Moving is one of the top stressors in life, but it doesn’t have to be that way, says Deborah Secrist. She is a spokesperson for Beltway Movers, serving the Washington D.C, Virginia and Maryland areas, and talks here about her tips for having the least stressful moving day possible.
At Beltway Movers, one of our mottos is that we make move day more of a joy than a job. We understand how stressful it can be to move, regardless of whether you are moving for happy or sad reasons. That’s why we do all we can to help make that day a little bit less stressful. Here are our tips to make things that bit easier:
- First of all, if you have the money, use professional declutter and packing people. Streamlining all your possessions ahead of time will make things a lot easier when you move and after you move, and so will having people in to pack for you.
- Coordinate the move and be there start to finish. Make sure that the person who set up the move is there to watch it, to avoid having mixed messages.
- Maintain good expectations, and encourage good communication between yourself and the moving company. Choose one that is on your wavelength, with employees you can easily talk to who make you feel comfortable.
- Be honest with your consultant and the office manager. If you planned on having 50 boxes and now you have 75, be upfront about that in advance of the truck pulling up in your driveway.
- To save time, our consultants often do estimates over phone, so you must think like a mover. Be realistic and let them know what to expect.
- Speak to the manager the day before the move and let him know if anything has changed. Trouble often happens when a crew runs into a situation they were not aware of. If you have more furniture, a forgotten attic, a doorway or garage overhang that limits manipulating furniture, let them know - in advance. Ditto if you have an entertainment center that needs to be disassembled in order to move it.
- If there is any unexpected walking distance to cover, let the mover know.
- Do your homework and select the right mover. That will solve the bulk of your problems right there.
- Have a plan. We have a move planner on our website which you can use.
Think about after the move as well. Here is a checklist for afterwards:
- Check the house you are moving from and the truck. Visually ensure all is accounted for.
- Don’t forget to take a pet essential kit in the car with you — bowls, food, leash and litter box. And don’t leave your pets behind!
- Take a baby essential kit, including diapers, formula, special toys and a couple of clothing changes.
- For the kitchen, make sure you have paper plates, paper cups, plastic utensils, snack food and basic canned goods.
- In the winter months, it might be a good idea to have flashlights and/or some form of temporary lighting.
- You might also need unpacking and/or handyman services to help set up housekeeping as quickly as possible.
Remember, when it comes to moving, slow and steady wins the race. Communication is crucial: Pick a company which has a group of movers who can communicate with you. Choose one where the office is staffed so you can call in if needed, not one that just has a couple of guys who are almost always out.
Moving can be difficult and mistakes will happen, so be patient and put things in perspective. It will always make a good story later on!
