The Best Tips And Strategies For an Easy Residential Move

The average American moves five times in their lifetime, according to a report by CBS News. Each move brings with it a significant amount of stress. There are many tips and tricks that help make this process easier, and a few of these tips are shared below.

Movers or DIY?

The first decision a person must make when getting ready to move is whether they will do the work themselves or hire movers. Most people find it best to hire movers because they have countless other tasks they need to complete related to the move. They must switch utilities, update their address, request school records if they have children and more. By working with a professional moving company, they can take one thing off their plate and focus on completing the other tasks. Research movers a minimum of two months prior to the move date and hire them at least six weeks before this date, as good companies book up quickly.

Create a Checklist

Once the movers have been selected, create a detailed checklist of other tasks that need to be done. This list should include everything from sorting through items and purging those that won't make the move to verifying the movers when they arrive and signing off on the inventory list. Many people choose to check out several lists and combine them to make one list. Doing so ensures they don't overlook anything and find the move is delayed or they have left valuable items behind in a safe-deposit box.

Create an Inventory List Detailing the Contents of Each Box

A person wants to ensure all items arrive at the destination. It's easy to overlook things during a move and not realize something is missing until weeks or months after the move. The person might then find they have a hard time when seeking reimbursement from the moving company. An easy way to avoid this is to create an inventory list for each box. However, a person might hesitate to do this because they wonder where the lists will be kept. This list may be taped to the outside of the box. For added security, put a QR code on each box and link the code to the inventory list. If one or more lists disappear during the move, the owner can simply scan the code and pull up the corresponding list online.

Set Aside the Essentials

Before packing all of the boxes, determine which items will be needed during the move and the first few days after the move is complete. Set these in a separate location to be packed. These items should be carried in personal vehicles, if possible. If this cannot be done, have the boxes clearly labeled, so they can be easily found when the move is complete and before all boxes are unpacked and furnishings are put in the desired locations. A moving truck may be delayed for several reasons. This one step can significantly reduce the stress associated with a move, as the family knows they have what they need until the truck arrives.

Don't hesitate to ask for help. Friends and family will often jump in to make this process easier. A person might also hire movers who will do the packing for them. There are many options available today, and all should be considered. The more a person knows, the easier it will be to make decisions that simplify this process and make the move more enjoyable in every way.