Moving! Fun or Drudgery?

Reduce the Headache and Stress of Moving Day

Whether you are moving into or out of a new home a few things are certain: it will take longer, be more stressful, and cost more than you want it to. But that’s okay. Thankfully most people don’t have to do this all that often (and if you are one of those people that moves all the time, believe me, we all sympathize). There are a number of things you can do to make your move smoother, less hectic, and with careful planning and research more cost effective.

Do-It-Yourself or Professional?

The first step in any move is to make your decisions. If you are planning to use a moving company, call as long as six weeks in advance (May to August is the peak moving time). If you are planning to do it yourself, book the truck now, enlist friends and family. Get everyone you can to help—if you get twenty people to confirm, that means if you are lucky, five of them will show up. Nothing causes people to compromise their promises more then the idea of lugging a hideabed up a flight of stairs. The longer you wait the less choice you will have. The earlier you can do anything when planning a move, the better.

Of course there are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. If you move it yourself you may save money, but amateur movers risk injuring themselves and damaging possessions. Movers also know how to pack and unpack delicate items and even if the mover does damage something, there is insurance.

One of the side effects of local moves is that we convince ourselves that we don’t need the services of a professional moving company. If you can afford it, even if the trip is only 10 minutes, you should consider it. Even if you move everything in your car or rented truck, you’re more likely to take short cuts on your packing (tossing things into paper bags, open boxes etc.) which leads to more broken items. But the most important reason is your furniture. You may have several large friends, but as mentioned the sad fact is these large friends don’t come with insurance.

Which ever choice you make, here are some helpful and necessary tips to help your move go more smoothly.     

The Do-It-Yourself Route

As with every aspect of moving, if you are booking a truck, you want to book it as early as possible, at least 4-6 weeks in advance. Remember that the summer months are the busiest.

Enlist as much help as possible. As mentioned above, the more people you ask, the more people there are likely to be there when the move actually happens. Also, if you are moving most of it in a car, try to enlist the help of friends that have cars. The one sure thing of moving, you have more stuff than you think you do, which means it will take longer than you think it will.

You can buy boxes and packing material from a moving company or the place where you rent your truck, but that can add up. Instead ask grocery stores, electronic stores, and office supplies stores etc. for their discarded boxes. The boxes they throw out are usually sturdy enough for any of your needs. Invest in a tape gun and start saving newspapers (which you will use instead of bubble wrap or Styrofoam to wrap your breakables).

Try to have some overlap time between the place you are moving out of and the place you are moving into. It always takes longer than you think and this is even truer if you do it yourself. You may need some extra time to clean your place or just more time to get stuff out of there.

The Professional Path

The first step to finding a moving company is finding the right moving company. The first piece of advice—don’t go cheap. As with everything, you do get what you pay for. Even if you are moving down the lane, hire a professional, reputable company to do the work.

A good place to check for a moving company is with your broker. Brokers routinely deal with home sales and can easily recommend movers and make suggestions to cut costs and time.

Another good source of information is the Yellow Pages. They are a good source for nationally known moving companies. Most of these large companies also have websites that you can check to find out information, advice, and contact numbers.

The third, though less reliable source, is from friends, family and neighbours.

When you do get a recommendation just make sure to get all the details. Were they prompt and courteous? Did they choose the shortest route? Did they put the boxes and furniture in the places you designated? Did they follow your directions?

Call more than one company and get a list of estimates. Get several names and see which one matches your schedule. The estimate should include things like how much would it cost if the movers packed rather than you? If they pack will they also unpack, and set up beds, bookcases and furniture? If you choose to pack, how much will the boxes cost and how many do you need? Will they wrap the furniture in bubble wrap, and carefully pack the computers, small appliances and breakables? Is there anything they won’t transport? Items such as house plants are rarely moved since they rarely survive the stress of moving. Will they move antiques and pianos? Again, if so, make sure to enquire about insurance. Lastly, if it’s a smaller company, get references and call the references to make sure they are real people.

