Make Your Moving Experience Less Stressful

I’m moving. Just the sound of the phrase creates a knot in your stomach the size of a watermelon. It conjures up images of sweat dripping from your forehead, lots of cardboard boxes, helping friends breaking that heirloom and excited children or pets running around.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Moving is one of the top five most stressful events in a persons life. It is right up there with the death of a parent, divorce, death of a spouse and losing your job. So if the thought of moving makes the muscles in your shoulders tense up, you are very normal.

I would like to help you along in the process of moving and maybe reduce some of the stress. Here are ten things that you should lookout for when moving. Reserve early. Reserve your moving truck, towing equipment, dollys, blankets and storage room as soon as you know the date of your move. Walking in to a truck rental store the day before your move and attempt to reserve a truck is a recipe for disaster. There may be a lot of trucks in the parking lot but they are already reserved for someone else. Reserve your motel room early. You may not be aware that a special event is going on in the town you will be staying in and all the rooms may be rented by the time you arrive. You will not want to drive around town all night looking for a room.

Pack early. Pack as much as you can as soon as you can. Pack the dishes, glasses etc. and use disposable cup and plates. Off-season clothing, extra bedding supplies, books, dvds, pictures, mirrors and anything that you will not be using in the coming weeks. The worst thing that you can do is start packing after you have picked up your moving truck.

Get rid of unused items. If you haven’t used it in a year, then you should get rid of it. Try having a garage sale or donate excess items to Goodwill or Salvation Army Notify your utility companies. Let the current utility companies know your moving and give them a shut off date. Also set up the utilities for your new home. This would also be a great time to let the Post Office know so your snail mail can be forwarded (we must keep that junk mail flowing!!!).

Keep groceries to a minimum. You will want to empty your refrigerator and freezer the day before you load them so they can defrost and they can be wiped out. The last thing you want is throwing out food (It’s expensive).

Pack the beds on the truck last. They will be the first to come off the truck and you can set them up immediately. You may be too tired to set them up after the truck is unloaded and you will need your rest!

Leave clothes in dresser drawers. There is no need to pack the clothes that are in your dressers. On moving day, pull the drawers out of the dresser, load the empty dresser on the truck and then place the drawers back in the dresser.

Give yourself enough time. A marathon drive is not the best way. You will need rest during the move and you need to be rested to unload. Accidents happen when you are exhausted and you will be under stress. Pay for addition days on your truck rental and give your self a chance. One extra day will make a world of difference.

How about your valuables? If at all possible valuables and important heirlooms should be kept with you in the motel room. If that is not possible, load them into the truck first. If there is a break in, the thieves will take items that easily accessible by the door. Park the moving truck where it is visible from your motel room.

Are you using self storage? Loading a storage room is not simply cramming it, jamming it and putting a lock on the door. Most self storage break-ins are an inside job. Some one already knows what is in storage room and how valuable it is. It can be an employee or it can be the tenant down the row from you who drove by while you had the storage room door open. Place valuable items in the storage room first and general household items in front. Thieves want a quick grab and go and don’t want to open boxes and move mattresses.

Buy a round or disc lock for the storage room door. Thieves do not want attention drawn to them. A standard padlock can be cut off with bolt cutters in seconds. A disc lock will need an electric grinder to remove it and that is not very stealth like. Finally, moving is not an exact science. It is stressful and tiring but it is an adventure. You will meet new friends, neighbors and a new chapter in your life open before you. Let the excitement begin!!!!