The average American home contains more than several thousand items. When you face a move, having that much stuff can be intimidating. Most people will make some effort to declutter before their moving date. Sifting, sorting, and getting rid of belongings can be challenging. But you can take notes from those who practice a minimalist lifestyle that may help.

1. Acknowledge Certain Items Have an Emotional Draw But No Value

Take a discerning look at the items in your home as you begin to organize your packing. Consider how many things you keep because you use them and how many items you keep “just because.” For example, you may have items you save because they hold some emotional value. One primary rule in minimalism is to eliminate tangible items that genuinely don’t provide any value in your life.

For example, people tend to hang onto items that remind them of the past or comfort them because they belong to a loved one. This could be old toys, clothing no one ever wears, or even dishes. The key to letting go of items that bear emotional attachment is remembering that your emotions and memories are important, not necessarily the thing itself.

2. Divide and Conquer Large Collections First

Walk through your home and determine what you have the most of. People often amass collections of items for different reasons, and not every reason is enough to hang onto so many similar things. For example, you may have an extensive collection of coffee mugs because you enjoy drinking coffee. Yet, you only use a select few cups. Or, you may have a sizable collection of bath towels because you fear needing more for guests, but overnight guests rarely occur.

Work to pull out whatever collections you have in your home; separate them from everything else. Then, consider if your number of items serves a good enough purpose to take you to your next home.

3. Avoid Saving Items That You Feel Obligated to Keep

Humans are emotional beings, which means we can develop a sense of obligation to a person when they gift us an item. Somehow, we can feel as if we are insulting someone else if we get rid of something given to us. Small gifts you don’t use or create clutter in your life may not be worth hanging onto for the long term. If a gifted item does not serve a purpose, or you only keep it because you feel like you have to, it may be time to let it go.

4. Consider How Much Time Certain Items Require

The stuff in a home may seem like it is not utilizing your time, but many items do. The average person spends considerable time searching for things they have misplaced. Here are a few examples:

• When looking for something in your closet, you must move dozens of unused items
• When you vacuum, you shuffle around furniture pieces you never use
• Every time you prepare a meal, it takes you a long time to find the pots and pans you need because you have too many

You could spend the time you spend dealing with extraneous items on something productive. Getting rid of unneeded belongings can save you time.

Hire a Residential Moving Company to Help

Once you have decluttered, your move can be much less overwhelming. However, enlisting the help of professional movers can be a good step in the right direction. Contact us to schedule your upcoming moving day.

Planning for your move to a new home requires coordination. While you can set up a “to-do” list, things can go awry if you don’t complete specific tasks promptly. Therefore, it’s helpful to outline a moving timeline when writing your to-do checklist as you plan your move to ensure you don’t miss anything crucial.

90 Days Before Your Move

During the three months before you move, start purging your belongings. This way, you aren’t scrambling to sell, donate, recycle, throw out, or give away belongings during the days leading up to your move when everything else is hectic.

Next, turn an eye to your moving budget. As you make important decisions, figure out what funds you must work with for planning transportation, security, down payments, etc. Other checklist items to tick off include collecting packing supplies: boxes, tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, labels, and other supplies.

If you have children, start planning for them to transfer schools and ensure all required immunizations are up-to-date.

45 Days Before Your Move

Now, decide whether to hire a professional mover or tackle a DIY move. In some cases, a moving company might be comparable in costs, and you can significantly reduce your stress. When comparing options, weigh the costs, and remember to factor in the following for DIY moves.

• Time off work
• Lost wages
• Wear and tear on your car
• Costs of a moving truck
• Reliability of those you enlist to help

If you decide to go with a professional mover, research now. Get three estimates and choose one as soon as possible to book your preferred date at the best price.

Finally, take measurements of your new place to plan where things will go.

30 Days Before Your Move

At this time, finish collecting any moving supplies you don’t have and start packing. Begin with items you rarely use, pack things you don’t use frequently, and so on. Other tasks to do at this time include:

• Putting in a change of address form with the USPS
• Notifying utility companies about opening new accounts, closing ones you won’t need, or transferring services
• Contacting banks, credit unions, credit card companies, and other financial institutions to let them know you’re moving (including online accounts such as Venmo and PayPal)
• Informing delivery services, such as food boxes, pet supplies, magazines, and Amazon

Now’s the time to steadily continue packing for the next few weeks. Additionally, order new furniture since many big-ticket items take several weeks to order and deliver.

