7 Life Hacks for Moving Without a Headache

If on the eve of a move you had to at least once nervously recount the boxes and remember whether you had packed everything and then looked for the missing things, then you will agree that moving is a terrible thing. Life hacker put together tips that will help transport everything without loss. Today we will post recommendations from EsquireMoving company about planning your move:

1. Packing plan, durable packaging and kilometers of tape.
Begin packing on the road with the preparation of containers. More than half the success depends on how well you pack. The right packaging will help to cope with the task. The right one is durable and the right size. In general, the packaging is on boxes, a film with “little bumps”, a stretching thin film and kilometers of adhesive tape. But ordinary garbage bags are too thin and do not save from damage. Therefore, if you need a bag, take increased strength, for example, building. Continue preparing to move with a packing plan. Allocate a place or a separate room in which you will carry the folded things so that they do not interfere with collecting the rest. Boxes should not be too large, the weight of each box is not more than 30 kg, but it is better not to fold more than 20 kg into one. The question is not only about the convenience of the loaders, but also about the safety of things.

2. Formula for success: honest carrier + powerful movers.
No matter how you collect the boxes, too much will depend on the carrier. When choosing, always look at which cars the company offers. If an organization has one type of machine for all occasions, then you can’t count on speed and quality. To avoid possible misunderstandings, discuss all the details of the upcoming move, including the cost, with the same representative of the transport company. The more contacts, the more likely that somewhere something will go wrong. An obvious, it would seem, rule, but not all follow it. Ask what the movers can do: for example, can they assemble the furniture. Feel free to clarify the warranty and ask for the exact price. Otherwise, you risk agreeing on one amount, and after unloading you will encounter dissatisfied movers, who require you to add the same amount. A typical carrier search can take several days. If you do not want the price of moving to be sky-high, you will have to call several companies and make a comparison table. And it will take time to find true reviews about the carrier.

3. List of items and signature boxes.
To make it easier to move and not to lose anything, pack things from one room into boxes that are marked with the same color. This will facilitate the search for things in a new place. It is best to stick an inventory on each box indicating what exactly lies in it, and make the inventory itself on a sheet of colored paper. Attach the sheet, fully gluing the surface with tape. This is a laborious job, but it is worth the time spent. And if you assign a number to each box, then it’s much easier to calculate whether everything has been unloaded. We have prepared for you sticker templates for large and small boxes . Download them, print and attach to the boxes. Done, now you don’t have to turn everything upside down in search of any little things.

4. Most valuable ship last.
One box should contain the most valuable things and documents. She should be taken next to her, not to trust anyone. Another box should include a stock of essentials that will come in handy in a new place. If you drive late in the evening and plan to disassemble things only in the morning, then in the box there will be bed linen and toiletries. If you immediately start arranging the transported items, put the tools there. If you move long distances, prepare a box with an emergency reserve, in which there will be everything that will help to survive without other things, if the cargo is delayed for some reason. Take this box with you too.

5. Unloading and placement plan.
Many people forget about this point. And at the place of arrival, it turns out that there is nowhere to put the boxes, the refrigerator does not pass, and after unloading the furniture “pleases” the ragged corners. So, a few days before the move, prepare the room for the reception of things. Measure the height and width of all doorways. If they are too narrow or low for the load, you may have to call the craftsmen and temporarily remove the doors and jambs. In any case, wrap the doors with plastic wrap, otherwise scratches and chips are inevitable. Use the same tape and tape to protect the corners of the furniture. Try to clear all walk-through rooms and corridors from furniture so as not to interfere with unloading. Make a plan of what and where you will put it. If you mark boxes with different colors, mark these areas in a new apartment. And be sure to clean. Nothing should stand in the way of the loaders: in a broken vase, it is worth blaming the worker who did not stumble on a rag.

6. Departure at dawn and at the weekend.
It is tempting to transport all things in the morning and spend the day unpacking or plan to move for a while after work. But it is at these hours that the streets are loaded with vehicles - you can lose several hours in traffic jams. Therefore, order transportation at companies that agree to work in the early morning, before the start of the movement, or on the weekend.

7. Trade with the carrier, do not save on transport.
“A friend has a roomy car, and if you immerse something in yours, then you can definitely carry everything in seven to ten flights” - this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. First, do not try to transport bulky items and furniture on small cars. Even in a pickup truck, you do not need to drag a refrigerator and a cabinet. No, they won’t reach “normal”: household appliances and large-sized furniture are moved according to certain standards. Examine, for example, the rules for transporting a refrigerator and check if the transport company complies with all the conditions. Secondly, calculate the consumption of gasoline and energy for several flights and say goodbye to savings on the transport company. Third, consider time and sudden traffic jams. Order a good truck from a reliable company and transport everything in one or two flights. Save not only money, but also nerves. We also recommend using the TopsCrates service – here you can rent a moving crates that will allow you to pack your things well and be sure that nothing will break.

Summary

1. 1. Get well prepared and pack.
2. 2.Sign each box.
3. 3. Fold the most important box with the necessary things separately.
4. 4. Prepare the place of relocation.
5. 5.Choose a time.
6. 6. Order a suitable transport and move without problems.