Moving Day Stress
We all know how moving day can be very stressful. There are many ways to reduce moving day stress, such as:
- Being prepared
- Get organized
- Knowing your responsibilities as a customer
- Understanding the moving company limits of liability
Without this, moving day may be slowed down drastically, which could increase stress and cost you more money. Don’t worry….if it’s too overwhelming, we can do all of the packing, moving and even unpacking at your new home. The following helpful tips may assist you in the moving process and allow for a worry-free move. Being prepared for your move starts long before Moving Day.
1 Week Before Moving Day
- Cancel utilities and delivery services at old home. Sometimes, people get so involved with the to-do list for moving to the new home that
they forget about cancelling old services, which would cost more. - Check your homeowners or renters insurance policy to ensure proper coverage during the move.
- Change your address with the post office, secretary of state, employer, banks, pharmacy, insurance companies, credit card companies,
auto leasing and finance companies, cell phone carrier, etc. - Defrost freezer and refrigerator. Place deodorizer inside to control odors. Make sure it is dry and clean to prevent any leaks or spoilage during the moving process.
- Purge – Go through closets and get rid of old unwanted clothing, shoes and handbags. This is a good opportunity for cleaning and organizing as you’re prepping for the move.
- Clean out pantry and kitchen cupboards. Get rid of expired items.
- Arrange for appliance disconnect and reconnect at both locations.
- Label all your boxes clearly with the room that it should be placed in at the new home.
- Before disconnecting electronics, label each cord (input in, video out, etc.) so you will know how to reconnect them.
- Make a back-up cd for your computer files.
- Clean out your garage and consider having a garage sale.
- Enroll children in their new school
- Ask the moving company about your responsibilities on moving day.
- If possible, scope out your new neighborhood. Drive around to familiarize yourself with the places that you will frequent, such as: grocery store, bank, post office, gas station, pharmacy, pizza place, shopping center, etc.
- Plan where you would like your items to go in the new home to lessen confusion and decision making on moving day. If possible, measure furniture, rooms, areas, etc. ahead of time and map out their new locations.
Purge Your Belongings
Don’t move unwanted items. Purge them!
Moving is a perfect time to purge your things that you have accumulated throughout the years. When you have lived in a home for so long, you tend to collect items that are old, worn out, out of style, duplicates or no longer useful. Take all of your household goods, clothing, etc. and put them with like items to help you visually decide on the things you would like to keep and the items you would like to donate. With each item, ask yourself:
- Does it have a purpose?
- Will I use the item again?
- Does this item make me happy?
- When is the last time I used or wore this item?
Organizing and purging before your move will help to create a smooth transition to your new home. This is also a cost saving plan so you don’t have to spend extra money when you hire a moving company to move items that you don’t need or want. Our moving company will happily move all of your items for you, but it only makes sense to pay to move the things you want. If you don’t have the muscle or means to physically remove the old or unwanted items, we could drop it off at a donation center of your choice on moving day. There are donation centers in Macomb, MI that could pick-up your items prior to moving day. They do have some stipulations, so you will have to specific in the details when you speak with them.
Open First Box
Create a box…or 2 to open first on moving night.
So the movers did their work. Everything is moved into your new home and everything is in place. It’s been a long day and everyone is exhausted. Typically, unpacking the moving boxes will start the next day. A great way to prepare for moving night is to pack a couple of boxes that have all the things you will need immediately. Clearly label the boxes Open First or Moving Night and have the movers place them in a convenient area for you. The last thing you want to do after your move is dig through so many boxes trying to find the necessities to get you by until you’ve unpacked everything. You want to eat, sleep comfortably and be ready for work in the morning.
Here's a Checklist to Get Started
Personal Hygiene
- Toilet paper and tissue
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body soap and face wash
- Lotion
- Make-up
- Deodorant
- Towels and washcloths
- Linens and pillows
Kitchen
- Paper plates and napkins
- Cups
- Plastic cutlery
- Salt and pepper
- Small saucepan
- Bottled water and other drinks
- Favorite snacks
Cleaning
- Sponge and scrub brush
- Paper towel
- Gloves
- Disinfectant or surface cleaners
Maintenance
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Light bulbs
- Flashlights
- Nails and screws
- Trash bags
Community List
Research the community of your new home prior to moving day and create a list of local places you may need to contact.
