Moving day can be an extremely hectic experience for just about anyone. There is an awful lot to remember and even more that you have to do, and keeping track of everything can be a nightmare. Amidst all of the chaos, it can be easy to forget a few things and that can quickly derail your whole operation. Staying organized is the best way to make sure you're on top of everything and an organized move is usually a stress-free move. Because, after all, there is enough stress that builds up before your actual move-in day, that when you finally arrive at your new house, all you want to do is exhale and settle in.
On top of all your responsibilities on moving day, you also have to consider the movers coming to assist you with the move and the job that they'll be doing. Although they're moving professionals with lots of experience, the last thing you want to do is make their job harder, so it's important to be prepared for everything when moving day arrives so that you can make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
If you're unsure of how to prepare for moving day and what you should and shouldn't do to get your home ready for the movers to arrive, this guide will help you. This list of moving day do's and don'ts should provide you with all you need to know about the intricacies of moving day, so you can make sure that you have all of the most important aspects of the day taken care of right off the bat.
- DO double- and triple-check your moving inventory list. Check the list before you leave for your new home and then again when you arrive. Make sure that nothing is missing from the list or from your shipment. Being as thorough as possible will ensure that all of your belongings arrive safely and you're not frantically searching for missing items on moving day.
- DO make sure your kids and pets are out of the way and out of harm's way. Moving day can be incredibly hectic, and if you have young children or pets, they can easily be injured if they get in the way of the movers trying to do their job. If you can, have someone babysit for them on moving day, and if that's not an option, then designate a safe room for them to spend the day watching movies or playing with toys while you take care of the move.
- DO move all of your most valuable possessions yourself. The best way to make sure your most valuable items aren't damaged or lost during the move is to move them yourself. Whether you're going to be moving by car, truck or plane, keeping your valuables with you will give you peace of mind and minimize the chances of them being lost during the move. Along those same lines, you should also take your necessities along with you as well. Anything that you will need to use immediately upon arriving at your new home like toiletries, your laptop or cell phone chargers, should be with you at all times.
- DO be kind to your movers and they will be kind to your belongings. A gesture as simple as offering snacks and drinks to your movers on moving day will go a long way in making sure that your movers do the best job they can. It will also let them know that you appreciate the work that they are doing.
- DON'T try to overextend yourself. You hired movers for a reason, and that reason is to handle the difficult parts of the move and the heavy lifting. You might think you're helping out by trying to drag your sofa out to the moving truck by yourself, but the movers have their own system and even though you may think you're helping you may really just be interfering with their work. Plus, your movers are trained professionals who know exactly how to lift and move heavy objects without injuring themselves, so it's best to just let them handle.
- DON'T forget to tip your movers. This is especially important and an excellent way to let your movers know that you appreciate all of their hard work. Different moving companies have different policies on tipping and what their movers are allowed to accept, so you should check with the company before the day of the move to make sure. Also remember to tip each mover individually, rather than providing the driver with one large tip to split among the movers, to make sure that each mover is provided with an equal tip.
- DON'T forget the final walkthrough. When your move is complete and you are getting ready to sign that bill of lading and bid farewell to the movers, don't forget to do one last complete walkthrough of your new home to make sure that everything has arrived. Once you sign the bill of lading it's hard to hold the movers responsible for any items that didn't make it to your new home, so checking and double-checking your shipment can end up paying off in the end.
Photo by: Nenetus (Freedigitalphotos.net)