Plan your move

Moving to a new location is a major decision and it is often accompanied by many other adjustments such as changing your marital status or starting a new job. If you follow a logical strategy and an orderly series of steps then your move can be accomplished very smoothly without adding any extra pressure.

Initial Steps of Planning

1. First, decide whether you want to hire a mover or you plan to do it yourself.
2. Send your new residential address to all your utility companies, family and friends. Close all your old bank accounts or shift them to your new residential area branch. Close all your old existing accounts such as the library, video parlors, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions etc.
3. Research utility centers at your new residential address. Get a floor plan of the new place to help you decide how to place the furniture’s as well as the fixtures. Mark all your electrical outlet points.
4. Dispose all your unwanted belongings.
5. Empty the refrigerator before you leave. Decide what you would need to carry and the remaining could be given away. Unplug the refrigerator and leave the fridge open for a day before you move, so that the moisture evaporates.

Do it yourself

1. Always pack and start cleaning one room at a time and it is easier to start off with the kitchen or the children’s bedroom. Use smaller boxes for heavier items such as the books, utility tools and the kitchen stuff and use bigger boxes to pack fragile items, as they should be always kept upright. Mark the boxes and while marking you can also describe the contents or even mention the rooms where they are supposed to be kept.
2. Measure the boxes when they are three fourth packed and use this information while loading it into the truck. If you are moving the electrical appliances then book for an appliance dolly.
3. Close the drawers and secure them and armoire doors with blue painter’s masking tape so that its finish is not spoilt.
4. While loading the items into the truck, be very careful and space them well. Stand the sofas on end, load mattresses and box springs so that the sides are vertical. Put tall things along the side and you can tie ropes to keep all things vertical.
5. Load the boxes into the trucks as per the contents. Never load the box of valuables or important papers on to the truck; you should always carry it in the trunk of your car.

6. While unloading reverse the procedure. Bring in the valuables first and ask someone to stay with them and if you are exhausted due to packing and loading then unload only the important stuff and leave the rest in the locked truck.