- Pharmacy
- Grocery store
- Coffee shop
- Food delivery and carryout
- City offices
- Police and Fire departments
- Recycling center
- Postal Office – UPS
- Gas station
Personal Hygiene
- Toilet paper and tissue
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body soap and face wash
- Lotion
- Make-up
- Deodorant
- Towels and washcloths
- Linens and pillows
Kitchen
- Paper plates and napkins
- Cups
- Plastic cutlery
- Salt and pepper
- Small saucepan
- Bottled water and other drinks
- Favorite snacks
Cleaning
- Sponge and scrub brush
- Paper towel
- Gloves
- Disinfectant or surface cleaners
Maintenance
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Light bulbs
- Flashlights
- Nails and screws
- Trash bags
Community List
Research the community of your new home prior to moving day and create a list of local places you may need to contact.
- Pharmacy
- Grocery store
- Coffee shop
- Food delivery and carryout
- City offices
- Police and Fire departments
- Recycling center
- Postal Office – UPS
- Gas station
The Day Before Moving Day
- Remove linens from beds and place mattresses in a protective bag or box(unless you plan to have movers handle it).
- Arrange for a designated parking spot for the movers at both locations. Let neighbors know you will be moving and to keep that spot oven for the truck.
- Take down all window coverings that will be going to your new home.
- Make sure the driveways and walkways at both locations are clear of snow, ice, debris, toys, plants, statues and other obstacles.
- Have all dressers and tables cleared and ready to be moved.
- Remove all non-clothing items from drawers.
- Confirm the truck arrival time with the moving company. Many will give a 2-hour window frame for arrival. Be sure to have an authorized adult there to greet the movers.
- Reserve elevator at both locations, if needed. Some places may have time restraint for elevator use.
- If moving to a storage facility, make sure you have all access information (hours of access, code number, combination, keys, etc.) and emergency telephone numbers.
- Make sure all of your boxes are packed properly, sealed and ready to be moved (unless you are having the movers do the packing).
- Consider having drinks on hand for the movers and even a snack or pizza. This will keep them working longer without interruptions to go to the store.
- Be sure to arrange to transport all restricted items: Hazardous, flammable, explosive, perishables, etc. Call us if you have any questions about these items.
- For safety and efficiency, arrange for a babysitter or pet sitter. This will keep little feet (and paws) out from under the movers preventing accidents.
- Decide how many wardrobe boxes you would like to rent, if needed.
- Make a list of any questions or concerns you may have for the movers.
Review the Do Not Pack List prior to moving day and be ready to transport items not allowed for transportation.
Moving Day
- Be present for the entire move. If you must leave, designate another adult to act in your absence to guide movers or answer questions.
- Inform movers of any high risk situations, such as: loose step, weak flooring, unstable or very delicate piece of furniture,etc.
- Make sure the driver has good contact telephone numbers in case they get lost or their is a delay.
- Do a final walk through at the old home. Be sure all items are on the truck before the movers leave. Check closets, drawers, shelves, attic, garage, yard, etc.
- At the new home, direct the movers to where you would like the items to be placed. Have an idea before the move. While the movers are holding a couch in the air is not a good time to decide. Sometimes, even a lot of planning does not matter until you see the item in the new home. If you don’t like where you told them to set it down, you can always ask them to move it to a different location.
- Do a final walk through at the new home before the movers total the bill. Be sure you are satisfied with the placement of furniture and that all items are reassembled, if needed.
- Personally transport all hardware for items disassembled and give them to the movers if you choose to have reassemble the item.
- Return any rented wardrobe boxes at the end of the move.
- Be prepared with accepted method of payment.
- If you have any concerns during the move that you feel are not being properly addressed by the movers, call the office.
- Communicate any issues of moving time with the office right away (not at the end of the move).
Moving With Children
The moving process can be just as stressful on children as it is for the parents. They will have to take in many new things introduced to them at once. New home, new bedroom, new backyard, losing old friends and finding new friends, new school…and the list goes on! There are ways you can minimize the stress overload that can accompany a child during the transition. Preparing the child, get them used to the idea and include them in the moving process can make a huge difference in how they handle the move. On the weekend, bring them to their new school to the playground and let them socialize with other kids from the new neighborhood. There are some other tips for having a successful move with kids from Parents.com.
Moving With Pets
Too often, we get so wrapped up in the tasks involved with moving that we tend to forget about our other family members. Our pets should be introduced gradually to their new environment. An abrupt move can cause the animal to feel anxious and behavior problems may develop. Some ways you can ease the transition for your pets are:
- A week before your move, bring the pets to explore your new neighborhood. Daily walks around your new block is a good idea. If possible, introduce yourself and your pets to your new neighbors.
- With a truck and moving crew in and out of the home, moving day can be hectic and scary for pets. For the safety of the pets and the moving crew, it is best to have a family member or friend take them for the day.
- Be sure to pack their favorite toys in the open first box.
- If you want to buy a new bed, cage, etc. for your pet, wait until they have become more familiar and comfortable with the new home.
Check out some additional tips on moving with pets at:
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