Gearing up for a moving process can be a very exciting time for your entire family, especially if you’re headed to a completely new area or vastly upgrading your home. No matter if you’re expanding or downsizing, or moving around the block or around the world, however, moving can be really overwhelming and take a toll on you if you don’t put in the proper planning or preparation for your process.
If you’re looking for smart moving tips that will allow you to take on your relocation more efficiently and with forethought, you’ve come to the right place. From planning to booking your movers to packing and more, we’ll give you the best tips for moving smartly and without stressing yourself out.
Before getting into our best smart moving tips, the most important thing you can do for your relocation is to find the right moving company. Finding the right moving company can truly make or break your move, and can be the difference between having a smooth and straightforward relocation experience and working with a company that won’t give you a high level of service, or even with one that could scam you (and of course, nobody wants that).
When first learning of your move, you should research moving companies and follow up in your search by looking up their licensing and accreditations. The best way to find moving companies is of course through word of mouth or through the first-hand experiences of those you trust, so ask around friends or family to see if they’ve had any particularly positive moving experiences with a company that would be able to work with you.
If you don’t know anybody who has moved recently, you should create a checklist of what you need and expect from your movers and use that to guide you in your research process.
Once you’ve compiled a list of possible moving companies, look up each of their USDOT numbers to ensure that they’re properly insured and licensed by the Department of Transportation. This is especially important if you’ll be moving over long distances since your items will be traveling over state lines. If a company you’re interested in doesn’t have its USDOT number listed or doesn’t give it to you, try to see if you can look them up to see if they’re federally registered. If there’s no record of them, it could be indicative of a moving scam.
Once you’ve gone through the possible companies you’re interested in and ensured that they’re all legitimate companies who are federally registered, look up their reviews and past customer experiences.
Look through third-party review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau, or Yelp to find firsthand customer experiences that will give you a good idea of the customer service and overall experience you can expect from a potential moving company. Always eliminate companies that have a majority of negative reviews or that don’t have any reviews at all. Poor reviews of course indicate poor service, and no reviews at all can indicate that the company could be a moving scam.
Once you’ve narrowed down your movers, shop around to your remaining companies for quotes and see who will give you not only the best price but the overall best value and quality of experience for your money. Don’t forget to create a budget so that you’re sure that your movers align with your financial vision and won’t break the bank.
After finding the right moving company for you, you’ll want to book them as soon as possible to lock down your moving date and effectively create a timeline for your relocation. After you’ve booked your moving company, you can focus on actually planning out everything that will go into your move. The following are some of our best tips for moving:
The best thing you can do for your packing and moving process is to create a schedule for yourself and your household before you do anything else. Make a calendar and include packing goals and what you would like to have done by when. Spacing out your packing and moving requirements like this will allow you to avoid stress and last-minute panicking, and will give you a good idea of what’s realistic and what you’ll want to get done day by day.
When making your schedule, including important dates and even which rooms you’d like to take on by which days. Taking these steps will make your move much more manageable and easier to plan.
After making your schedule and setting your goals, take an inventory of all of your items to determine what you need to pack. Don’t just look at furniture and larger items, either. Go through clothes and smaller items and figure out what you’ll want to pack first and be realistic in how much you’ll need to pack throughout your process.
After figuring out what you have and getting a good idea of the inventory of your home, it’s time to declutter the items you don’t want, need, or use. Choosing what things to sell, donate, give away, or sell isn’t always going to be easy, but it will make your move a lot simpler and will let you save time and money throughout your process.
Always compile as many packing supplies as you can before your move. You can source free or low-cost packing supplies just by asking around friends and family for used boxes, bubble wrap, and more, and can even get free boxes and materials from local businesses. You would be surprised by just how many free boxes and other items you can source just by asking! Try to prepare as many packing supplies as possible before you actually start the process so you don’t have to worry about running out to the store for extra items in the middle of packing.
Once you’ve taken your inventory and decluttered your home, take on your process by starting to pack away items that aren’t essential or are just around for decoration. Packing away items that are just for the show will allow you to make a surprising amount of leeway in your packing process and will let you feel a lot more accomplished early on in your packing.
From there, gradually move room by room and pack essentials or items used daily last. Don’t forget to keep important documents or expensive items with you and pack items and clothes you’ll need to tide you over until your items are delivered to you.
Now that you’ve got the right tips to get you started on packing and moving the right way, it’s time to take on your move with confidence! If you’re still looking for a moving company that will work for and with you every step of the way during your process, look no further than Ray the Mover. We’ll provide you with the best service, highest efficiency, and best quality for your money. Talk to one of our expert staff today to see what we can do for you.
1 Allard Drive
Manchester, NH 03102
1087 Elm Street Ste 510,
Manchester, NH 03101
