Juggling a seemingly never-ending list of moving tasks is exasperating. If you’re a parent with a full-time job and kids (fur kids inclusive), adding these taxing tasks on top of your already stressful daily routine can be enervating. However, with the right organizational know-how and mindset, it can be done with minimal stress. We’ve included below a list of handy tips for moving that are sure to help with your moving needs.
Create a moving folder/file
Creating and maintaining a master moving folder is a great strategy to help you stay organized throughout a relocation process, from start to the end. The moving folder makes it easy for you to keep track of all receipts, moving contracts, moving checklist, list of movers, contractor bids, house design/décor ideas, school records, financial documents and more all in one easy find place.
Print customized checklists
Moving to a new home often involves a myriad of moving parts. From dealing with the packing to moving company logistics to handling the children’s school transfer, there are numerous details to keep track of during a busy move. The solution is to have a customized checklist. There are many samples of moving checklists that one can find on the internet to help you stay organized without missing on any important steps.
Start early
Packing always takes longer than you expect, especially if you have a large family. Packing a little each day is much less stressful than trying to do it at the eleventh hour. The sooner you begin the packing process the more time you’ll have to attend to other important things.
Declutter your home
Before you start packing, it is a great idea to go through all your things and purge all unwanted items. If you haven’t used something for six months or longer, chances are you don’t need them anymore and these items can be donated to charity or sold at used items websites.
Label / code all boxes
Use a thick permanent marker pen to label all the boxes with details such as which room the box should go to and description of what’s inside. Put these labels on the top and side of the box so you know what’s inside when they’re stacked. You may want to pack room by room and label the boxes by the room. For example: Andy’s Room, Amy’s Room, Master Bedroom, Kitchen, etc. When you arrive at your new place, you can ask the movers to move the boxes to the respective rooms. You can also create your own color-coded system with multi-colored tape. For example, assign all boxes marked with green tape to the kitchen, all boxes marked with red tape to the master bedroom, etc.
Research moving companies
If you have many huge items and belongings to move, engaging the services of professional movers will give you a peace of mind. If you do not have the time to pack, you can even request your movers to assist you with everything from packing to unpacking and re-assembling.
Whether you require a local mover, an interstate or long distance moving company, you can compare moving companies at Shiply, a platform with hundreds of thousands of registered shipping and moving companies. The Shiply website has a ratings system that gives you the benefit of reading the reviews and feedback from previous customers. You will be able to receive instant quotes that are often up to 75% cheaper than usual rates.
Best of luck and happy moving!