If you’re reading this, it most likely means you’ve secured financing for your new home, and will be moving soon. Don’t worry: we have great news — moving tips and tricks coming your way!
First, congratulations are in order!
After the stress of the home buying process, you may think that everything that comes afterwards is a breeze, but sadly you’d be mistaken.
The moving process is often considered one of life’s most stressful events. The most reassuring fact about the stress that comes as a part of many people’s moving experience is that this stress is commonly a product of ignorance, inadequate preparation, or inexperience.
Proper research and planning, on the other hand, can make the moving day seem like a breeze.
Declutter to save money
The moving process for first-time or contract for deed buyers is time to take stock in one’s belongings since they are all going to be faced at some point. What better time is there to think about whether or not they should stay in your home at all?
The fewer items being moved, the easier the moving process will be, and the less money it will cost. Certain belongings like furniture pieces or media (Books/Music/TV) could easily recoup a decent amount of money as well, which could be used to lessen the burden of moving expenses. What can’t be sold might make a very generous charity donation.
Maybe a large furniture piece that simply doesn’t belong in your new home should just be recycled or disposed of, in order to make space in the moving truck. Reducing inventory and creating space before a move is always a sensible idea.
Moving tips & tricks for packing properly
Often homebuyers are stressed about what could happen to their fragile belongings in the moving process. If they’re not careful and put these items into the wrong hands, these items could be damaged. Packing most fragile items is fairly simple, and just requires that people avoid cutting corners.
When it comes to packing furniture, wrapping each piece in a bunch of moving blankets and taping the blankets down should do the trick.
Moving boxes are more expensive than many other kinds of cardboard boxes, because they are specifically corrugated to maintain the integrity of the items inside. Secondhand or cheaply made boxes can warp during transit, putting the items inside them at risk. Once fragile items are placed inside the proper boxes, they should be wrapped with packing paper or bubble wrap.
After the box is filled with items, any remaining space should be covered with additional packing paper or bubble wrap to serve as a buffer.
Maintain flexibility for cheap rates
Hiring a moving company, or moving DIY?
Either way, the supplies you need to rent will be cheaper on some days than it will be on others. Maintaining as much flexibility on dates and times of your move is the key to getting the best possible price.
For example, many people are forced to move on certain dates, often the 30th, 31st, or 1st day of a month, primarily due to their lease.
Many buildings don’t allow movers to work in their elevators past a certain hour, so often moving companies are most booked in the mornings. Because of the simple relationship of supply and demand, this makes moving away from these high-demand windows the cheapest – but it pays to maintain as much flexibility as possible, to ensure you have availability in the low demand windows.
Better safe than sorry (insurance!)
Red tape during the moving process is extremely annoying. But if one form isn’t properly filled out and delivered, it can be a disaster; believe us.
It pays to be safe and ensure everything is taken care of well in advance, especially if you’re making a winter move.
That means booking elevators in the rental building you’re moving out of, delivering any certificates of insurance that are required, and insuring the inventory you’re moving prior to moving day.
Many people assume they will be taken care of if something goes wrong on moving day, for whatever reason; those movers should double-check that confidence before something does go wrong and they’re stuck with no compensation.
Get Out of the Way
Those who know what they’re doing on moving day, whether it’s a moving crew or a crew of friends or just using our moving tips and tricks, work best unobstructed by distractions.
Those distractions can commonly be brought by children or pets, but anyone can be distracting if they don’t stay in their lane.
A sitter on moving day to keep the kids and pets stable and out of the way can often pay dividends. If you’re paying movers to move your belongings, get your money’s worth and let them work.