We’ve teamed up with our friends at Great Guys Moving to bring you a list of the 7 most critical tips for a successful move. Starting in the Atlanta area, Great Guys has expanded to include multiple locations nationwide that cater to both local and long distance moving needs across the country. In the thousands of moving jobs they’ve completed, Great Guys has learned what it takes for a great moving experience. Here are the tops things these moving professionals have taught us:
1. Declutter BEFORE Your Move
“One of the biggest things I’ve noticed in my 5 years of moving is how unorganized people are about the moving process,” notes Brian of Great Guys Atlanta. “Often, when we show up, people are still haphazardly trying to clean out closets and throw stuff into whatever boxes haven’t yet reached capacity. It would be so much more effective to take an organized approach to moving. Use it as a time to get rid of unnecessary clutter that’s clogging up your closets and drawers instead of trying to move everything.” Brian makes a great observation. It’s so easy to let your move get the best of you and just start tossing things in boxes. Use moving as an opportunity to get rid of stuff like all those sweaters you haven’t worn since college or those ugly dishes collecting dust. Moving less means you’ll have less to organize when you get to your new home!
2. Keep Kids and Pets Out of the Way
As cute and cuddly as kids and pets are, they aren’t of much help when it comes to moving day. Great Guys mover Patrick comments “I can’t tell you how many times we have to dodge kids and pets when trying to move bulky furniture. It can be a safety hazard to both the movers and the family we are moving. Last year I had a guy throw out his back because he tripped trying to avoid stepping on a client’s terrier.” On moving day, take your pups to doggy daycare and get relative or close friend to watch the kids (at their house). This way, the movers can get their job done quickly, and you can be completely focused on the job at hand.
3. Label Your Boxes
In speaking with the guys, many of them were shocked at how many people forget to clearly label their moving boxes. The average 3-bedroom house move requires nearly 100 boxes. You can imagine how confusing it can be if you get to your new house and the boxes aren’t labeled clearly. You could be opening box after box in search of something you’re looking for. Some creative packers recommend labeling both the top and one side of the box using different colors of duck tape depending on which room it goes to. This makes it easy to put boxes in the correct room in your new home. Additionally, take the time to label exactly what’s in the boxes. Does that box of kitchen stuff contain dishes? or is that the one with pots and pans?
4. Think Through the Lay Out Ahead of Time
Take time to figure out where you want your belongings in the new house. It’s a lot easier to arrange furniture when you have professionals doing the heavy lifting. Bed placement is especially critical. “We always offer to help clients reassemble their beds. We take apart and put together hundreds of beds a year, so we’ve really got it down. If you know where you want all of the beds to go when we get to your new house, it makes it a faster process for us and will save you the time and headache of having to reassemble the beds yourself.”
5. Pack an Essentials Box
You’ll likely be completely exhausted by the time the moving truck finishes unloading and rolls away. That first night in your new home will likely be utter chaos as you examine the sea of moving boxes and try to figure out where everything is. For your first night pack a box or two of essential items that will get you through until you have a chance to really unpack and organize everything. Here are some recommendations:
- Toilet paper: Everybody’s got to go at some point and nothing’s worse than not having a square when you need it most!
- Paper towels: So multi-functional – paper towels can be used for napkins, disposable plates, wiping down surfaces and so much more. Having a roll will definitely come in handy.
- Linens: After an tiring day of moving, nothing is more relaxing than taking a hot shower and slipping into freshly laundered sheets. Make sure to pack clean linens for all your beds, as well as fresh towels, soap and shampoo in an easily accessible box. Get a relaxing night of sleep and wake up ready to conquer all of those boxes.
- Disposable cups and plates: Instead of trying to get all your dishes unpacked, have some disposables on hand to make those first few meal times easier. Whether it’s pizza delivery or Chinese take-out, you’ll be glad you have something to eat on.
- Trash bags: You’ll undoubtedly accumulate trash when you move, so be prepared with some jumbo sized trash bags.
- Toiletries: In addition to shampoo and soap, make other essentials like medicine, contacts, glasses, etc. easy to find.
6. Don’t Forget the Utilities
Be sure you set up utilities at the new house, and don’t disconnect at the old house too early. Sean of Great Guys Wilmington laughs, “I’ve shown up on a couple of jobs where the customer had the power turned off a day too early or forgot to connect utilities at the new place. Trying to move things in a dimly lit area even with all the blinds open definitely made our job trickier”.
7. Schedule a Cleaning Service
Most real estate contracts and lease agreements make you responsible for cleaning your old house or apartment. Do yourself a favor and hire a professional cleaning service to come after the movers have carried off your belongings to your new home. You’ll want to be focused on getting your new home in order rather than trying to clean up a mess at your old place.
We hope these helpful recommendations from our friends at Great Guys help make your upcoming move a lot smoother.
