel it. Being ready doesn’t just mean being packed. There are a number of issues that can crop up during the actual move, and if you anticipate those issues and prepare for them or preempt them, you will significantly minimize stress on moving day.
1. Enough Time to Pack
Make sure you give yourself enough time to be completely packed by moving day. The less you have to scramble on the day of the move itself, the better. You want the movers to show up with boxes and furniture ready for them in an otherwise clean and empty space. You know how long it will take you to pack, so work backwards from your moving day and start packing enough in advance that you can do a bit each day and be finished on time.
2. Label Your Boxes According to Room
This step is actually two parts. Firstly, label your boxes. Even if you don’t indicate which room they will go in once you get to your new space, just knowing what’s inside your boxes will help you stay organized during and after your move. If you really want to be on top of things, add to the label which room the boxes belong in. Then, your movers can take one look at each box and place it in the correct spot in your new home. It will make unpacking so much easier, and you will avoid that frantic searching-through-every-box-just-to-find-the-can-opener situation.
3. Take Pictures
Take pictures of your furniture and your valuable or fragile items before the movers come so that you have proof of their condition in case of damage. The last thing you want is to find a damaged or broken item among your belongings and not be able to hold the moving company accountable.
4. Prepare a Necessities Bag
Aside from your boxes, each person in your family should have a personal bag of their items that they want immediate access to, like a toothbrush, hairbrush, sweatshirt, pajamas, pillow, book, a snack, some favorite toys for your kids, and so on. This way, when you get to your new home, you don’t have to rummage around moving boxes to find these basic items that you want to immediately use. This tip will definitely minimize stress on moving day for your whole family.
5. Get Moving Insurance
While you hopefully vetted your movers before hiring them, accidents can still happen. Moving insurance will give you the peace of mind that if anything happens to your belongings, you are covered financially.
6. Ensure Parking
If you are moving to a building or somewhere where parking permits are required, make sure you secure a conveniently-located parking spot in your new location before your actual move. This way, you know the moving truck has a place to park and unload, and you can minimize moving day stress for your movers, too!
7. Check Traffic and Weather Conditions
You can control many things, but you cannot control the weather or traffic patterns. Keep an eye on what the weather and traffic are doing the day of your move so you can be prepared. If a certain route has heavy traffic, look into alternate routes to your location. If the weather is poor, make sure to cover your boxes and furniture with moving pads as well as plastic wrap so everything stays protected. You may also want to put down towels in your new home so the wet weather and dirt isn’t brought inside.
8. Research Your Moving Company
Before you hire a moving company, make sure to do your research. You want your movers to be licensed and insured with a good reputation. Also make sure to ask about pricing and if they charge per hour. Of course, you also want movers who are actually available on the specific date you want to move!
At Big John’s Moving, our experienced movers can help minimize your stress on moving day, including packing for you! Whether you are moving locally or long-distance, we work with you to make sure your move is a success and not a stress. Contact us with all your questions and to get set up with your move!
