Moving Day – Make It Stress-Free (Or Almost)

Most of us have been there. We’ve purchased our new home, attended the closing, written checks, signed documents, gotten the keys to our new doors and now we’re faced with the daunting task of boxing up and moving all our worldly belongings.

Whether the move is across town from Tampa to St. Petersburg, or across the country, moving is stressful. Here are some tips to help make your next move as stress-free as possible.

1. Pack with a purpose. Keep in mind where you want certain items to go, pack accordingly and label the boxes clearly to help your movers, assuming you’re not moving everything yourself. Once everything is unloaded at your new address and in the correct rooms, unpacking will be a lot easier. Be sure to get rid of anything that might get in the way during the loading process.
2. Supervise. Plan to be in your old house while the movers are doing their thing, and make sure they know the destination of each box. If there are any questions, you’re the best person to clear up any confusion.
3. Prepare yourself. Like we said, moving is stressful. Take care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep the night before. Eat a nutritious breakfast. Drink plenty of water. Wear comfy clothes that can get dirty. Take breaks, if possible. And be sure to pack a bag for yourself with clothes for a couple of days in case of delays, or if you simply can’t find your clothes in the mass of boxes.
4. Double check. Once your movers have everything packed away in their truck, take the time to go through every nook and cranny to make sure you haven’t left anything behind. Don’t forget the attic!
5. Clean. Once everything is out of the old house, do your final cleaning. Better yet, hire a crew to handle it for you, but be sure to do a final walk through before making payment.
6. No pets or children allowed. No matter how much you love them, they’ll just get in the way. Send them to their grandparents for a few days or hire a sitter for moving day. Your focus needs to be the move, not Mary of Fido.
7. Beat the movers. Get there before them. No matter how well you’ve labeled all your boxes, your movers’ first priority is to get you unloaded as quickly as possible. Be clear about where things go, and make sure your movers follow your instructions. Most movers expect to be paid upon completion. It’s up to you to determine when they’re done, not them.
8. Relax and raise a toast. Once everything is moved into your new home, find a couch, drop in, look around at your new digs, raise a toast and smile.