Moving is a daunting task and one that many find extremely stressful. With more than a decade of experience in relocation services, we understand the challenges of moving. Further, we can assure you that advance preparation can save you time (and headaches!). That said, here are our top seven tips for preparing your home or office for moving.
- Choose a Qualified Relocation Company. Choosing a reputable, insured, bonded moving company is the best way to assure that your relocation runs smoothly, efficiently and within budget.
- Rid Yourself of the Excess. Before packing your belongings, start ridding yourself of items you no longer want or need. As you look through your cabinets, closets and drawers, you’ll often discover items that have been tucked away for long periods of time. Also, you’ll find old documents, office electronics, clothing and other items you don’t use anymore. Garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops are all great ways to get rid of items you no longer use. To discard old documents, look to shredding companies. Some office supply stores offer document shredding services.
- Create a Moving Notebook. With moving, organization is paramount. Thus, having a moving notebook is key to grouping together specific items or documents and keeping track of where those items and documents are. This moving notebook is also a great place to house expense receipts (in case you need them later).
- Make a Moving Notification Checklist. As moving day approaches, it’s easy to lose track of which service providers you’ve notified regarding the move. By creating a checklist, you can note of all offices you need to contact and check them off as each is notified. Remember to alert utility companies (electric, water, gas, cable and phone companies) as well as the post office, which offers change of address forms online.
- Group Magazines and Books Together. By stacking magazines and books together, setting up your home office or professional library at the new location will be both quick and easy.
- File Backup. While your personal computer should be packed last, be sure to create backup files for any documents stored on your hard drive. File backup options include CDs, USB drives, external hard drives or cloud-based storage services, which can be found online.
- Label Boxes Clearly. Each box should be labeled according to its contents and according to which room or office it should be placed in at the new location.
In conclusion, by creating an effective moving plan and by preparing yourself, the transition to your new home or office can be a smooth one.