While it can be a headache to undergo a big move, hiring movers is a great decision that will likely make the process much easier. But even if the professionals are handling a big portion of the work, there are still a few important things to do before your movers arrive.
1. Dispose of Things You Don’t Need
One of the most common moving mistakes is not getting rid of things that you don’t need before a move. Be sure to have a purge of your stuff, getting rid of anything that you don’t need. It can be a waste of time and money to have your movers transport things that you won’t be keeping anyway! Additionally, you can take a tax write-off for items donated to a non-profit, so purging pre-move can be a win-win.
2. Deal with the Things Movers Won’t Touch
Be aware that there are some things most movers just won’t be able to move due to various laws. These things include toxic, flammable, and perishable items such as plants, food, weapons, paint, chemicals, oils, and cleaning fluids. Be prepared to transport some of these things on your own, or better yet, get rid of them before the moving day rolls around.
3. Take Inventory
You should take inventory of what is in your house and that you will be moving. This will help you to stay organized and help you to keep a level head during the move. In addition to this organization, it also has the added benefit of helping your case if any items are broken or stolen during the move. Be sure to check out our helpful blog on moving apps, like Sortly, that streamline the home inventory process!
4. Sort Through Smaller Items
While you can enlist the top NYC movers and we’ll do the packing for you, it’s best to sort through some of the smaller items to speed up the process on moving day and save on your overall moving costs. Go through drawers, especially in places that tend to accumulate the most clutter, like the kitchen and bathroom. Toss the outdated lip gloss and nail polish, take out menus, and other trash, then use Ziploc bags or clear plastic boxes to organize everything you’re going to keep. Making the effort to sort smaller items now will make it easier to load them into bigger boxes when the movers arrive.
5. Determine What Not to Pack
Make sure that any items that you don’t want the movers to pack up and move, like your essentials box, are clearly marked and out of the way. If you have personal items or things that you plan to transport on your own, or that you will need before or during the move, consider making a clearly-marked “No Pack Zone.”
6. Take Photos
It’s important to be proactive when choosing a moving company and making sure you’ve picked one that you can trust and that is dependable. Taking photos of your items, particularly expensive items or antiques, will allow you to protect yourself in the off chance that the movers prove to be untrustworthy.
7. Transfer Your Utilities
Before moving day, make sure you’ve contacted the appropriate utilities to set up service at your new home. There’s nothing worse than moving into a dark apartment without working water! Check out our New York City utilities article for info on the providers that service the various NYC boroughs.
The above things are some of the main tasks you should do in anticipation of your moving day. These tasks will simply make the process as smooth as possible when the day comes, and help you to keep stress and headaches to a minimum.
