Moving Tips

You may find yourself not needing some things or may not want to bring everything with you. Instead of decluttering at your new place, save yourself the stress and do it before. When you move with Midwest Moving Company we can do all of the packing for you. However, if you plan to pack yourself, here are some helpful organization tips to follow to declutter your space so you can start fresh at your new location.

• Start by sorting through storage areas such as the garage, basement, attic, and closets. While you are sorting through these spaces, organize your items by category. Categorizing your items then create a keep pile, a donation pile, a sell pile, and a trash pile.
• When sorting through your items, be selective about the items that you choose to keep. Consider if you haven’t used an item in a long time or worn an article of clothing in a year, odds are you probably won’t need it at your new house either. Getting rid of used stuff beforehand can make the packing process much easier and cheaper. Sell or give away items you won’t be bringing with you. This will help you save money on weight-based transportation. Selling items will also put more money in your pocket.

• Use the right size boxes. When packing books, for example, put them in a small box. Pack bigger items such as linens, blankets, and pillows in a large box.
• Put heavier items in the bottom of the box and lighter items on top. Make sure not to leave a lot of space in the box to reduce the possibility of items moving when they are being transported.
• Label each box and avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box. When labeling each box put a brief description of what is in each box to make unpacking easier.
• Designate one box for important documents, prescriptions, and other valuable items. Make sure to keep this box with you at all times during your move. Do not have your moving company move important personal documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, health records, or any other related documents.
• When packing clothing use wardrobe boxes to avoid taking your clothes off the hangers. Also, consider vacuum-sealing your clothes to reduce the amount of space it takes up.
• Pack a bag or box of all the essentials for the first night in your new home such as toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc., and keep these items with you as you travel.
• Put items that can be easily lost or items that have the potential to leak inside plastic sealed bags.

Moving is already a stressful task, add kids and pets into the mix and it can be overwhelming! We have provided a few tips and tricks to help you manage the kids and pets while giving yourself the time to focus on your move.

• Create a Pinterest board of the neighborhood and town. Include pictures of activities and other things the kids can look forward to seeing or doing once they arrive.
• For little kids, incorporate play into packing. Give them a small box to pack their toys in to make them feel a part of the process.
• When preparing to move with a pet, leave their carrier out a month before you move. Every time your pet gets near the carrier, give them a treat and some love. Eventually, let your pets have their meals in the carrier. The carrier will then start to be a safe place for your pets.
• Have family members (pets too!) pack an essentials box to keep with them throughout the move. Kids should pack belongings that are important to them such as pictures, stuffed animals, and toys. For pets, put their important belongings in a box and include some toys in their carrier to preoccupy their time. Get a special new toy for kids and pets to open once you reach your destination.
• Once you are in your new home, take a walk with your kids or dogs to get them familiar with the area and to show them around. For kids, this will provide them with an opportunity to explore and for dogs, this will allow them to get familiar with the new smells. For cats, if you can, leave a shirt, blanket, or pillow at the new place for a night and bring it to them to smell; this will provide them with the opportunity to get used to the new house smell.
• On moving day, consider sending your pets and kids on a day vacation (to a friend or grandparent’s house; hire a pet sitter). This may relieve the stress of having to keep an eye out for them slipping out of the house.

Check out our blog about reliable vs. rogue moving companies for further move information on this topic.

Also checkout our page about Valuation and how it can help protect your goods for your move.

Another helpful resource is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which is the entity that governs the transportation industry. They provide guidance and tips for consumers to ensure you are well informed. Click to learn more.

When the day to move finally arrives, things can get a little hectic. Here are some tips to minimize the moving chaos.

• If you are moving into a rental, take pictures of the property prior to moving in to prevent being charged for damages that were present before you moved in.
• Make a ‘to-do’ list of all the things that you need to do such as utilities, changing your address, etc.
• Wear appropriate clothing such as fitted clothing to prevent clothes from getting caught on door handles and tennis shoes.
• Minimize packing the day of and organize your boxes accordingly.
• Set personal items and boxes aside to keep with you during moving day.
• Keep cleaning supplies on hand.
• Do a walk through of your old property.
• Tipping for moving services isn’t required, but it can be a nice way to show your professional movers appreciation for their effort. If you feel the urge to tip, $20 to each person, or 5% of the total bill, is customary. Alternatively, you can express appreciation by providing water, snacks, or other refreshments.
• At the end of your moving day take some time to rest and relax. Set up your bed early in the day to reward yourself later so you can crash and chill out after moving.