May 17 | Posted by Barry

Well, it's May, one of the most active months of the year for buyers, sellers and movers. In lieu of this, it's a great time for you to read some moving advice, whether you are going to move this month, next month, or further down the road. These are tips I've gathered over the years as a third party to the move, and they will definitely help you through this arduous process.

Like most other things, it all boils down to adept planning and organizing. It's not likely to be a spur of the moment decision, so ideally, you should start the process six to eight weeks prior to the scheduled move date. Treat it like a long-term project; complete with to-do lists, receipts, itineraries and moving expenses all stored in one folder. Finishing tasks early on will make sure the move proceeds as smoothly as possible, and this will give you time to reassess in case you missed something in particular.

The first step is to go through your entire house and decide what furniture (or otherwise bulky items) you will take to the new house and what will be left behind. It’s best to work in tandem with floor plans of your new dwelling, especially if you are downsizing. Your old belongings may not fit or match well with the new space, so this initial step is critical.

Once you’ve made these choices, decide how you are going to dispose of the unwanted items. Don’t be discourteous by leaving a heap of furniture by the side of the road or in the house. Ask your friends and family if they would want a piece or two. Consider donating items to charity, hosting a garage sale or placing ads on Craig’s List. These transfers can take weeks to fully close, so don’t start asking one or two weeks prior to the move.

The next big step, which you can complete alongside the first, is to coordinate the actual arrangements. Expect a lot of phone calls! Book a moving company with a proven track record. Inform your friends, family and neighbors about the change in address. Contact your insurance company, your medical practitioners, the bank, the utility company, the cable provider and the post office as well as any local government agencies and any subscriptions you wish to have transferred or canceled.

As well, make the necessary travel arrangements for you and your family; that is, car rentals, flights, hotels and anything needed to accommodate pets if you have. This depends of course on how far away the new house is, particularly if you are changing cities. If you are planning on using your own car, have it serviced just in case.

The third step is the nuts and bolts of the whole operation – the packing. Start by deciding what items you will pack yourself and what you will leave for the movers. Don’t be brave and put your back at risk with the larger items. Movers are trained to handle sizeable objects and they work in teams. The key here is to not leave it to the last minute, so that you aren’t groggy come moving day.

What works best is to gather up all your suitable packing supplies, including luggage, duffel bags, bankers’ boxes and wardrobe boxes. Pack away whatever you won’t be using in the short-term, such as books, winter clothes, decorative furnishings or extra electronics. While doing this, decide if there are any smaller items you can do without. The more weight you add to the truck, the longer the move and the greater the shipping costs.

Store items by type – that is, books with books, clothes with clothes, electronics with their remotes and wiring – then by room. What really adds efficiency at this point is color coding. First, label each box according to what’s inside, with additional instructions like ‘Fragile’ or ‘Load Last’ to inform the movers. Next, place colored stickers (a different shade for each room) so the movers know where to put the boxes upon arrival. Lastly, prepare a box of supplies that you will need for assembly at your new home, and arrange for it to be one of the first boxes unloaded. Items in this kit should include tools, cleaning supplies, trash bags, bathroom items and perhaps some light snacks.

If all has been done correctly, you should be looking at a somewhat vacant house for a few weeks prior to the big day. There are always going to be items that you will need right up to the move, so be sure to leave about a dozen boxes for last minute packing and stuff you will need while in transit. This interim will afford you some breathing room to clear your basement, closets and attic as well as do a preliminary setup at the new house.

Be sure to should leave enough room to transport valuables or personal articles with you rather than with the movers. These include jewelry, photo albums, passports, stock certificates, wills, medical records and disposable cash for while in transit or to pay the movers. One of your most important items is likely to be your computer. Back it up prior to disassembly and keep it with you at all times.

All this prep work will pay off when the moving day finally arrives. At this time, your job is to act as a director, guiding the movers through which items to pack first and which to leave for you to transport. It’s good practice to do a running inventory check, examining room by room to see if you’ve missed anything and to ensure your furniture is kept in good condition. When you’ve completed the final tour, lock all windows and doors, turn off any switches and see to it that appliances have been disconnected. Make sure everything is in order before signing for the packing services. With proper planning, the big day should be relatively stress-free.

Now for some additional tidbits I’ve come across. First, be careful when transporting liquids. Only bring with you ones that are non-toxic and non-flammable, taping then sealing them in plastic bags. Also, if you are bringing machinery that runs on gas, drain the tank prior to shipment. Another critical note has to do with the utilities for your new home. People always remember to tell the power company to disconnect their services at the old house, yet fail to confirm that the utilities are up and running upon arrival at the new house. Best not let this happen! A preliminary setup at the new place will prevent these headaches.

Moving, when taken as a whole, is quite nerve-racking, and yet it doesn’t have to be. The more time you leave for planning and organization, the more seamless the process becomes. And you might even have some fun, too! Hope these tips have helped.