After selling your home, you may only have a moment to relax before having
to think about packing up your house. If you're moving across the country,
hiring professional movers to do the heavy lifting and transporting for you
will help ease your mind. However, you'll need to take the time to prepare before
they arrive to ensure a smooth move.
Professional moving companies offer a wide range of services, such as
packing your belongings, moving them into the truck, hauling them from your old
house to your new one, and unpacking once you arrive. You can also hire them to
clean the house you're leaving to prepare it for the next owners or
tenants.
Depending on your moving budget, you can hire the movers to handle just one,
a few, or all of these tasks for you. If you opt to have them pack up and move
your possessions, there are some preparations you should make to both your home
and your belongings. These precautions will help protect your home and your
household items while making the movers' jobs a bit easier.
Here are some tips for preparing for cross-country move.
Before starting to pack, spend a minute or two taking inventory of your
belongings. Doing so will not only help you get organized but also ensure that
all of your items make it to your new home. During the inventory process, you
may realize that you no longer need a few items and end up tossing, selling, or
donating them. Doing so will reduce clutter when you reach the other side,
which will be especially important if you're downsizing.
When taking inventory, decide if you want to pack certain items, such as
valuables, yourself rather than having the movers do it. If so, make sure you
purchase the packing products, such as tape, bubble wrap, and paper, ahead of
time. Write everything down in a small notebook that you can take along with
you, or create a checklist on your phone.
At least a week before the movers arrive, wipe down all of your furniture,
vacuum upholstery, and remove any fabric stains, such as on throw pillows,
comforters, quilts, or blankets. Doing this will make your life easier after
the move and reduce the chances of permanent damage. For instance, the longer a
food or liquid stain sits on an object, the harder it may be to remove
later.
Remove any leftover food debris from kitchen appliances, such as toasters,
toaster ovens, blenders, and crock pots. Run vinegar through your coffee pot
according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you place dirty
belongings in a storage unit, they can attract pests, such as rodents and
cockroaches. The crumbs and stains can also encourage mold and mildew growth,
especially in warm, humid climates.
While you can have the movers wrap your fragile items for you, completing
the task yourself will give you peace of mind. For example, individually wrap
any family heirlooms, such as vases, picture frames, plate sets, or figurines
in bubble wrap and place them in boxes marked as fragile. You can then either
transport the boxes yourself in your vehicle or have them loaded into the
moving van.
Also, set aside any important documents, including insurance paperwork,
contracts, financial documents, and health records. Place these files in
folders, safety deposit boxes, or durable plastic bins and consider keeping
them in your car with you during the move. This will ensue that they're always
on hand, and you'll be able to locate them right away when you get to your new
location.
Contact Los Flores
Movers
today to discuss our moving services and find out how we can assist
you in your long-distance move.
