Hire A Helper – A Movers Blog

Moving can be stressful, and when the time comes to unpack, you just want it to be over.
But, you are almost done! You have a room filled with numerous, matching, brown boxes and don’t know where to start. Here are some steps to follow to make it easier:

Things Need:

• box cutter
• scissors
• plastic storage bins (optional)
• tools: hammer, nails, and screwdriver
• cleaning supplies
• time

6. Stay organized. One box at a time. You don’t want to start opening all the boxes at once without finding a new home for your belongings. Break down the boxes and remove them after you unpack, that way they take up less space. You can either save the boxes to reuse in the future or recycle them. Throw all the trash, tape and things you decide you don’t want, immediately into a trash bag instead of on the floor. If you keep things neat from the beginning, it will be easier to keep up with throughout the process and after your settled. It is going to be overwhelming at first, but you will begin to see results as you work to unpack those boxes and clean up along the way.

7. Plastic Drawers and plastic storage bins come in handy when trying to organize your room. The flat plastic bins are easy to slid under the bed or fit into the closet. It is a cheap and easy way to store your items. Use a shoe rack on the back of your door to create maximum space.

8. Make it your own. This is the fun part! Decorate it how you like. Add pictures and posters to the wall. Hang curtains that match your pillow and bedspread, and shelves for additional decorative space. Keep the color scheme and theme the same throughout the room.

You are in your new home, but the job is not over yet. There are several things to consider after moving to a new place.

1. Unpack. First, check to make sure there is no major damages and that the appliances are working. Place all the furniture and boxes in the correct rooms. Position and assemble the big furniture like beds, desks,tables and chairs, and couches before opening the boxes. Unpacking can also take some time. The best thing to do is take a couple days off work or set aside the weekends to get most of the unpacking done. Start with a common area like the kitchen so that everyone has a place to convene that is not filled with boxes. Each family member can unpack their own room. Then, work together to unpack the other rooms one by one or assign tasks to each member of the family. Unpack one box at a time so as not to get overwhelmed. After the boxes are gone, decorate your home with curtains, pictures, rugs, and more!

2. Services. Make sure all the services are working: home phone, electricity, cable, internet, water, gas, and all other utilities. Find out what day trash pick up is.

3. Mail. Check with the Post Office to make sure your mail is being forwarded.

4. Meet the Neighbors. Be friendly; say hello when people walk by. Knock on your neighbor’s door to introduce yourself. This is a great way to meet people. Neighbors can be a great source too for the best places in town, finding information out about the area, or maybe just borrowing a cup of milk. Find out what lawn or pool service they use, and get recommendations for health care professionals. Take advantage to get to know people who are familiar with the area.

5. Neighborhood- Check out the neighborhood. Locate the nearest grocery store, mall, movie theater, and restaurants. Find out about local events that are offered, which is a great way to meet new people. Get involved in the community: PTA, volunteer groups, or city council meeting. Look out for the closest hospital for when emergencies arise.

6. Register. Register your children for school. If you moved out of state, get new drivers license and plates at the DMV if needed (check with local DMV to see how long you have to do this). If moved locally, change address on driver’s license if you haven’t already done so. Beware of any law differences in the new state.

7. New Health Care Professionals. Find a new doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and vet in the area. The phone numbers for the local police and fire department are always good to have.

8. Hire. Hire any additional services that you need: lawn services, pool, housecleaning, or babysitters.

9. Get Settled. Start stacking up those cards: local grocery store card if you don’t already have one, video rental card, and library card. Sign up for a gym membership. Now you are really getting settled!

10. House Warming Party- After you are all settled and unpacked, you need a way to celebrate and show off your new home. Invite new neighbors and old. It is a great way to get gifts for your house too.
It can be hard moving to a new place, but there are many chances available to meet people: through school, neighbors, work place, and the gym. You will be meeting a lot of people in this process so take advantage of that.
Finally, you are home!

There is a lot to do before moving. Don’t forget about the little things that are easy to overlook during this busy time. 

