How does moving day work? Read the moving day checklist below to find out.
The supersonic speed with which Mr. Moving Day moves through the moving calendar is truly mind-blowing.
One day you clearly remember thinking how the day of your move is a whole month away, and the next thing you know – Bam, bam! – moving day is the day after today.
Do you know how to prepare for moving day?
Are you aware of exactly what happens on moving day?
Do you even have a vague idea how to survive moving day?
These are all valid questions that may be troubling you the closer you get to the defining moment of your relocation.
Calm down. Simply consult the following moving day checklist which explains in details how moving day works and will offer plenty of moving day tips for a safe and stress-free move to your new home.
1. Be an early moving day riser
The countdown to moving day is over and tomorrow is the big day! In order to have the strength to survive it, go to bed as early as you possibly can the day before and set the alarm clock for an early morning head start. There is a good reason why moving days are notorious for being excessively long and exhausting – there is usually an overwhelming amount of tasks to be completed even before the end is in sight. All your pre-move organization and endless moving preparations come down to this single period of 24 hours so try to make the most of it.
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It’s important to know that you can reach your removal company or get contacted by them in case of an emergency, or simply to sort out some last-minute details. This is why you should make sure your mobile phone is fully charged and operational throughout the entire house moving day. Ideally, the relocation will so well organized and executed that you won’t need to make even one phone call. But hey, it’s moving day and the thing is that you never know. The most stressful period of your entire move may just as well decide to pull out an unpleasant surprise or two out of its magic hat.
3. Prepare money for tips
Naturally, tipping your removal crew after the work is done is not something you have to do. Rather, it’s more of a personal decision if you feel like they have done a good job taking care of your belongings. More than anything else, it’s a gesture of gratitude with which you’re emphasizing the statement, “Good job, boys! I’m very pleased with the way you handled the move.”.
So, if you’re really satisfied with the outstanding relocation service of your removal team, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t reward their efforts and dedication by offering them a tip. So, while preparing for moving day, it’s a good idea to set aside some cash for tips as well. When, or if the right time comes, just make sure you hand the tip to each remover individually instead of giving the lump sum to a single person.
4. Ensure moving day safety for children and pets
Moving day is not safe for your children and pets, so arrange for somebody to take care of them away from the whirlwind of activities.
Do you know how to make moving day less stressful? Our moving day tips continue with your number one priority during this crazy busy moving stage – safety. In a time when emotions have the tendency of running higher than the healthy limit, and even the best relocation organization does not come ensured against chaotic instances, your safety and the safety of the ones around you (spouse, children, pets) must be provided at all costs.
Your children and/or pets surely won’t be safe running around the hired labourers’ feet, so arrange in advance for a family member or a friend to look after them away from the relocation epicentre. Knowing that your loved ones are well taken care of will give you the necessary peace of mind to concentrate on the tasks at hand and be more productive in the end.
5. Put on your moving day clothes
Speaking of being safe, sometimes a thing as insignificant and trivial as what you wear on moving day could compromise the safety of the entire move. While wondering how to dress up in the morning, think of only two words – comfort and protection. The clothes you wear when moving house should provide maximum flexibility and breathability, have numerous secure pockets where you can keep your cash, phone, keys, small tools and other handy items, and also be appropriate to the season or current climatic conditions (it may be raining on moving day). The shoes you choose should be closed and have good traction in order to provide the utmost protection for your feet. Avoid wearing baggy clothes, open shoes or long jewelry pieces for your own safety.
6. Check and re-check your living space
Unless you have opted for a full-service move and are waiting for professional packers, you should make sure all your household items are properly packed and are ready for transportation before the removal team arrives at your door. Inspect the entirety of your home for one last time to make moving day easier – double check all premises, including the storage areas such as garage, basement or attic. Check the immediate areas around your house as well – nothing (and no one!) should be accidentally left behind so a final thorough inspection of your living space is a must.