1 – 7 Days Before Your Move

During the final week before you move, finish packing, carefully label boxes, and, if you haven’t done so yet, make arrangements for your children and pets for moving day. Double-check that utilities will be turned off and on as scheduled. As moving day approaches, clean your old residence and, if you have access, clean vital areas of your new place.

Do a final walk-through with your landlord if you rent and return the keys. If you sell your home, hand over the keys at closing. Finally, pack your first-night containers into your personal vehicle and lock all windows and doors before you leave.

Moving Made Easy

Even with the best-laid plans, things might go astray. However, a moving checklist and timeline reduce the number of possible hiccups. Want a free quote? Contact us today!

Most people pack a first-night box (or several containers) to keep with them for their first night in a new home. These boxes can be a lifesaver. No late-night runs to the store; everything you need will be at your fingertips.

Some things are simple to overlook. Here is a list of 20 essential things you don’t want to forget to pack when making a household move.

For the Kitchen

1. Snacks. Either plan for non-perishable foods or put together a cooler.

2. Drinks. Pack refillable water bottles, cups, bottled drinks, and juice boxes.

3. Plates, utensils, and paper towels. You’ll need to eat at some point. Pack plates and utensils for each person or plan for disposables.

4. Dish detergent and a sponge. If it will take a few days to unpack, be sure you’ve got these two critical items.

For the Bathroom

5. Toilet paper. You almost certainly won’t have toilet paper in your new home. So, plan to bring one roll per bathroom.

6. Hand soap. Another essential item you won’t find ready for you upon arrival.

7. Shower curtain and curtain hooks. Moving is a lot of work; if anyone needs a shower, be prepared.

8. Bath mat. This way, no one slips after their shower.

9. Towels and hand towels. Pack enough to get you through a day or two.

10. Toothbrush and toothpaste. These are easy items to forget — make these a priority!

For the Bedroom

11. Sheet and blankets. Ensure each household member has sheets and a blanket for their beds. This way, you don’t have to hunt for them after you arrive since everyone wants a good night’s rest after a hard day’s work.

12. Pillows and pillowcases. These will aid in everyone getting a comfortable and good night’s sleep.

13. Pajamas. Pack sleepwear for each household member so no one has to sleep in the same clothes they wore during the move.

14. Special sleep items. If you have children who need a binky, blanket, or stuffed toy to sleep, make sure it’s in your first-night box. Other essential items might be a sound machine, a nightlight, or a nightguard.

Other Important Items

15. Devices. Everyone will probably have their phone on them, but if anyone needs a laptop or tablet to check into work or school, by bringing it with you, you’ll know exactly where these items are when needed.

16. Chargers. Pack the correct chargers for phones, tablets, or laptops.

17. Power strip. It’s not always easy to access outlets before unpacking, and having a power strip on hand ensures everyone can quickly charge their devices.

18. Streaming or DVD. Bring DVDs or your streaming sticks to access movies when you’re ready to rest for the day.

19. Tools. You’ll probably need to assemble, tighten, or do minor fixes. Pack a small toolbox with the basics.

20. Box cutter. This little device will make life a lot easier when unpacking.

Ready to Plan Your Next Move?

Moving means juggling lots of details, especially on moving day. It’s easy to overlook essential items, but having a checklist can help.

Hiring professional movers can also make life easier. To learn more about our moving services or to obtain a free quote, contact us today!

Organizing your household move involves significant planning, and it’s easy to make missteps. One way to make your move easier is to familiarize yourself with important terminology in your moving contract. Here are 10 top terms to know before signing.

1. Bill of Lading

Moving companies will draw up a contract between themselves and the customer. This document is known as a “bill of lading” and establishes the terms of the agreement. This document also grants permission to the mover to transport the customer’s belongings and serves as the customer’s receipt.

