Preparing for a Move: Little Things Now Save Big Headaches Later

Preparing for a move can can make for a good, or bad, experience with local movers. A well-planned moving strategy is vital. Below we share some of the best tips to help give you a smooth move.

Create A To-Do List

Moving involves a lot more effort than merely packing up with a Pittsburgh local mover, so develop a to-do list to help keep you on track.

Some items to potentially add to your to-do list timeline are:

• Changing addresses.
• Calling companies to disconnect the gas, electric, water, cable and internet.
• Take photos of your electronics plugins for easier reassembly, especially the wires in the back!
• Rooms that need to be cleaned or fixed.

Investigate Local Movers

Local movers are a great asset when you are moving.

Do some research on the top moving companies in Pittsburgh. Be sure to hire them a a few weeks ahead of time to help you avoid last-minute chaos.

On moving day, assign a designated person to work with the local movers to delegate which boxes go where.

While you are researching local movers, ask questions like:

• What are their fees
• What kind of services do they offer
• Do they have a insurance or warehouse in case you need extra storage while getting settled
• What’s expected from their local movers

Donate/Sell Stuff

Allocate a container for charitable donations and another for selling. If you haven't touched it in six months to a year, it's best to let it go or earn some cash by selling it. Use the extra money towards your moving expenses, or to refurbish your new place.

Moving Supplies Checklist

Create a moving supplies list. It should include items like:

• a assortment of different sized, sturdy boxes
• packing paper
• bubble wrap
• sharpies
• packing tape

Reach out to friends and family and check if they can donate these to you. Take advantage of laundry baskets, plastic tubs and other bags you may have around the house, by filling them with random items. Keep in mind, professional moving companies will require all items be packed in cardboard boxes or plastic totes with a tight-fitting lid. They cannot move items in garbage bags, open top boxes, etc., because these cannot stack inside the truck and/or can tip over.

Pack Decorative Things First

Artistic displays like paintings, tapestries, statues, and other display items are not essential in your home other than beautifying your surroundings. If they are not essential to your everyday function in your home, add them first to your moving boxes. Packing a little bit at a time this way takes a lot of stress out of the process.

Categorize

Labeling boxes, especially if you’ll need important items right away like toiletries, clothes, and critical items. When you arrive at your new location, having each box labeled and categorized helps you and your local movers know where they go.

Pack less

This tip: do not pack everything. Well before your move date, start sorting through your things. Moving is the perfect time to donate, recycle, and if required, get rid of unwanted items. It’s a simple equation: Less stuff equals less stress.

The right box. The right material.

Different items have different packing requirements. Be sure the size of the container, and the filler material you use, are adequate for the items you pack.

For heavy items, tighter is better; you don’t want a huge box full of books. Fragile items need space in the container for padding. Cover China pieces individually before they are packed. Take the time to get the right boxes and materials.

If you are uncertain about how to pack certain items, take a look at our packing tips page.

Label Label Label

First, color code. It might be as easy as boxes with green labels go upstairs. The idea is that the mover just needs to see the color to know where to go. Do not make the color coding too complicated, but do make it helpful.

Write bold. You don’t want to have to hunt for the label. Make it easy to read and put it on more than one side of the box.

If you use abbreviations, make sure they easy to decipher as well. Is “BR” bedroom or bathroom? Better to take the time to spell it out now than waste time trying to translate it later.

Finally, label your new house. For more compact homes, this may not be a big deal. But, if you have 3, 4, 5+ bedrooms, it’ll be helpful if each was uniquely labeled, with the correct label on the box.

Packing for the kids

Getting settled into a new home can take a long time, especially when with kids. Prepare a few designated boxes that have the essential items your children will want during the first couple of days. It may be favorite toys, drawing pages, or video games. Searching for these items while trying to get the rest of your belongings sorted and organized is a good time. Take it easy and keep these boxes handy.

The early essentials

Adults aren’t much different than children. There are things we want to have available as soon as possible. Pack a few boxes that will have what you need to get through the first week. Fresh clothes, shower needs, reading materials, or even board games. These are the boxes that, if you can get nothing more, will get you through the starting week.

Contact Corrigan

Want more information? Reach out to us to schedule your no-cost, no-commitment, on-site move estimate. Our Pittsburgh move representatives and local movers have the knowledge to guide you through your most complex moving details. Reach out and see why Corrigan has been an industry leader for nearly a century!