29 Days To A Smooth Move

here is a simple blog post with short sweet advice on how to make your move go by smooth. The crew at TheSimpleMe.com seem to have fun writing about things in their lives and a number of them have moved this season.

They offer 4 great tips to improve your move.

the simple me » Blog Archive » Moving tips & advice

1. One place for information. Keep all important names, numbers, dates, paperwork & costs in one place - It can be a moleskin, some sort of online tool, or even a baggie (a la the Designer’s Pouch).
2. Division of labor. If possible, give full responsibility for certain tasks to other people. One person schedules the movers, another transfers the utilities, and so on.

Technorati Tags: moving tips, moving advice, movers guide

No two people are going to pack alike. One person will swear that room by room, everything at once, is the only way to go, while another will insist that each room will require two packing sessions—one for those items that are not used as often, then another one to get everything else.

How it should be done is an individual thing, and what works for you is the method that should be used. It is evident, however, that items such as books, seasonal decorations or ornaments, and off-season clothing can be among the earliest things packed, AFTER de-cluttering has occurred, of course. IF IT’S NOT BEING USED, DON’T PACK IT!

Once initial packing has begun, it will probably be easier to make and adhere to a packing schedule. The very act of beginning to put things in boxes and containers will enable you to see exactly what should be considered essential, and what can be packed sooner.

Garages and outbuildings can be packed almost immediately after residence and relocation arrangements have been finalized, followed by spare or guest bedrooms. Books, DVDs, and artwork can also be packed fairly early.

Bedrooms and much-used areas, such as the living room, kitchen, and dining area, will have to wait until close to the last minute—but enough time should be allowed to make sure that packing these rooms is not a rush job, or that they are not being completely packed on the day of the move itself.

Those who work out of a home office should notify clients and other essential personnel of the move, and set a date for when the office will be “closed” at the old residence. All necessary business should be taken care prior to that date.

The more efficiently packing is accomplished, the more time and money will be saved. Proper packing ensures that belongings are secure and that loading and unloading can be done quicker.

For this reason, garbage or other plastic bags should not be used. They are usually not strong enough to provide adequate protection, can be difficult to load and unload, and can take up otherwise available space.

Boxes are the most economical and safest form of packing containers. They can be any type, as long as they are strong enough to hold the contents.

Moving companies, home improvement stores, and other places do sell boxes that are said to be designed specifically for moving. While it is true that these boxes are of slightly higher quality, any good sturdy box will be fine. One should NOT spend a great deal of money on boxes unless the boxes can be “re-sold” to the company from which they were purchased.

Padding material can be as simple as blankets, bedding, towels, and some clothing items if the move is a relatively short one. However, a long move may require the use of “professional” padding material.

Newspaper should not be used to wrap items in nor as filler as the ink may transfer to the item. Magazine pages can be used for wrapping articles, and soft items such as stuffed toys and pillows can be used to cushion and secure belongings.

Boxes should be securely taped or fastened. Improperly or poorly taped boxes could cause difficulties for the movers as they are being loaded or unloaded. Also, if a box should collapse or break, the contents may be damaged.

At least three or more strips of tape should be placed across the top of the box. The bottom and sides should be reinforced with at least one strip of tape.

Any time a person is faced with a new or different experience, “forewarned is forearmed”. This is especially true of a move.

Even a short move from one city to another can present challenges. You may be familiar with certain aspects of that city, but there will still be differences. They may be as minor as the location of the neighborhood supermarket or as major as the bus number and route that your child will take to get to school.

For this reason, relocation guides can often prove invaluable. They can allow one to become familiar with the area, often to such an extent that once the move is accomplished, the family will already “feel at home”.

A relocation guide will assist families with children in deciding which neighborhood is the best to live in terms of schools, safety, and available activities. A young, childless couple, on the other hand, may want to know where other couples like them live, and what amenities are available to them.

A church-going family may want to know exactly how many churches of their denomination or religion are available in a specific location. A relocation guide can assist in them finding that information.

If a move involves leaving one state and going to another, a relocation guide for the city in which they will be living may really prove invaluable. Some guides may offer statistics concerning school systems, crime figures, and other demographics. All this information will serve to help a family decide where the best place to live would be.

Some relocation guides may allow the future resident to provide certain biographical information, if one so chooses. From that information, the publishers of the guide may be able to actually “tailor-make” a guide specifically for that particular family.