2. Virtual Survey

A virtual survey is an increasingly popular online tool that movers use. You use your smartphone or tablet to show the estimators the household belongings they need to move.  So, instead of coming to your home, the moving company can provide customers with an estimate online. It’s a fast and easy way to get your moving quote.

3. Binding Estimate

Drawn up by the moving company before moving day, this document itemizes the entire cost of the move and guarantees the customer a final flat-rate quote. A binding estimate obligates the moving company to honor the rate they quote, regardless of how long the relocation takes or if other events happen.

4. Non-Binding Estimate

Unlike a binding estimate, the non-binding estimate is what a mover quotes as a price they foresee but is not set in stone and is subject to change. The final price will adjust based on the items’ weight and other events on your moving day.

5. Advanced Charges

Sometimes a customer will want moving services, but a third party needs to complete this segment of a move. In this event, the moving company will pay the fees and add them to your Bill of Lading.

6. Assembly and Disassembly

This phrase defines the service of your movers taking apart your furniture, loading it onto the truck, and then putting it back together upon arrival at your new home.

7. Full-Service Moving

You can choose a variety of service levels when contracting with your mover. A full-service move is when you grant permission for the moving company to do everything from start to finish, including providing moving materials, packing, loading, transporting the household, unloading, unpacking, and doing clean-up from unpacking.

8. Delivery Window

The delivery window is the estimated timeframe your movers will bring your household goods to your new home. The distance of the move determines the delivery window. It’s a good idea to speak to your mover about how this will work is a good idea.

9. Door-to-Door Service

This contract stipulates how your possessions will be moved from your old home and directly delivered to your new one with no storage days involved.

10. Cash-On-Delivery

Also known as “C.O.D.,” this is when you agree to make your payment to the mover when they reach your new home to deliver your belongings.

Ready to Get Planning?

You should know these ten standard terms before moving, but there are many more. Contact us today, so we can provide a free quote if you are preparing for a move.

If you have a lot of packing to do for your residential move, it’s great when a friend or family member offers to help. But, of course, you want their help actually to assist.

Sometimes, people want to help, but they don’t know how. So it’s best if you can direct them.

With these tips, you can keep your household productive while packing.

1. Put Someone in Charge

If you have a small group working on packing, you need someone to be in charge. This person is responsible for delegating tasks, answering questions, and providing support.

The person in charge must be able to perform some work individually while guiding others. You might be the best candidate for the role, but another adult may need to manage it at times.

Ensure that the person in charge has an overall packing inventory and access to packing supplies.

2. Consider Limitations

Before you start assigning responsibilities to your helpers, consider their limitations. For example, some people may only be able to pack a box or two before taking a break. Others may not have the knowledge to pack delicate items.

Packing runs smoother when everybody knows what to do and can do it. So it’s better to give some people shorter or simpler tasks, even if it means that others must do more or more challenging work.

3. Designate Tasks

Once you know what everybody can do, you can start delegating tasks. If you’re the one in charge, try to avoid giving yourself the bulk of the responsibilities. When people are there to help, it’s wise to let them help.

Write down a general packing schedule for each session. Then, it will be easier for each person to look at the schedule and determine what they must do next.

4. Organize Packing System

Organizing your packing system is the best way to ensure you pack every box correctly. You need a setup that keeps your supplies in a single location that is easy to find every time.

Consider creating a packing station. A packing station might include a large table, one or two chairs, packing tape, and labeling supplies. You can designate one room as the packing room or move the packing station to each room as you pack.

When you finish packing for the day, ensure all the supplies and tools return to the same place. It will help you know when you need to buy more.

5. Stagger Packing Schedules

If you have a lot of people available to help, consider staggering the schedules. For example, most people don’t have five sets of labeling supplies or five tape dispensers, making it harder to have five people packing boxes simultaneously.

Try to schedule your help in a way that limits the number of people packing. If you have more than three, consider putting one person in charge of sealing boxes and another for labeling them. You’ll be able to keep the momentum that way.

Make Your Move

Getting help for moving can be an excellent way to stay on schedule. Request a quote today to learn more about how we can help you have a successful move.