Preparing for a Move: Little Things Now Save Big Headaches Later

Preparing for a move can make or break your experience with local movers. A thorough moving plan is vital. Below are some of the best tips to help ensure your move goes smoothly.

Create A To-Do List

Moving entails a lot more work than merely packing up with a Cleveland local mover, so develop a moving plan to help stay on top of things.

Some items to add to your moving checklist timeline are:

• Changing your address.
• Contacting companies to cancel the water, gas, electricity, cable, internet.
• Take photos of your electronics ports for easier putting back together, especially the cords in the back!
• Rooms that need to be cleaned or fixed.

Research Local Movers

Local movers are a great asset when you are moving.

Do some research on the top movers in Cleveland. Be sure to hire them a month ahead of time to help you keep everything organized.

When moving day arrives, assign someone to work with the local movers to determine where the boxes should go.

While you are investigating local movers, ask questions like:

• What are their prices
• What kind of services do they offer
• Do they have a valuation or warehouse in case you need additional storage while you’re getting settled
• What’s expected from their local movers

Donate/Sell Stuff

Set aside a box for charitable donations and another for selling. If you haven't worn it in half a year to a year, it's a good time to donate it or consider selling it. Use the extra money towards your relocation, or to invest in your new home.

Moving Supplies Checklist

Draft a moving supplies list. It should include items like:

• a range of various sized, sturdy boxes
• packing paper
• bubble wrap
• permanent markers
• packing tape

Ask friends and family and ask if they can donate some of these to you. Utilize laundry baskets, plastic tubs and other bags you may have around the house, by filling them with assorted belongings. Keep in mind, professional relocation services will require all items be packed in moving boxes or plastic totes with a lid. They cannot move items in plastic bags, open top boxes, etc., because these cannot be easily stacked inside the truck and/or can tip over.

Pack Decorative Things First

Artistic displays like art, wall hangings, statues, and other knick-knacks are not essential in your home other than adding aesthetic value to your home. If they are not necessary to your everyday function in your home, pack them up first. Packing little by little this way takes a huge chunk of stress out of the process.

Categorize

Categorizing boxes, especially if you will need vital items right away like personal items, clothes, and essential belongings. When you reach your new town, having each box labeled and categorized helps you and your local movers know their proper placement.

Pack less

Here's a helpful tip: do not pack everything. Well before your move date, begin decluttering. Moving is the perfect opportunity to give away, recycle, and if needed, toss unwanted items. It is simple math: Less stuff equals less stress.

The right box. The right material.

"One size does not fit all." Be sure the size of the box, and the packing material you use, are adequate for the items you pack.

For heavy things, tighter is better; you don’t want a oversized box full of heavy items. Fragile items need room in the box for cushioning material. Wrap China pieces separately before they are packed. Take the time to get the right boxes and materials.

If you are not sure about how to pack certain items, take a look at our packing advice page.

Label Label Label

First, code by color. It may be as basic as boxes with green labels go to the living room. The idea is that the mover simply needs to see the label to know where to go. Don’t make the color coding too complicated, but do make it helpful.

Write large. You don’t want to have to waste time looking for the label. Make it easy to read and put it on more than one side of the box.

If you acronyms, make sure they easy to decipher as well. Is “BR” bedroom or bathroom? Better to take the time to write it in full now than waste time trying to remember it later.

Finally, label your new home. For smaller homes, this may not be a big deal. But, if you have a large number of bedrooms, it will be helpful if each room is uniquely labeled, with the corresponding location on the box.

Packing for the kids

Getting settled into a new home can take a long time, especially when you have children. Prepare a few reserved boxes that have the essential items your kids will want during the first day or two. It may be favorite toys, coloring books, or gaming consoles. Searching for these items while trying to get the rest of the house unpacked is not fun. Make it easy on yourself and keep these boxes handy.

The early essentials

Adults are not that different than kids. There are things we want to have available immediately. Prepare a few boxes that will have your essentials to get through the initial week. Fresh clothes, personal hygiene items, reading materials, or even card games. These are the boxes that, if you can get nothing more, will get you through the starting week.

Contact Corrigan

Have questions? Get in touch with us to schedule your no-cost, pressure-free, in-home move estimate. Our Cleveland move representatives and local movers have the expertise to guide you through your most complex moving details. Contact us and see why Corrigan has been an industry leader for over 90 years!