It could be a soothing experience to move into a new home or office, but at the same time, it could be the source of your fears. Whether you’re upgrading, downsizing, changing jobs, or simply starting fresh, working with a reliable moving company can make the entire process smoother and far less stressful. With careful planning, staying organised, and knowing a few pro tips, your move can be much more manageable.

Let’s go through a few moving and storage tips, certified by experts, that can save you time, money, and even safeguard your health along the way.

Start Planning Early

The earlier you begin planning; the more control will be in your hands. It is best to kick off the preparation process at least six weeks before the actual moving. Generate a moving checklist and timeline with the principal tasks such as:

• Looking up movers and comparing them 
• Organizing and cleaning things up 
• Getting packing materials 
• Notifying the service providers about the move 
• Informing the postal service about the change of your address 

Division of the work into small steps will save you from the panic on the last days.

Declutter Before You Pack

Why burden with paying to transport things that are even no longer usable? Once you decide what are the necessary items to bring, you have already taken the most important preparatory work for a move that goes smoothly. Proceed through all rooms of the house and give everything the strict four-category treatment which is: keep, donate, sell and toss.

Not only will the elimination of the unnecessary things lead to reduced moving costs, but it will furthermore make it easier and faster to unpack in the new place. Garnering a yard sale where you can sell the unnecessary stuff or using online marketplaces for the same purpose can actually cover some of the moving expenses.

Invest in Quality Packing Supplies

Although people love the idea of getting free boxes to pack from the local store, these boxes are often unable to resist a tough moving process. Why not invest in a series of sizes of good quality, robust boxes and also be sure to have these:

• Packing tape 
• Bubble wrap 
• Packing paper 
• Stretch wrap for furniture 
• Labels and permanent markers 

TIP: One nifty way to manage the labelling is to use different colors for different rooms, this way unpacking won’t even take that long and will be considerably easier and less confusing at your new place.

Pack Like a Pro

Here are a few veteran’s packing tricks that will guarantee the safety of your furniture and keep everything organized:

• Put heavier items in smaller boxes (e.g., books) 
• Lighter items can be transferred to larger boxes (e.g., linens) 
• Wrap the fragile items in bubble wrap or towels 
• Store the plates vertically in the boxes as if they are records and you will not have them broken 
• Fill any empty space in the boxes with paper or other soft things to prevent the movement of your items 

So, to make sure that the boxes with fragile items are unambiguously identified you also need to remember that! 

Create an Essentials Box

At the beginning of the move, prepare a bag or a suitcase with things that you might need on the first day of your stay at the new house, such as your toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, chargers, important documents, medications, and basic tools. In this way, you will not have to search for your toothbrush after unpacking all day anymore.

Take Photos of Electronics Before Disassembly

Are you going to unplug your home entertainment system, Wi-Fi setup or any other electronic devices that are not used in the office? Take pictures of the back of each device so that you know perfectly where to plug the cables when you put them in place again. It is a simple action that can spare you the trouble of getting it right after hours of unsuccessful tries.

Use Storage Wisely During the Move

By cooperating with those who simultaneously perform moving and storage services, you can simplify the entire operation. It means having fewer participants to monitor and knowing, deep down, that your personal property is in safe hands.

Label and Inventory Everything

Write down the inventory or take pictures of the things in the box, especially if the items are of great or immediate importance. Mark each box with:

• A description of the room it is for 
• A brief summary of what’s inside 
• Brief notes of Fragile or handling instructions 

Losing things and unloading from the cartons can be a lot simpler with this small measure in place.

Don’t Forget to Notify Important Parties

You have to ensure that you are keeping the information up to date for the following:

• USPS (use their official change of address form) 
• Banks and credit cards 
• Utility companies 
• Insurance providers 
• Doctors and your child’s school 
• Subscriptions and memberships 

These steps are necessary since they allow you to get your letters to your new residence with the databases of various departments. Not to mention that by practicing them in advance of your move will guard against service disruptions or important papers disappearing.

Hire the Right Moving Partner

Your selection of the people you trust to move can dramatically affect the final outcome of the moving process. Go for companies that are licensed, insured, and customers have given them the greatest ratings. To better understand the professionals you work with, go through the reviews and ask for quotes, also do not hesitate to inquire about what’s included, particularly if you are thinking of packing or storage add-ons as an option.

Conclusion

Smooth shifting of your possessions from one place to another is not the only thing that can be termed as a successful move. It is rather about doing it in a safe and efficient way, and also with a minimum of stress. Through careful planning, staying on track, and making good selections (e.g. working with trusted professionals), you can definitely have a successful move without money and energy being drained.

If you need help from a partner you can trust while going through the process, Georgetown Moving and Storage also provide full-service solutions. They are meant to suit your special requirements and you can rely on their expert packers, secure storage, and careful drivers. With them, your move will be no less than a journey of joy, step by step.