Once you’ve decided on a mover, make a complete inventory. Take the time to record the makes, models, and serial numbers of your electronics and other items in a notebook or on a sheet of paper. You will need this information if you have to make a claim. If you are getting the moving company to move your valuables (artwork, jewellery, electronics etc.) make sure to notify them verbally and in writing. Make sure they are clearly itemized on the mover’s inventory. Make sure they are clearly labelled. You should also take pictures of the items.

The inventory should include clear photographs not only of the valuables but of tables and chairs (especially antiques), living room furniture and bookcases. It’s very easy for things to get nicked, even with a professional doing the job. While a company may be at the top of the line, there is no guarantee that an employee will adhere to that philosophy.

Photograph the narrow and tight parts of the house, like hallways, stairways, and doors, that the movers will be bringing you items through (especially the large ones) so you have evidence of damage.

Once this is all done, put the information along with owner’s manuals, extra keys, birth certificates, car titles, wills, insurance information and other documents, and take them with you. 

 Buy the insurance. This point can’t be stressed enough. No mover is perfect. No company is perfect. Make sure you have proof of the claim.

Last but not least, make sure someone is present for the move, to double check, supervise and answer any questions that the movers might have and make sure that person has enough cash for a tip.

The Combo Platter

If the expense of a moving company is too much or if you just don’t want to deal with the hassles of moving everything yourself, then a combination approach might work. Get a professional to move the big stuff, the furniture and beds etc. while you and your friends do the packing and move the small stuff, either in your vehicles or in a rented truck.

No matter how much you get a moving company to do, it’s usually a good idea to move important papers and valuables yourself. Pack any small non breakable, valuable items, like important papers and jewellery, and take them yourself. It’s probably safe with a reputable company, but it’s going to be less stressful for you if you have piece of mind that they are with you.

Final Moving Tips

Plan Plan Plan! Like anything, planning is the most important step. Get rid of anything you don’t need to take with you. There’s no sense in moving things you don’t need or want. If this is your first move in a long time, you’ve probably accumulated years of junk. Look for rarely used items, discard anything that is beyond repair and then have a yard sale to get rid of the rest. Afterwards, plan on loading the unsold items into your car so you can donate it to the charity of your choice.

Make measurements. Can everything fit into the rooms you’ve designated? Also if the old homeowners are taking their blinds and curtains, measure places that you will want privacy immediately, and purchase some curtains and blinds for these areas.

Start arranging now for hook-ups. Phone companies need a few days (and sometimes a week or more) to get you connected. You will want to call the power company. Arrange for the type of internet (cable, dial-up, DSL). Fill out a change of address form at the post office. And just as important, do the same on the other end, meaning tell everyone that you are going.

Pack a box of essentials—telephone, couple of changes of clothes, a few pots, pans, dishes, utensils, toiletries, medication—to get you through the first few days. If you are hiring a moving company they may be late, so make sure to take anything you can’t do without. Even if you are doing it yourself, you will be tired and stressed. Not having to scrounge through boxes for essentials will make the move more manageable.

Clean as you pack and before you unpack. It’s easier to clean once everything is out of the way and if you are renting, you definitely want to make sure your apartment or rental house is sparkling so you don’t lose any of your damage deposit. Before you unpack, get a clean start by wiping out drawers and cupboards, sweeping out closets and solid-surface floors and vacuuming carpets.

Remember that moving is the one of the most stressful things people experience, amazingly, right behind death and divorce. Anything you can do to lessen this stress, namely planning ahead and trying not to do it all at once, will make the transition easier. If you can afford it, it’s usually better to get the help of a moving service, even if it’s just for the big items. No matter which choice you make, if you keep in mind the advice above, your moving experience shouldn’t be something that you look back on with horror.

This paper is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing contained herein constitutes legal, financial or other professional advice. Transmission of these materials is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any relationship of any kind between the provider and the recipient. Some of these points may not apply in your area. Different term and conditions may vary from state to state and province to province. All articles, text and photographic material presented here is for the use and pleasure of the recipient only.

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