Moving day has arrived. You can be calm and collected or overwhelmed and totally stressed. I share my top ten tips for a successful, smooth move.
Stay calm
Ok, so you are not Martha Stewart and do not have a posse of helpers to direct your move. As nice as it would be to sit on a high stool with your cup of tea while browsing through a magazine getting an in-home manicure – this is NOT reality on moving day. If it is, skip reading my tips and enjoy your new pad.
For the rest of us, moving ranks right up there with death – stressful and life-changing. There are ways to make it easier, if you are prepared. They are common sense and will not cost you a fortune or a bunch of time. To get prepared, read on.
1) Clean your new home thoroughly the day before you move in, if possible. Consider hiring a cleaning service or ask some friends to come and help you. The house will be vacant, so it should not take too long. And who wants to move into a dusty house? Light some scented candles and leave some sachets scattered around before you leave. Blow the candles out before you go!
2) If you have young children, by all means, get play dates scheduled for the day. Plan ahead and hire a babysitter. Little ones under foot will distract you from being sure your fine china is being handled with care. So worth the money!
3) Fido and Twinkle-Toes have to go, too. There are many pet daycares that will gladly take the pooches and cats on moving day so they don’t run out the front door or, even worse, snap at the nice moving man.
4) The night before your move, pack a suitcase of essentials so you are not looking all over for them when you land in the new house.
Take essentials in your car.
5) You will probably be worn out and tired at the end of moving day. So, have clean linens and pillows ready to go on the beds. Put them in a special box and take them in your car. Nothing worse than sleeping on a naked mattress because you are too worn out to remember where you packed them.
6) Visit the bank beforehand and fill up your wallet. Tipping your hard-working movers is just polite. Period.
7) Depending on the climate, have plenty of water, coffee and snacks on hand for your moving crew. If you want to be extra nice, buy them lunch if you are running out to grab something or order it in. If you are really domestic, bake some cookies or get some from the bakery. That sugar rush after lunch goes a long way in the productivity department. (For you and them!)
8) Plan ahead and know exactly where your furniture will be placed in your new home. This will save you time and money. Nothing worse than scratching your head and trying to figure out where to put the oddly shaped desk or credenza. Draw a floor plan if you must, but be prepared.
9) Purchase extension cords and place in outlets that will be inaccessible once your furniture is in place. Something few people think about and you will be glad you did!
10) This should not have to be said, but plan on being around and available to answer questions. The movers will look to you for direction. This would not be the day to schedule a conference call, a lunch date or have long discussions with anyone on your cell phone. If those things are your priority and desire, you can always hire a move coordinator to take your place. Not such a bad idea!
With some planning and foresight, your move can be enjoyable and smooth. What have you done on moving day that made your life easier? Please share, would love to know!
About Lori
Lori Gersh is a hands-on professional organizer, move manager and the owner of Leave It 2 Lori. Her focus is on helping her clients in Beverly Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, and other Southern California cities to declutter, organize, and transform their space. Whether you are upsizing or downsizing, organizing your home or your office, Lori and her team will handle it all.
