How to Prepare for your Post-Holiday Move

The holidays in Pittsburgh are filled with warmth, family and friends. There is nothing better than taking the time to enjoy our favorite meals and traditions with your loved ones. If this will be your final holiday season in your current home, then you are probably feeling bittersweet. Every Pittsburgh moving company will tell you the same story - moving is a big adjustment. But if you’re moving soon after the holidays are finished, the season of giving may quickly transition into the season of stress! Luckily, preparing for the holidays and your soon-to-be move can be easy peasy if you take the time to properly prepare.

Get Organized

Getting organized now will save you immeasurable time and stress when your moving company arrives! Here are some tips to stay organized and on track this holiday season:

• Print a calendar that you’ll only use for moving tasks. Highlight your move day. Then, counting backwards from your move day, make an outline of your major tasks and items to pack. Creating a timeline will give you a sense of accomplishment and keeps you from losing your focus in the hustle and bustle of December.
• If you are ending up with many boxes from online shopping and packages, keep them! Use them to pack your household goods. If the boxes arrive with peanuts, paper, bubble wrap, or some other packing materials, keep them! These materials will give more support and protection for your breakable décor pieces.
• Gather lots of markets, boxes, tape, etc. Having all your moving supplies handy and kept together will let you be ready whenever you get the inspiration to pack anything!

  

Decorations

Opening that dusty box and seeing sentimental decorations for the first time in almost a year is an exhilarating feeling. The holidays are officially here! Seeing our favorite keepsakes, decorations, or ornaments makes us filled with nostalgia and excitement for the season. But as you are starting to decorate, the time is right to think about how you’ll take it all down. Not to downplay seasonal festivities, but you want to get prepared more than in years-past for how you’ll repack your decorations. Your fragile ornaments, snowglobes, and keepsakes are usually stored in great storage boxes sitting in your basement or attic. But are they secure and ready for moving? Do not make more work for yourself at the end of the season. Creating a plan for how you will put away and then pack your holiday décor will save you time and trouble when prepping for your move. Some general tips to follow are:

• When taking down your Christmas tree, have packing supplies ready. Use tissue paper or blank newsprint to carefully wrap your ornaments and breakable decorations before placing them into a dish pack.
• Wreaths and garland pack great into wardrobe boxes!
• Menorahs and kinaras should be wrapped with newsprint or tissue paper, and then put in a book carton, or inside of a dish pack along with similar items.
• Wardrobe boxes work well to safely pack artificial Christmas trees. Place two on top of each other for taller trees!

 

Holiday Meals

While the family falls asleep in tryptophan bliss, take that time to clean and pack any seasonal dishes and servingware. If you have special sets of china, casserole dishes or cutlery, washing them and immediately packing them away is a great timesaver. These items are only used once a year, just pack them away for moving right now!

Gifts

There are some things to ponder when thinking about any new gifts or purchases. If you’re moving shortly after the holidays, you’ve already had your moving company give you a quote, this may be based on time or weight depending on the type of move. If you gave or received any large gifts that could affect your estimate, make sure you get in touch with your moving company right away. There could be extra costs, services, or special disassembly for increased/decreased weight or time than your initial quote. Some common gifts that require extra care are:

• Stationary bikes and treadmills - especially ones with video screens, these are in-demand holiday gifts! But, because of their size and servicing required to secure the electronic components, you’ll want to tell your moving company if you added one of these!
• Game tables – pool tables, poker tables, and ping-pong tables can add weight and time to your move. If you have a slate pool table, it will need special service before being moved, as well as refelting the table after the move.
• Lithium batteries- these days, power tools, cameras, hover boards and more tend to use lithium batteries. Even though moving companies can typically move these batteries without problems, you will want to check that the battery is item and charger properly. And, FYI, lithium batteries can’t be packed into an air shipment, if you’re moving overseas.

 

Bonus tip: If you have access to your new house before the holidays, you may consider having family and friends ship gifts to your new place. This will prevent your moving company from handling them, removing the necessisty to modify your quote.

Get nostalgic

While your current home is still decorated for the holidays, enjoy all your favorite holiday traditions, take pictures, and make festive treats. You’ll be thankful you’ve saved these pictures and memories to remember for many years. Planning a festive farewell party is also another wonderful send-off. Make sure to invite loved ones and neighbors you may not see as much after your move for one last holiday fest.

Contact Corrigan

Because we are a family-owned and operated Pittsburgh moving company, we know a thing or two about moving during the holidays! We take pride in having the most knowledgeable and compassionate employees in the moving industry. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed this holiday season, and miss out on enjoyment and magic of your last holiday in your current home.

Our professional relocation experts are here to help you navigate the season ahead. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation, in-home or virtual moving estimate today!