10 Excellent Moving Tips and Tricks

From segregating all home items and packing your belongings, moving an entire household isn’t a simple process. Fortunately, with the help of these smart moving tips and tricks, it’s about to get a bit easier. Here are 20 easy moving tips and tricks that anyone can use when moving to a new home. Good luck and happy moving!

• Find free moving boxes

Don’t spend too much of your hard-earned money on cardboard boxes. Instead, look for free moving boxes. Chances are, you’ll be able to find plenty of cardboard boxes that have been tossed by neighbours.

• Reuse original boxes for electronics and appliances

Speaking of moving boxes, don’t forget to reuse your old ones. From the TV to the blender, most electronics and small appliances come delivered in cardboard boxes. If you happen to still have these boxes, we recommend reusing them for the move. Not only does this ensure that your items will fit perfectly in the box, but it also saves you from having to spend money on boxes.

• Schedule a donation pick-up for free

Purging heavy furniture, old clothing and other household items? Try scheduling a free donation pick-up with a local charity such as Goodwill, Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity. Having them pick up your donations will save you from having to haul everything yourself, which means you’ll have more time to focus on the move.

• Obtain quotes from at least three different moving companies

Don’t hire the first moving company you interview. Instead, try to obtain quotes from at least three companies to compare prices and services. When interviewing a moving company, make sure they are properly licensed and insured.

• Take photos of your belongings before packing them

Hiring movers? Prior to packing your belongings, be sure to take “before” photos of all fragile and/or valuable items. If the mover breaks or damages your items while moving, you may need these photos in order to file a claim and receive compensation.

• Colour-code your moving boxes and household items with post-it notes

Don’t waste money on fancy moving labels. Use simple coloured post-it notes to color-coded your boxes when moving. For instance, place a pink post-it notes on anything you wish donate and a green post-it notes on anything you wish to sell. Place orange post-it notes on boxes containing kitchen items; place blue post-it notes on boxes containing office items, etc.

• Stuff boxes containing fragile items with pillows and blankets

Kill two birds with one stone by stuffing moving boxes containing fragile items with pillows and blankets. This will provide extra cushioning for items and prevent them from breaking, while also allowing you to pack more of your items inside the boxes.

• Get extra cash to tip movers

Many people choose to tip their movers for a job well-done. If you plan to tip your movers (assuming they do a good job), we recommend heading to the ATM the night before to retrieve cash.

• Check cabinets, drawers, appliances and closets before moving out

When moving out, it’s easy to leave things behind. We recommend double checking all kitchen cabinets, bedroom closets, drawers and appliances (think: your fridge) before handing over the keys.

• Rekey your new house as soon as possible

From handymen and cleaning services to friends and family, there’s no telling who was given a copy of the keys from the previous owners. For safety purposes, we recommend rekeying your entire house prior to moving in. All you have to do is call a locksmith to come out to the house to change the locks. They should be able to do so in a matter of hours.