Moving can cause so many headaches. Besides the stress that comes with having to change the scenery, there is also the stress that comes with having to pack all of your belongings, from couches and beds to all of your clothes to every last nicknack that you own and moving it to a completely different location. Then you have to unpack everything and settle down in your new place. It can take up most of your time, it can be disruptive and, even if you try and do it as cheaply as possible, expensive. If you choose to take it on yourself it can also be very physically demanding. Having to take the boxes, from the moving truck to your new living space, and maybe even up flights of stairs can make even the toughest of us, tired. With new opportunities, family needs, upsizing or downsizing, it just has to be done sometimes.

To help make this process easier we have come up with a list of how you can make your moving day as easy as possible.

No one wants to do it. If you choose to move, now or even in 3 months, the likelihood of you wanting to pack all of your things, and uproot yourself to a completely different location doesn’t seem to change. Depending on where you move, your preparation and problems might be completely different. Working with a professional mover might make the experience much easier, perhaps, if you move a lot, even joyful.

If you choose to do it all on your own, there are a few ways to make it so that your moving day is as easy as possible.

Have a solid plan

There is a lot that goes into moving, the packing, the changing of your address, and even internet services as well as all the other small things. It is always a good idea to have a solid, well thought out plan for when you decide to move.

Plan ahead, use your phone to take notes, have a whiteboard on the fridge, to come up with a checklist of things that you need to do. Make sure you share it with your family, or anyone else that will be helping you once moving day comes along.

Where you choose to move to might have strict rules as well, as to when you can move in and out, what times you can use elevators, and maybe even requiring insurance for the move. It’s a very good idea to make sure that you have communicated with the new building or community so that is all understood and taken care of to make it so that your move-in day goes as smoothly as possible.

Book your moving truck in advance

If you can not borrow a friend’s truck, make sure to book your moving truck well in advance. Most people want to move at the end of the month, so if you wait until the last minute to book your truck, you might find that there is none available.

The most popular season to move is in the summer. School starts in the fall, people have just finished college or university and now need to move away from the dorms. Not to mention that no one wants to move when it’s snowing and cold outside.

Get ready to let go

Before you start packing, it’s best to get rid of everything that you do not need. A good idea is to donate the things that you no longer need. Most people think they don’t have that many things, but when the time comes to start packing they find themselves quite surprised with how many things they own. On average, most people take about 150 days to unpack all of their boxes once they move into their new homes. So, to make sure that your moving day goes smoothly, make sure you get rid of things that you no longer need!

Pack an essentials bag

Before you get everything loaded into boxes, it’s a good idea to pack a bag that will have all of your essentials that you will need for a day, or even longer if you don’t feel like unpacking right after you move in.

It’s good to pack all the necessities such as phone chargers, snacks, toiletries, clothes and anything else that you feel like you will need for the coming few days. You can pack them in a duffle bag or a box that you can easily get too.

Take inventory

Now, if you are going with a moving company, they most likely will take care of all the inventory related things. They will take pictures of everything you own and scan it into a computer, after that you will get a pdf file of everything.

If you are doing this without the help of a moving company, you can use note-taking applications on your phone to create an inventory. Make sure you know where the important things are. When packing, it’s always a good idea to keep things organized, so put the TV remote with the TV cables. If you are packing furniture that you needed to take apart, make sure you know where all the parts are, this includes the screws and the tools needed to put it all back together.

Before you leave your old place, make sure that you have a floor plan of the new place so you roughly know where everything you are moving will be put. 

Use good boxes

Everyone needs boxes when they are moving. Make sure that you use tough, strong boxes.

You can buy moving boxes that are made for moving for very cheap on amazon. Again, make sure they are very strong so that you can pack maybe only 25 boxes instead of 100. It’s a good idea to pack heavy objects like books into smaller boxes so you, or your friends, can handle the heavy load. 

Make sure you have water

Moving can cause your mind to go all over the place. There are many things to do, so much in fact that many people forget the simple things.  You and the people helping you move will need to drink a lot of water on moving day, even more so if you are moving in the summer. A good plan is to have a big pack of plastic water bottles waiting for you at the new place, as you most likely don’t want to have to focus on unpacking all the cups and then having to wash the dishes right after you finish moving.

Bring a door stopper with you

There are lots of little things that can help you on moving day, one such thing is a door stopper. You will most likely need to keep your doors open to help bring in all the items from the moving truck. It beats having to hold a door open while you awkwardly try and squeeze a couch into the room. Thinking of small things such as this will make sure your move-in day goes as easy as it can. It’s always a good idea to bring a door stopper.

Remember to take things slow

Once everything is packed up, and you’re moving into your new house. Remember that there isn’t any rush. If it’s just your family helping you, take time to rest, relax, and walk around your neighborhood. Once everything is unloaded from the truck, you do not need to unpack everything right away. Get things set up that you will need right away, like your TV, computer, and bed, and then after that, relax. The toughest part is over!

Remember to give back

If you are moving with friends, or family, it’s always important to let them know that what they did today was appreciated. You can buy pizza or a case of beer, and once everything is done. Spend some time thanking them and letting them know how much they helped. Not everyone likes to help, but everyone likes getting rewarded for a job well done. If it’s just you, treat yourself to a nice dinner, or go to the movies, you deserve it!

And there you have it, our list of the best ways to make sure moving day goes as easy as possible. We hope that this list makes your moving day at least, a little less stressful!