Moving is always stressful, no matter what. It’s one of the top 10 most stressful things you can do in your lifetime. You’re packing up your home base and shifting nearly every aspect of your daily lives, from where you sleep to what kind of stove you use for cooking. It doesn’t matter how far away your new home is, there’s always going to be an element of unknown to a move.
However, there are ways to make moving less painful for you and whoever you’re moving with. Whether it involves doing some planning beforehand or utilizing movers to make the journey simpler, there are key ways to make your upcoming move pain free.
It is possible, but it takes some foresight. Here are the keys to having a pain-free move.
Quick note: This article pertains to those who want to move using movers or some sort of move assistance. To figure out what kind of move works best for you and your situation, check out our article that explores the topic more in depth.
Key #1: Make Sure Everything Is Packed Correctly
The first step you can take to ensure you have a pain-free move is to make certain that everything you’re moving is packed correctly. Just by monitoring how you’re packing up your things, you can avoid the headache and frustration of opening boxes of broken glass or trying to reassemble damaged furniture.
We have an in-depth guide all about packing on our blog, but in short:
- Don’t overfill your boxes
- Use boxes designed for moving so they withstand the move
- Always use packing materials to pad boxes
- Wrap furniture items in protective blankets or padding
- Protect corners of furniture with padding
Imagine with each box you pack that you’re going to take that box and shake it vigorously. Will the contents within that box remain intact, or could it use some more padding within so nothing gets damaged?
It may seem simple on the surface, but most damages that occur to items within boxes happens because the boxes weren’t properly packed. Be sure you’re packing boxes and furniture with durability in mind. Alternatively, you can hire movers to professionally pack items for you using top-of-the-line materials and boxes.
Key #2: Hire a Moving Company to Shoulder the Load
In the same vein as packing thoroughly, hiring a moving company immediately alleviates much of the stress of moving. By making a few calls and scheduling a meeting with an estimator, you can focus your attention on getting you and your housemates to the next location. The value of movers is that they do all the heavy lifting. After meeting with an estimator and drawing up a written estimate, you can schedule your move and put your attention elsewhere.
There are several different moving options you can go with for your upcoming move. Here are the main four:
- Full-service moving company: The movers send a truck and crew to your home to load up everything and drive it to your destination address. All the moving is done for you, and you can add on different services, like packing, to customize your move.
- Rental truck company: In this situation you rent a moving truck from a company without a crew. You load up everything yourself and some moving supplies, like a dolly, may be included.
- Portable storage container: If going with this option, a company will drop off a portable container at your origin location for you to load up over a period of up to about two weeks. Then, the company drives the container to your destination. There isn’t a crew and typically not much equipment is provided.
- Crew-only moving services: Some companies allow you to hire a crew for loading at your origin location. If interested, be sure you’re doing your research on the company so your crew is trained and reliable.
As always, we recommend going with a moving company with a trusted reputation for reliability and good customer service. Be sure to avoid the common signs of a moving scam and go with the choice best suited for you and your circumstances. A lot of it will probably come down to the mover’s availability and pricing options, but just keep in mind that cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better in the world of full-service moving.
Key #3: Keep Everybody in the Loop
A lot of the frustration and arguing that comes from moving boils down to communication. Though it can be difficult to continuously convey changes and updates to members of your family, it’ll have a positive impact on your move overall.
If you have any preferences for how you want the move to happen, be sure to discuss them beforehand. Everyone can chime in; you can use this as an opportunity to get everyone on the same page for the move. Come up with a game plan and ask everyone involved what they want to happen on move day. You can make this fun with snacks and some games. Overall, keeping in touch with not only your moving team but your household will ensure everyone is moving in sync on the big day.
Key #4: Plan So You’re Free the Entire Day of Your Move
An often-overlooked aspect of moving is just how all-consuming it is. No matter if you’re doing a DIY move or hiring professionals, you’re going to be busy the entire day of loading and unloading. And leading up to that, you’ll be living in a disassembled home surrounded by boxes and packed furniture items.
Try communicating with your job and freeing up your schedule for the loading and unloading portion of your move. At the least, you can make your job aware that you are in a period of transition and may need to answer a few phone calls. That way, you can focus your attention on having a smooth, productive move. If your moving crew has any questions, you can be there to answer them.
If you’re unable to free up your schedule for the entire day, try to loop in someone who can. This isn’t as applicable if you’re doing a portion of your move yourself, but having someone who can fully devote their attention to your move during the loading and unloading makes a huge difference on your move overall.
Now You’re Going to Have a Totally Pain-Free Move…Right?
Though these keys are essential to ensuring your move goes smoothly, there are a lot of factors that go into making a move. Things may get stressful, and you might have to take a few breaks just to sip on some water and breathe.
You’re going to be experiencing a vast amount of change in a short time. Always keep in mind that new opportunities await you at your new home. Even if parts of your move get painful, there’s always the moment to look forward to when you and your household cross that new threshold.
