Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting and stressful events that you will experience. All the planning, packing, and transportation can be quite a headache. With all the chaos involved, you need to find ways to streamline your move so nothing falls through the cracks. Let’s look at the most common mistakes movers make and what you can do to stay on top of your move.

Packing

To ensure things go as smoothly as possible, you want to have some plan of action. Procrastination will only create more stress and frustration. The first step is to begin packing and sorting through your belongings. Going room by room, evaluate your belongings. Do you really need to hold onto that old towel? Is shipping that dresser worth the costs? Question anything and everything in your home. You’ll be surprised how much you can do without. And remember, when possible donate, donate, donate!

As you pack, keep in mind too where you plan to place a certain item in your new home, and label boxes accordingly. You can go a step further and label where in a room you’ll need the packed items. This is especially helpful in bedrooms where you can pack sweaters, undergarments, and shoes in separate boxes.

When packing heavy items, keep them at the bottom of the box, and fill in any holes with extra cloth or linens to prevent anything from shifting in transit. This is especially important when managing fragile items.

Most of all, don’t forget to pack a survival kit. Nothing’s worse than packing and remembering you never set aside bathroom essentials or spare clothes!

Hiring Professionals

According to CEO Rainer Schorr, if you decide to hire professionals to help you with your move, there a few things you should do before making a final decision. You should never base your decision on price alone, because you do truly get what you pay for; you want a company with a solid reputation, proper licensing, and insurance. You should also request a written estimate and a walk-through to get a firm price in order to avoid any additional or unforeseen fees. It is also wise to purchase extra coverage for lost or broken items just in case something does happen during the move. It is always better to be safe than sorry, as many homeowners can tell you. It may cost more to fix a moving disaster than to take the preliminary precautions.

Moving Day

When it comes to the actual moving day, there are a few pieces of equipment that can make your life easier. A portable storage container allows a great deal of flexibility and control during the packing process. You can fill the container at your own pace and simply schedule the pick-up and delivery when you are ready. This eliminates the need for a clunky moving truck and eliminates the anxiety of having to pack in a hurry.

Whether you are moving yourself or have help, you should definitely utilize a dolly or hand truck to make things easier. Any expenditures you have, from either renting or buying moving equipment, will more than pay for itself. Use of such equipment reduces the risk of back pain, strained muscles, and costly chiropractic bills.

The last thing to remember is that by the end of moving day, you will be completely exhausted. It is never a good idea to schedule your move and closing on the same day. Give yourself a few days to clean and prepare your new home before you move all your belongings. You also want some flexibility in case of unexpected delays or other last minute surprises that may spring up.