There are as many ways to handle a move as there are people. As the saying goes, “everyone has their own way of doing things,” so we can plan and organize this process according to our own style and the needs of the moment. However, there are so many factors and details to consider that it’s difficult to complete a move completely efficiently without running into problems along the way.

Fortunately, many of these obstacles can be avoided if we keep in mind a few tips for moving. So here at Culmia, we’ve selected a dozen of them to help you learn how to move effectively and ensure that something as exciting as moving doesn’t end up turning into a nightmare for you and your loved ones.

Tips for an Effective Move

Who’s going to take care of the move?

As with everything else, the decision here is up to you. But this is one of the most important decisions, because it will shape the entire move. If you don’t have a lot of belongings and think it will be a simple process, one tip for moving is to ask family or friends for help, rent a van, and handle the move yourself.

Otherwise, we recommend that you hire a professional moving service to handle the most important aspects of the move. In this case, the money you spend will be well worth it, because it will significantly lighten your workload, save you time, and also minimize the risk of anything breaking or getting damaged along the way or of any major unforeseen issues arising.

Consider getting insurance

By law, moving companies must carry moving insurance that includes liability coverage for any potential damage to real property resulting from the packing, transportation, assembly, and disassembly of all household goods. In addition, you may also consider purchasing insurance through an insurance company to cover both the transportation and your valuables.

So, once again, it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it. Consider factors such as the amount of belongings you’ll be moving, their value, the weather, the distance you’ll be traveling with them, the level of professionalism of the company you hire, etc.; because standard insurance that covers the risks of damage, theft, or delays might not be enough to give you peace of mind.

Take inventory

The goal of the move is to ensure that all the belongings you want to take from your old home to your new one arrive in perfect condition. And to successfully accomplish this, you’ll need to make a list or inventory of all your most important items beforehand. Of course, you don’t need to list items of little value, such as decorative figurines; however, it’s recommended that you keep track of the important items so you don’t end up missing them days or even months later.

Keep what will be useful to you and let go of what you don’t need

One of the best tips for moving is to make things as simple and easy as possible: let’s declutter before we start moving so we don’t waste energy and time transporting things we won’t need in the future. In fact, moving to a new home is always a good opportunity to get rid of what we don’t need, because under normal circumstances, we might be a little “lazy” about doing it.

Make sure your new home is completely ready before you get started

Moving should be the final step in the complex process of changing homes. Before that, we should have completed the necessary paperwork, as well as any planned construction and renovations, including painting. And, of course, it’s also highly recommended that we thoroughly clean every room, since it will be much more difficult to do so once the furniture is in place.

Have a clear idea of where—more or less—each piece of furniture or object will go

Don’t just settle for moving furniture, boxes, and bags filled with your belongings from your old home to your new one. If you don’t plan ahead where everything will go, you’ll run into a serious problem during the move—and even afterward—because you’ll end up leaving things just anywhere and wasting a lot of time putting each item in its proper place. Therefore, having a clear plan will help you organize everything better and make unpacking and setting things up much easier.

Make your move your top priority

Get used to the idea: for the duration of the move, it should be the top priority for you and your family. This is a very important process in which you’ll be changing homes and moving all your belongings, so it will require all your effort and attention. Try not to skimp on time or rush through things just to finish sooner, because haste is never a good advisor and can lead you to make a serious mistake.

Keep food and the refrigerator in mind

What are you going to eat during the day or days that the move takes? How are you going to store your food while your refrigerator isn’t working? Ask yourself these questions before you start, so you can use up your frozen or refrigerated food before it goes bad, and find an alternative place to store it during those days.

Take only the essentials with you and save the essential furniture for last

Keepeveryday items —such as your toothbrush, a change of clothes, or your keys— with you at all times. It might help to put together a basic kit so you always have everything you need for your comfort right at hand. And, of course, make sure that basic furniture—beds, nightstands, a kitchen table, etc.—is available wherever you’re staying that night.

Be organized and pack and label everything properly in advance

Another tip for moving is to gather boxes, packing tape, plastic bags, newspaper, foam sheets and padding, etc. Keep in mind that all items should be properly packed and labeled so they don’t get lost along the way and can be moved as easily as possible.

Use boxes for your most important belongings, and don’t forget to wrap fragile or valuable items in paper or padding. And be practical whenever you can—you can pack softer, more pliable items—like towels and clothes—in plastic bags so they take up less space.

Leave small items in drawers or cabinets

You don’t have to pack up absolutely everything. If you have a piece of furniture with drawers or a closet that closes securely, you can leave the contents inside. This will make the furniture heavier, but it’ll save you time and make the move a lot easier. Just make sure there’s nothing fragile or important inside, because unexpected breaks or bumps could happen during the move!

Take it slowly and keep an eye on everything

If you’ve left most of the work to a specialized company, stay on top of the situation at all times and closely supervise the process. And if you’re handling it yourself, be patient and take things one step at a time. During a move, a lot of things will happen, and it’s important to pay attention to everything around you so you can resolve any problems as they arise.

Here are our 12 tips for an efficient move. If you’re planning to move soon, we encourage you to put them into practice and share your experience with us in the comments.

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