Relocation Advice

Home, Sweet Home

After arriving in your new home, take some time to enjoy it before unpacking. Take a walk, drive around the neighborhood, or just sit on the floor and plan the next few days. After buying a home, you should walk through it to see how much storage space you actually have, the size of the rooms, and other features. This will give you ideas on decorating, furniture placement, and ways to use the rooms.

Relocating and moving into a new home can be very exciting. While you may feel stressed from all the work you have been doing lately, it will all begin to pay off once you begin enjoying your new home. If you have the time, visit the local paint store and start looking at paint colors. Painting an empty room is much easier than painting one that is filled with boxes and furniture.

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How to Lift Heavy Items

The only way to lift heavy items is to team lift them with another person. Never try to lift boxes, furniture, or other heavy items by yourself. You can injure your back, neck, or shoulders. Tearing a muscle or worse during a move will slow you down and may require medical attention. Be smart when moving by not trying to lift more than you can. Take frequent breaks and stretch so your body is able to sustain increased activity during the day.

Since most people only think about relocating, they forget to take care of themselves during the move. Team lifting involves two or three people who lift an item and slowly move it to the truck. Furniture, such as couches, sectionals, and other pieces can usually have removable pieces that make it easier to transport. This will help lessen the strain on your body during a move.

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Inspecting the Moving Truck

Before you drive the truck off the moving company’s lot, you should inspect the inside and outside to make sure that the truck is safe. The inside should be swept clean of dust, dirt, and other debris. If there are items left over from another move you should take them to the manager’s office. Check the straps to make sure they will be secure enough to hold furniture and heavy boxes. Make sure all the equipment you need including dollies and blankets are inside as well.

The last item to check is the safety ramp. This ramp should slide out easily and position itself on the ground firmly. Because you will be standing on it, and moving furniture with it, it needs to be sturdy. If not, someone could be injured. The outside of the truck should be clean as well. The tires should have enough pressure and all mirrors should be in working order.

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International Relocation Tips

If you are planning to relocate to another country, you should begin the process a few months in advance, especially if you need to apply for a passport and work visa. Because it can take a month or more to issue a passport, planning in advance is the best way to avoid delays and other obstacles. If you are moving to a country where you don’t know the language, customs, or laws, conducting research beforehand can help make the transition much easier.

Hiring an international relocation specialist is another option you have if you are unfamiliar with customs and laws of the country you want to relocate to. Specialists can arrange housing, car transport, and move your belongings safely. When moving to another country, you should try to visit at least once before relocating if possible to learn more about the neighborhoods, where you will be working, and other details.

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Label Everything and Other Organization Tips

By labeling boxes, bags, and containers, with rooms belong to, you can cut your unpacking time in half. By being able to separate boxes after a move, you can begin unpacking and not have to go through different boxes when looking for an item. Another way to save time is to group similar items that belong in the same room together in one box, so you can find what you need quickly. For example, pack all dishware in one box instead of packing dishware and glassware.

Clear plastic bags can be used to store clothing, toys, and other items that are not too heavy. You will be able to easily recognize them when you begin unpacking. You can also color code clothing so you know which to store and which to hang in your closet. Clear plastic bags to can be for spring and summer clothing, while dark plastic bags can be for winter and fall clothing.

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Loading the Moving Truck

Loading a moving truck does take some planning since items in the truck will move around during the trip. If you have not hired movers, you should begin by loading boxes and heavy furniture into the truck first. Use straps that are provided to tie down items that could shift during the move. Wait to pack all fragile items until last.

After securing all heavy pieces in place, add more boxes. Fill in with bags, lamps and other items that are not as big. Clothing and others items can be added at this point. Make sure all boxes are secure. After you finish loading the truck check to make sure that nothing will fall out when you open the truck later on. Close the truck and lock it so items do not fall out during the trip. When unloading the truck, open the door carefully so you aren’t injured by loose items.

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Making Use of Moving Equipment

Moving equipment can help tremendously when relocating. Equipment that is provided by most moving companies includes dollies, push carts, blankets, and straps that are attached to the inside of the truck that can help prevent large pieces of furniture from damaging other pieces when the truck is in motion. Use this equipment when possible as it can help make your move a little easier.

Use equipment only as it is intended to be used. This means do not lift items that are too heavy or oddly shaped. Use blankets to protect wood floors from damage when moving furniture over them. Blankets can also be used to cover items and as a cushion between items once they are in the truck. Remember to return all equipment with you return the truck. You may be charged if blankets or other equipment is missing or damaged.

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Moving Pianos and Other Heavy Items

While most people have at least one heavy, bulky item in their homes, they never think about how to remove when relocating. Pianos, large mirrors, china cabinets, and heavy furniture may require special equipment in order to move them. This is to prevent damage or injury to those moving the items. If you have a piano, you may need to hire specific movers who can move the piano safely so it is not damaged along the way. While you will have to pay extra for this service, it is worth it.

Heavy items, such as furniture and exercise equipment, may have to be moved by two or three people. These items should be place on blankets so you don’t damage wood flooring. If you have carpeting, the items will need to be lifted and placed on a dolly or removed from the home by hand. When moving, consider these items carefully and plan extra time to move them.

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Moving Yourself vs. Hiring a Moving Company

Depending on your moving budget, you may want to save the cost of hiring a moving company by packing, loading, driving, and unloading stuff yourself. While this may take a few extra days, you can save a lot of money in hiring movers and drivers.

One way to make this easier is to ask for help from family and friends. Usually someone will have some spare time to help. If not, you may have to plan your move more carefully in order to have enough time.

Hiring a moving company does have its advantages, however. By hiring movers, you will not have to work as hard moving heavy furniture, boxes, and other items. If you need to start your new job right away, you can instruct the movers what to do and expect your stuff to arrive within a few days of the planned move date.

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Organizing Boxes

Organizing your boxes once they are unloaded is the best way to being the process of unpacking. You can do this in a number of ways. If rooms need to be painted, then you should group boxes together so you don’t have to look for them later on. Once the room is painted, you can move them into the room and begin unpacking. Unpacking boxes before the room is painted may cause more work later on as the items will need to be moved or stored elsewhere.

Another option is to move boxes into rooms that do not need to be painted. Once boxes have to separated, begin in one room and work your way to the next until all the unpacking is done. Remove broken or damaged items carefully so you don’t hurt yourself. Save items that are going into storage for last.

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