Whether you are moving around the corner or across the country, the process of packing up all of your belongings and moving them to a new location is stressful, no matter what time of year. Tackling a major move in the New Year adds a heightened sense of anxiety and logistical considerations.
The key to any move is organization and planning. Surprises and unforeseen circumstances will be much easier to handle and work through if the rest of the move is carefully thought out and planned. The need for organization is even more critical when planning a move in the New Year when the majority of the preparation will take place in the middle of the hectic holiday season.
The following tips for moving in the New Year will help keep stress levels at bay and ensure all of your belongings are moved safely and efficiently.
Make a List, Check it Twice, Stick to It
The list you make for any move is continually changing and adapting to the process. Keeping an updated and comprehensive list of all you need to get done leading up to the move, on moving day, and after the move is completed is crucial.
Some of the more essential items and aspects to create lists for include:
- Budget: What you have to spend and what you need to spend it on
- Pre-move Preparations: All of the things required to prepare for your move
- To-Do List: Keep track of everything needed to be packed, jotting down anything missing
- Keep Track: Write down everything that has been done, and all still left to do
Downsize Your Belongings
One way to cut down on moving expenses is to move less of your personal belongings. A garage or yard sale can put a few extra dollars in your pockets and decrease the number of items you will have to move when the day comes. There are also organizations that accept furniture donations that can be written off at tax time.
Set Goals and Deadlines
Goals that are never set will never be achieved. This philosophy holds true in all aspects of life and is especially important when planning a move during the hectic time during the holidays over the New Year. Setting goals and putting hard deadlines on them will help keep your move on track. Goals and deadlines can be somewhat flexible depending on your specific circumstance but try to follow your self-imposed timeline as closely as possible. It will enable you to keep focused and alert you to anything you may have forgotten along the way.
Label Everything
Color-coded labels will help to keep everything organized with the ability to know precisely where boxes belong at first glance. This will come in handy at both ends of the move, enabling a quicker and more organized packing and unpacking process. Set aside a special box with its unique color to be used for essential items needed in the first hours and days after the move. This will avoid searching through unpacked boxes for the things you need right away, such as toiletries, cosmetics, and other daily use products.
Pack Heavier Items in Smaller Boxes
Overweight boxes will put a strain on your movers and create the potential for damage to your belongings. Heavier items like books need to be placed in several smaller boxes instead of one big box that won’t be easy to move and transport. A general rule of thumb to keep in mind is the heavier the cargo, the smaller the boxes that should be used for packing and moving.
Keep Clothes on Hangers
It is tempting to think that folding up all of your clothes will be a space and time saver, but that is counterintuitive thinking. Wrapping trash bags over a grouping of clothes on their hangers create manageable packing segments for clothes. They can be laid flat and stacked for the move, then hung up in the new closets, saving time and keeping the clothes together without needing to fold and pack them.
Organize Electronics, Cables, Components
Electronics are such a big part of our lives in the digital age. Audio-video and components should be packed in their original boxes with the original packing, if possible. This will help maintain the same security and safety they had when first shipped. Before taking apart the wiring and cabling, label both inputs and outputs to make it easier to put it all back together. Taking photos before taking electronic configurations provides a guide to setting it up the same way at the new residence. Bagging, labeling, and taping screws and other hardware to boxes or equipment will prevent the need to search for them when it comes time to set it back up.
Pack Important Cargo Separately
Valuable and irreplaceable items such as documents, money, jewelry, family heirlooms, and other precious belongings should not be packed in the moving truck with the other cargo. These items should be packed separately and moved personally to secure their safety and security.
Prepare for the Weather
Moving around the New Year means you are moving in the middle of the winter with unpredictable weather patterns that bring extreme temperatures, snow, rain, and ice. Make sure you and your belongings are ready for any weather. Have all sidewalks and driveways at both the old and new locations adequately shoveled and salted for unobstructed pathways. Dress warmly in layers, and have extra blankets, gloves, hats, and sheets on hand.
Protect Flooring
Water, snow, and ice can do significant damage to the flooring of both your old and new residences. Protective flooring sheets will guard against the damage that water, dirt, and salt can inflict on all kinds and materials used for flooring.
Best Movers Dedicated to Smooth, Stress-Free Moves
At Best Movers, a dedicated staff of professional movers will work with you to help get you organized and prepared for a smooth, stress-free move. Contact Best Movers today for more moving tips and for complete information on our wide range of moving services offered at the most affordable rates in the industry.