Okay, so you have a big move coming up. You’re planning on getting a large truck, asked some friends to help you move, and you know that moving day is going to start bright and early early and end very late. You’re planning to be on schedule, and you’re going to do everything in your power to make sure that it stays that way. There are some things, however, that happen during a move that some people are simply just not prepared for, and it can throw a wrench into your perfect plan. Here are some great tips to make sure that you capitalize on every second that you have during moving day and make sure that you finish out strong:
Get the Truck the Night before Moving Day
Yes, it oftentimes costs a bit more because you’re purchasing the truck for a longer period of time, but there are a few reasons for this. First, if you are moving on a Saturday, everyone and their mother are going to be in line to pick up their truck on Saturday morning. By the time you wait in line, go through all the paperwork, evaluate the truck, gas it up (not all trucks are fully gassed up when you pick them up) and drive it to your house to load, you’ve spent an hour and a half of your day. By picking up the truck the night before, you can make sure that you can get started as early as possible as well as respect the time of your helpers.
Have a Cooler Filled With Ice and Drinks
Taking care of the people who are moving the heavy furniture and boxes in and out of the truck is essential to securing them for your next move. You may find that most of these tips are surrounded around this. There is a key reason: to keep them moving. Hydrating your help and keeping their bodies cool will keep them moving furniture. If your help gets tired, then the moving schedule will get behind and you’ll be working later that night once they go home. It is also important because your new refrigerator and freezer may not be cooled down yet. Being prepared in this area ensures cold drinks, hydrated workers and ice in case of emergency.
Have a Plan for Lunch and Dinner
Too many people blow a ton of money on last-minute decisions when they are starving on moving day. It is important that you have at least a plan for lunch and dinner, but the plan only begins with a plan. Always be prepared to feed your help, and it is important that you feed them well! It is also important to feed them good food, not just any food. If your help feels taken care of, they will take care of you. Provide fresh fruits and vegetables with a meal base full of good carbohydrates and proteins. If the move goes smoothly, you may not have to take care of dinner, but it is still important to be prepared. It may be a good idea to prepare any food that can be the night before the move as well. That way you can focus on the “moving” aspect of moving and not digging through boxes to find your knives.
Get Your Bathrooms Ready
The first thing that you should do when you arrive to your new home to start unloading the truck is to get the bathrooms ready. Believe it or not, this is something most people forget about on moving day. Simply put some soap, two rolls of toilet paper, a hand towel and potpourri for each of your new bathrooms. Many homes don’t come supplied with toilet paper, and you don’t want your workers not washing their hands and then touching your valuables!
Make Sure That Your Boxes Have a Destination and Are Clearly Labeled
This seems to be common sense to some people, but to others, not so much. By simply specifying which room each box goes to with a marker, you are shaving off tons of time. If you don’t do this, someone will have to play “conductor” – the person who stands to the side directing each person carrying a box where to put it. Avoid the necessity for a conductor so they can use their time more effectively by unloading boxes or unloading the truck. Use different colors if you need to, and depending on how many people there are and the sideze of the house, make a map for people to know which “bedroom 3” is bedroom 3.
Set Aside This List of Essentials When Packing
The list below comprises of things you should definitely make sure to have on hand the day that you move. Be sure to set these things aside because, without fail, you will probably be on a treasure hunt for these items if they are needed:
-Trash Bags
-Band-Aids
-Aspirin
-Paper Towels
-A General Cleaning Solution
-An Overnight Bag (Change of Clothes, General Toiletries, Towel, Change of Sheets and Pillow)
-Tool Kit
-Important Papers (Records, Birth Certificates, Checkbooks, Passports, School Records)
Arrange for Child Care
A lot of people forget this aspect and learn the hard way on moving day. If you have young children that cannot help and are going to get in the way, it is critical to find a babysitter for the day. Having children around can cause a lot of problems. First, people are moving large items around the house, and a child could seriously get hurt if in the way when they are not being watched. Secondly, nobody has to worry about them and they can focus on what really needs to be done. Finally, it is very healthy for a child to walk into their new room with it already assembled and put together. This gives them the security they may be looking for when moving to a new home as well.
Have a Plan for Your Pets
Don’t forget to have a plan for your pets as well! If you choose to keep your pets with you, plan to have an area for them that they cannot get out where there isn’t a lot of activity. For some pets, the location change can be a bit of a shock, so it is important to make sure that they have a comfortable place that they can handle. Be sure to put aside the right amount of food to get through the moving period.
Egor Ivkin is a blogger, large-scale web applications developer and real estate buff focusing on Hot Springs homes for sale. When not working online, you can find him educating himself on a wide-variety of subjects or kayaking.