7. Pack a moving day survival kit
You should have already packed a survival kit but if you haven’t done it for some reason or another, it’s time to prepare it before the removers arrive. The basic idea of such a box is to help you get by fairly comfortable without the essentials that you usually take for granted. If you are forced to spend one last night at you soon-to-be-old home before you begin the relocation journey yourself or you arrive at your new residence before the removal van does, then the survival kit in question (also known as an essentials box) will be simply invaluable.
Consider placing the following items into your essentials box: medication, kitchen utensils, toiletries, a towel, a blanket, a change of clothes for everyone, favourite toys of children or pets and other truly fundamental items to serve you well until you regain access to your other stuff.
8. Keep moving paperwork safe
If you have too many documents to fit into a single folder, consider finding a special box of appropriate size for your moving documentation.
Every residential move is accompanied by plenty of moving documentation which you are advised to keep in one safe place until the relocation is officially over, and even beyond that point. If it’s not the first time you visit our comprehensive relocation resources, then you should know that creating a moving folder at the start of the preparations is more than a good idea. If you don’t have a moving file, have one ready now and keep inside it all the documents given to you by your removal firm, as well as all the paperwork that you yourself have generated – receipts, inventory lists, agreements, personal notes and so on.
This moving folder must not leave your side during all stages of your move to another city.
9. Keep valuable items with you
Of course, the other items that must not leave your side during the moving day preparation are your valuables as you’re probably in possession of either very expensive items, or possessions of sentimental value, or even both. Apart from the important paperwork inside your moving folder, other essential documents that you should be wise to keep an eye on include passports, licenses, certificates, deeds, records, statements and so on. Also, make sure you keep cash, bank cards, collections, keys, prescription medication, jewelry pieces, electronic gadgets and a score of other various valuables in a very safe place and under constant supervision.
Remember that under no circumstances are you to hand any of your valuable items to your removers. The obligation to safely transport your possessions of higher monetary and sentimental value rests with you.
10. Welcome your removal team
Let the pros do their job.
Our checklist of things to do on moving day continues with welcoming the hired removal help. Hopefully, your removers will be punctual and you’ll spot the moving van approaching your home at the agreed time. However, if the pre-arranged hour comes and goes, and no removal crew can be seen in sight, contact your removal company right away in an attempt to understand the reason behind the unnerving delay.
Granted that things go according to plan, as they should, greet your removers, show them around your property, explain clearly what is expected of them and then let them do their job. Of course, they will know exactly what and how to do it (after all, they are pros) but don’t fail to voice any concerns you may be having or any specific pieces of information they should be aware of before the serious work gets underway.
11. Be a considerate host
It’s recommended that you treat the removers as any good and considerable host would. It won’t cost you much to show that you care and in most cases, the members of your removal crew will surely appreciate the gesture. Provide easy access to the toilet, offer cold or hot beverages according to the weather outside and, if the relocation takes much longer than anticipated, consider treating your workers to sandwiches or some sort of snack to keep their energy, motivation and satisfaction elevated.
When all your household items are loaded into the moving van, tip the removers if you feel they deserve to be awarded, confirm that the driver has the address to your new home, knows how to reach it and has your phone number in case of an emergency.
12. Clean and secure the property
This moving day to-do list won’t be complete if we don’t mention the most important things to do on moving day after the removal truck has left your property. The time to leave your old home and face the future life ahead is very near but not before you make sure your property is properly cleaned and well secured.
One thing is sure – you will be left with plenty of cleaning to do around your place. Gather your last ounces of strength and do your best to erase the dirty marks of this tiresome day. Once that task is marked as done, move on to one of the very last items from the moving day checklist and secure your home before you leave it for good. Do one final walk around your entire property and check whether all the windows and doors are closed and locked securely.
13. Begin your relocation journey
Have a safe trip home!
It’s time to say goodbye to your best friends (if they live nearby) and favourite neighbours in person and start your relocation trip. Whether you’re driving or flying to your new home in a new city, the thought that you have survived moving day unscathed will give you extra mental strength to face the new challenges that await you.
Thanks to the moving day tips above, now you will have a much better idea how to prepare for moving day, what to do on moving day, as well as how to handle the busiest and most stressful day of your entire residential move without any long-lasting mental and physical damage.
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