Plan to Move Successfully

There’s no question that moving can be incredibly stressful. Especially for long distance movers, there is an incredible amount of planning and preparation that goes into a smooth moving experience. Before the pods even arrive and packing begins, there are a few measures you can take to ensure that the process is efficient and as simple as possible. Here, we’ll provide a few tips about getting organized, hiring movers, and planning for the big day.

Choosing a Moving Company

If you decide to hire professional movers, it’s critical that you do adequate research and hire a reputable team to help you load and unload the pods. These tips will help you sort out the good from the bad.

1. Ask for recommendations. Friends who have recently moved and local real estate agents might have some good tips about which companies are worth calling and which are better left alone.
2. Check qualifications. Only movers that are licensed, bonded, and insured should be considered at all.
4. Google it. The Better Business Bureau, Department of Transportation, and other websites will have reviews about moving companies that can help you determine who are and are not good choices.
5. Have a budget. Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean good. In a lot of cases, you’re getting what you pay for, so be wary of bids that seem significantly lower than the competition’s.
6. Invite them over. No moving company can really provide an estimate without looking at the things that need to be moved. Stay away from any company that offers an estimate over the phone, and have at least three companies come by the house for an estimate.

Getting Organized

Planning an organized and successful move begins long before the pods show up. These tips will help you make sure you’re ready for them when they do.

• Start early. It’s probable that you have significantly more stuff than you realize.
  Invariably, many movers feel that they didn’t leave enough time to get their things together. Most moving experts report that it takes a month to pack. A standard dormitory takes about four or five hours, so if you’re packing up a whole house, don’t plan on a half day being enough.
• Make room lists. One should list each room in your current home and the items that are in them. The other should list each room in your new home and the items that will go in them.
• Develop a schedule. Create a calendar and plan day by day which rooms will be completed. Then, hold yourself to it. Make sure you plan reasonable deadlines.
• Don’t be afraid to delegate. If you are moving with other family members, sit down with them to clearly divide up tasks. If everyone knows exactly what he or she is responsible for, everything is much more likely to get done.
• Keep track of your progress. Once a week, see where you are compared to your calendar. Don’t be afraid to adjust if you’re falling behind.

Once the details are planned out, packing should fall together fairly easily. Be smart, over plan, and don’t let the stress get the best of you.