In 2013, 15.3 million Americans moved between June and August, according to the American Moving & Storage Association. To help prepare for the hectic summer moving season, Mattress Firm, Inc., and Homes.com have partnered to provide outside-the-box tips to help movers avoid unnecessary stress and reduce property damage.
“Moving can be overwhelming as you juggle packing and moving essential belongings,” says Wendy Froehlich, vice president of marketing at Homes.com. “A few simple tips and tricks can help ease the stress and result in a smooth transition.”
Eight tips to avoid a moving fail
- Plan ahead: Plan a move weeks before the actual day. A moving file and calendar are good tools to keep all moving information – a lease or mortgage contract, utility hook up, power documents and other important information – in one place.
- Get organized: Organize boxes for their corresponding room in your new home, sealing them with colored duct tape to color code.
- Don’t crack under pressure: Keep plates in one piece by stacking Styrofoam plates between each one. Protect glasses by putting them inside pairs of clean socks.
- Vacuum seal out-of-season clothing: Don’t waste time fumbling with out of season clothes. Vacuum sealing will allow it to take up less space for the move, and it can go directly into storage in a new place.
- Think of the little things: Keep sandwich bags handy to hold small items that must be taken apart, such as screws for a mounted flat-screen television or a bed frame, and tape the bag to the back of the object. Label bags in case they get separated.
- Sweet dreams: If it’s time to replace an item, do so during the move to avoid extra packing. It might be a good time, for example, to replace an older mattress.
- Green thumb: Transport plants delicately by using a Christmas tree bag to keep all of the appendages safe and prevent snapping.
- Survival kit: Make life easier when arriving at the new home by packing an easily accessible overnight bag with clothes and necessary toiletries. Also include moving staples, such as a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags and power strips.
