Here is some more helpful advice to make sure your moving day doesn’t become a nightmare:

Say goodbye to whatever you don’t really use. Give it away, sell it, throw it away, or leave it behind, but don’t waste time and space with the things you don’t need anymore.

Have all the utilities turned on a couple days before the move. Something may happen and they may be a day late, so this helps ensure you will have electricity and water in your new home when you get there.

Clearly label all the boxes you have packed. Label by room and contents.

Pack a few boxes with essentials that you may need upon arrival, such as food, drinks, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

Keep your valuables and personal documents in a safe place at all times throughout your move.

Clean any furniture before it is taken inside the new house. You don’t want to bring dirt and dust into your home with your furniture.

Have a plan as to where your furniture should go in the new house. When moving your furniture into your new home, place it exactly where you want it the first time.

Good luck in your new home!

Moving can be a hassle, however there are a few things you can do to help ensure your moving experience is as easy as possible. One of the most important things you can do, is to make sure you are prepared for the move before it is time to go.

Abraham Maslow once said, “ If the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail.” Having the proper tools is essential to making your move easy. What tools? I’m talking about packing supplies.

Having the proper packing supplies on hand will save you time, energy, and stress. Here is a list of packing supplies that you should have before you even think about starting to pack anything:

• Boxes- Yes, I know- that’s obvious. But having the proper size boxes and number of boxes is the important thing. Boxes are available from many places. A lot of business will give you extra empty boxes if you ask. Also, there are a wide variety of boxes for sale at packing/shipping services, home improvement and department stores, post offices, etc. Be sure to get different sized boxes. Large ones for light, bulky objects, and small ones for heavier items like books.
• Tape- Buy some good-quality packing tape. Depending on the amount of packing you need to do, you may need several rolls. For even small homes or apartments, one roll of tape is almost never enough.
• Packing Material- Save old newspapers for a few weeks before your move. Newspapers make good packing material for most household items. The more delicate and valuable items in your home do require a little more than newspaper, though. Bubble wrap, foam peanuts, and blankets provide excellent protection for items you don’t want damaged.
• Labels- These are optional, but if you won’t be able to write directly onto your packing containers, or if you can’t see what you wrote, you may want to buy or make some labels. Clearly labeled boxes make organization and unpacking easier.
• Box-cutter- Be sure you have a good knife to unpack your stuff.

A little planning goes a long way. Make sure you are actually ready to pack your stuff before you get knee deep in it and find out you need to go to the store.

Moving from one home to another always puts a lot on one’s plate. Nevertheless, moving doesn’t have to be a bad experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind that may make your move a little smoother.

• Consider how you will provide the necessary means to actually move your belongings. Decide if you will hire a moving crew, rent a moving truck, or use a portable storage unit, such as SmartBox or PODS. Have your reservation made at least one month in advance.
• Prepare all of your change of address materials about one month in advance. The post office, utilities, insurance, DMV, and anyone you do business with should be notified with a change of address form. Be sure your friends and relatives have your new address before you leave, too.
• Start packing a couple weeks in advance. Start with the stuff you don’t use or won’t need until after you move. If possible, bring these things to the house early.
• Make sure you have all the packing supplies you will need before you get started. Boxes, tape, packing material, markers, labels, and box-cutters should all be readily at hand. Save your newspapers and such for a few weeks before you move.
• Use your head when you pack up your belongings. Work smarter, not harder. Be sure to use appropriate boxes and other packing materials when packing valuable or fragile items.
• Clean the new house before you move all your stuff in. No need for an explanation here. It’s common sense, but we all need reminders from time to time.
• After you have cleared out the old place, do a final walkthrough. Then do another, and another. Be sure to check all cabinets, closets, storage areas, etc.

Most importantly, be sure to have a plan. Keeping a checklist is a good idea. Use these tips as well as your own personal needs to create a personal checklist to keep you on track. Enjoy the new home!

Moving yourself? Do you know the proper way to lift and carry your moving boxes? Here is a quick rundown on how to make sure you don’t injure yourself when lifting and moving boxes.

Stretch before you start working. Stretching is one of the best ways to prevent a strain when lifting or carrying heavy objects. Stretch your neck, arms, legs, and back for about 20-30 seconds each.

Lift with your legs, not with your back. Don’t bend over to pick up a box, no matter how light you may think it is. Squat down, bending the knees, and make sure you have a firm grip on the box before carefully standing up with it. Do the same when setting a box down on the ground.

When carrying a box, keep it close to your body and center of gravity. Holding the box out away from your body will increase the chance of back injury, and may also cause you to momentarily lose your balance and fall. Never carry anything over your head.

When carrying a box, don’t twist at the waist. This is an easy way to throw out your back. Keep the box in front of you and turn with your feet.

Don’t carry more than one box at a time. Boxes can slide pretty easily when being carried while stacked up. If a box slides off, you may damage its contents or injure yourself or someone else. Use a dolly or hand truck to move multiple boxes at once.

Always have someone with you to help move boxes too heavy or too bulky to move by yourself. Don’t be reluctant to just ask for some help.