1. Find a new home. Decide where you want to move to or if you have to move to a certain location due to your job. Decide what you are     looking for whether it is an apartment complex or house, buying or renting, and what kind of environment you are looking to live in.

2. Tell Family and Friends. Notify your friends and family of your move including the new address and home phone number.

3. Change of Address. Fill out a Change of Address form to notify the post office of your new address either at the Post Office or online. Thiswill take about 7-10 business days or you can specify when you want the mail to begin being forwarded. Other places to inform about your change of address:

• Financial and Personal Accounts- banks, credit card companies, insurance agencies, accountant, and department store credit cards
• Subscriptions- magazines and newspaper
• Utilities and Services- physicians, housecleaning services, garden services, and attorney
• Government and Public Offices- Driver’s License, Vehicle Registration, Post Office, Voting Ballot, Income Tax

4. Cancel. There are a number of things that need to be canceled before leaving your old home: home phone, cable, newspaper service, internet, electricity, gas, water, and garbage.If you are moving locally, you may be able to keep the same service providers. Just contact them to let them know your change of address. If you have to switch service providers, ask about the installation charges and other taxes that need to be paid. Beware of contracts you have signed with your local services and possible cancellation fees. Call to confirm that the utilities in your new home will be turned on by the move in date. This should be done about two weeks in advance.

5. Repairs. Get any repairs done in your old house. If renting or leasing your current house, schedule a walk through with the owner. Take care of any repairs that need to be done in your new house before you move in.

6. Moving Truck. Reserve in advance. There are different types of services, so how much work do you want to do? Full service move means the company provides the truck, drives it, loads and unloads. Self service includes you packing the truck and the company will drive it. A truck rental means you pack it and drive it. This is the cheapest choice, but it requires the most work. The full cerise move will cost more, but it is less work for you. It may be worth the decrease of stress.

7. Moving Company. Fill the moving company in on the details of the job. For example, specify if you are relocating to an apartment or house, and how many floors or stories that will be involved. Any large, unusual pieces of furniture like a piano sometimes cost extra. Find out if the company provides hand truck, dollies, furniture pads, and four wheel dollies because most are available upon request. The summer months, holidays, and the beginning of every month are the busiest times for moving so take that into consideration when calling to book in advance.

Questions about what moving company to use? Visit our website HireAHelper.com, and let us do all the work. We have over 2,000 movers listed! Enter your zip code and moving date, and a list of moving companies will appear. We provide quotes and a description of all the moving companies so you can take your pick. You can also call us at 866-994-HIRE to talk to a Customer Service Representative.

8. Pack. This can done a month or two in advance all the way up until the day before the move. Start packing the items that are not frequently used like the off season clothes, holiday decorations, and unused room like the guest bedroom. Throw, sell, or give away things that aren’t going with you. Clean out the junk drawers.
The day before the move, pack up the essential items that you will need first at the new location such as box cutter, trash bag, plastic dishes, paper towels, and toilet paper. A bag for each memberof the family containing clothes and toiletries should also be packed last so it can be unpacked first at the new location.

9. Plan Route. Book the flights in advance if flying to new home location. If driving, figure out the route and the amount of time it will take you to get from one location to the other. This can be made into a fun trip with sight-seeing stops along the way! Pack a bag for each family member and make accommodations for any pets. If you need to stay overnight, decide where you are going to stop and make reservations for a hotel. Or maybe you will visit family along the way and stay with them.

10. Last Day. Pack the “Essential Items” so they are easily accessible upon arrival. Have everything within reach that is needed for the trip: snacks, pets supplies, phone charger, medications, etc. Have all important paperwork kept together in a manila envelope close at hand like the insurance paperwork, leases, rental truck paperwork. Have important phone numbers with you too like moving truck company,
moving company, leasers, Realtor, and the hotel number. If you may have a walk through with the owner scheduled, be sure everything is moved out of the house. Leave your old keys, and don’t forget to have your new keys. Lastly, take a minute to walk through your home, remembering the great time you had there.

For more details, visit www.hireahelper.com/Learning-Center/Moving-and-Packing-Guide/First-Steps-to-Moving.

Tomorrow, look for Top 10 Things To Do After Moving.