Change of clothes – check; charger – check; toilet paper… Yes, you do need to pack toilet paper before moving day. Find the full list of essential items, plus more tips, in this full-service moving guide.
Last year I helped my friend move - and let me tell you, it was no fun at all. There's really only one rule when you're carrying a piano up a flight of stairs: Be sharp or Be flat - and no amount of pizza and beer will save you.
Which is why when it was time for me to move, I did the sensible thing: I hired full-service movers. There were still things I had to do to prepare for the move, but I did not have to lift a single instrument, appliance, or furniture piece.
The one thing I did have to carry was my essentials box - and I strongly recommend packing one whether you're moving to a different state or within the same city. But more on that later - there's a lot to unpack here.
If you're hiring full-service movers, there are a few things you should do before and during moving day - and I'm here to share my wisdom with you.
I don't know about you, but I always like to write stuff down - from my grocery list to my daily to-do tasks. Not only because I forget a lot, but also because I like the dopamine rush that comes with checking off an item.
When it comes to moving, even if you're not the "list type", you really should make one - or download a free one online. You probably have more stuff than you realize and you need to keep track of it - both during packing and unpacking - and the best way to do that is to create an inventory list.
And while you're at it, snap some photos too, especially of high-value items. No one likes to think about worst-case scenario but, in case something does get damaged, visual evidence is pretty hard to dispute... just saying.
Remember when the pandemic started and suddenly everyone was buying truckloads of toilet paper - and you feared running out of toilet paper more than you feared the virus itself? It sounds insane - true. But hear me out: not having toilet paper when you move into your new house, can be a real party pooper.
That's why you should always pack your essentials:
It's important to pack this bag or box yourself, as you know best what you need and like, and to bring it with you in the car. You'll likely arrive at your new home before the moving truck - and you sure as hell don't wanna be stuck there with no food, no money for food, no phone battery, and no toilet paper.
Oh, and you should make sure to pack and bring with you any important documents, expensive jewelry, and heirlooms, too... for obvious reasons.
I know, I know, the main benefit of hiring full-service movers is that you don't have to do any of the moving and packing stuff, yet here I am telling you to do it anyway - what's that all about?
No worries, aside from packing your essentials, you don't have to pack anything else. However, it would be both smart and nice of you to unplug, unhook, empty, and disassemble your belongings - basically, leaving the home and walls as bare as possible.
Professional movers are skilled and experienced, but accidents can happen - and you don't want someone accidentally tripping on a cord, potentially breaking it, or breaking a bone.
So remember: unplug, unhook, empty, and disassemble. The packing and loading will be handled by the crew, who will be able to do the job much faster with everything ready to roll.
Moving is pretty much a full-body workout - people will get tired, hungry, and thirsty. So it's nice to have some snacks and chilled water available for your crew; they'll appreciate the gesture. You can also tip them if you feel like it - but it's not a requirement.
Whatever you decide to do, remember to keep your kids and pets occupied in an empty room that's already been packed. They have a habit of getting in the way - so it's best to keep them out of the way for everyone's safety and peace of mind.
Hiring full-service movers will almost definitely cost more than DIY-ing the whole thing - but exactly how much more will depend on a lot of things: your location, the number of items you have, the time of year, etc.
The best thing to do is to check out a few different companies, get quotes, and compare the services and prices to find the movers that best fit your needs and budget. If you're thinking "I don't have time to call a bunch of companies", I'm totally with you - which is why I have a better solution. The guys who wrote the guide this guide is based on (you can find it here, btw) also offer free estimates. They're called Movers.com and all they need is some basic info about your upcoming move to provide you with up to seven quotes from licensed and insured movers.
It's that easy.
