One thing to keep in mind to simplify moving day is that it is crucial to communicate with the movers. This includes how your boxes are labeled! The more information they have about your belongings and where they need to go will make the moving process as smooth as possible.
After helping our clients through many moves over the years, we have learned what to do and not to do when it comes to labeling boxes to ensure the best move possible.
Don’t
Wait until the last minute to start packing boxes.
Do
Start early! In fact, you can never start early enough. Starting early will allow you to thoughtfully and intentionally pack boxes. This will avoid the inevitable “throwing everything in a box” just to be done in time for the movers. Stress will continue to build as you near your move date. Packing under less stress will lead to more organized boxes and therefore, a more organized move.
Don’t
Label the boxes with the room they came from.
Do
Label the boxes for the room they are going to. When moving from one space to another, the rooms do not always align. For instance, you may be downsizing from a 4 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom house. If you label the box “4th bedroom”, the movers will not know where to bring it when it comes off the truck. The main label should read the location of where the movers need to bring the box in the new space to simplify the moving process. If you skip this step, the movers tend to pile these boxes in an out-of-the-way place like the garage or the dining room. This makes more work for you.
Don’t
Be funny with the labels. Yes, it may give the movers a chuckle, but it will not be so funny when you are trying to find something in your new space. Is it in the box labeled “Pants I Am Too Fat To Fit In” or “Fragile: Van Gogh’s Starry Night”? Yes, I have seen this. And no, it was not so funny when the client was trying to unpack and settle into the new home.
Do
Include two labels on each box. One label should be the location of where it is going in the new space to help the movers The second sub-label should be the correct content of the box to help you when unpacking. Be as specific as possible!
Another moving trick is to put a sign on the door of each room that corresponds to the room labels on the boxes. For instance, the movers may not know what bedroom is going to be your office or the playroom or Timmy’s room. Having a sign on the door makes it easy for them to get the boxes into the correct room.
Following these steps can help simplify your move day and the following weeks when trying to unpack and get settled.
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