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Home Improvement

What to Do While Movers are Moving

Are you excited to live in your new home? If you’re like us and you want to make the experience as convenient as possible then you need to hire a professional moving company to help you out. They will ensure you have your prized possessions (whether big or small) reach their destination the way you want it. They are professionals over the “what”, “how”, “when”, “where”, and most importantly the “why”.

The Madison Smooth Moves for instance is a trusty moving company that will get the job done for you on time so you can either kick back to unwind at your place or focus on getting your paperwork sorted. Professional movers like them are reliable with long-hauls and local jobs alike because they value your time, happiness, and money when moving from one place to another.

There’s no denying that moving companies take care of a large quota of your moving job and in order to make the moving process easier for you and them, you should take into consideration these tips and suggestions below:

Have a house-shift plan

It goes without saying that it is all about planning and preparing. We suggest you first make a checklist of everything you need to move. A separate list should be made for things to do other than the “moving” part (like paperwork, children’s school formalities, utilities, vaccinations for the pets, etc.). To do this, note down everything that comes to your mind (in a small notepad or phone app) and then sort them into lists. After that, you can prepare a Moving Calendar based on your lists that would help you discuss the plan with your movers. Once you finalized it, don’t forget to tell them all your expectations and other requirements and they will be of service accordingly.

Toss out or give away things you don’t need

Like most homeowners, you probably have stuff stored around your house that you don’t use anymore. From metal scraps to old glass art, there are a lot of things you need to get rid of from your garage, kitchen, basement, bedrooms, attic, etc. when moving into a new address.

There are options like donating old-but-good clothes, setting fragile crockery for a yard sale, giving away or gifting certain items to friends as a memento, and a lot more. You can thus drive away knowing your old stuff has a life while cutting down moving expenses.

Prepare a floor plan

Make sure your new nest is ready to be occupied before you hit the road. A floor plan of your new home can help with both packing and unpacking. Having such a plan would give insight as to what labels should be given to each box. All you have to do is have the movers put each box in the specified room. You will need no more help with unpacking.

Wrap and tape!

Stock up on tape, plastic wrap, wrapping cloth, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other packaging and cushioning materials. You don’t want to run to the store when the movers pull up.

You can also discuss this with the movers in advance. If they usually bring these items as part of the service, you need not bother. The experts can also hand you a small shopping list of packing materials so that you need not go overboard with it.

Speaking of packing… there are a lot of emotions and memories attached to your old house. If you are finding it difficult for you to decide what to throw away and what to pack, or if you simply don’t have the time, hire an add-on packing service – most movers are great packers too like Early Bird Moving. Just make sure you let them know if you have any preferences as to what should go together and what should not – sorting things while packing helps a lot while unpacking. All boxes (preferably) should have labels saying what they are if they’re fragile, and their destination (room).

When movers are on it…make sure you are not hovering. You will surely be worried about your belongings. But being professionals, and having insured the contract, movers will make sure that they get the job done as flawlessly and diligently as possible. Of course, it’s great if you can be around to guide them but just let them do their thing and stop overthinking. You hired them for a reason and we’re sure they won’t let you down just like their previous customers.

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Home Improvement

What to Pack and Unpack First When Moving

One of the most stressful and daunting things about moving is the packing and unpacking. Where do you start? It’s easy to just tackle whatever is in front of you first but without a plan, that’s a surefire way for you to end up packing the things you need first, and unpacking the things you need last. Here are some tips on what you should pack and unpack first:

What to pack first

Rarely Used Kitchen Items

Kitchens are the most notorious spaces for rarely used items, and therefore should be one of the spaces you start with. Keep your essentials like dinnerware, flatware, and the things you need most often to cook or bake, and start packing away those rarely used serving dishes and platters, special occasion dinnerware, novelty mugs, and specialty small appliances. The goal is to keep out the bare minimum that you will need while you’re still living in your home and pack all the extras and often delicate and more time-consuming items right at the start.

Books

Books are one of the biggest pains when it comes to packing, especially if you’re a bookworm, but you’ll be surprised how much space they clear up if you pack them first. Books are time-consuming to pack properly and they’re rarely the same size or weight requiring you to pack them in a lot of different boxes. While it can be tempting to pack your books last, they will take a lot of moving boxes to be able to make sure they are still light enough for you and Red Mile Moving Inc. to manage when it comes time to load them up and unpack them in your new space!

Artwork, Shelves & wall hangings

It should go without saying that anything that you have decorating or hanging on your walls will just get in the way the further along in your packing and moving process you get, so save yourself the headache and take down all your artwork, shelves that you’re taking with you, and other wall hangings first. This also allows you to take the time to properly wrap and pack delicate frames and art pieces and gives you the time to patch any holes that you may need to take care of before handing the keys over to the new owners.

Out of season clothing and seasonal items

An easy way to start packing is to tackle the things that are already separated from what you use day-to-day or are in storage for another season. This includes out of season clothing like winter jackets and sweaters, as well as seasonal decor items like your Christmas tree or Halloween decorations.

What to unpack dirst

Essential kitchen items

Make sure you pack a box and label it “kitchen essentials” before you move. This gives you a go-to box to unpack first to ensure you don’t have to go digging through everything for essential items like a few pieces of dinnerware, cups, utensils, and a pot or pan for basic food prep. Make sure you include your salt and pepper and any other regularly used cooking item like olive oil.

Large & Essential durniture items

If you’re using Low Budget Moving they’ll take care of these items for you, but if you’re moving with just the help of friends and family you need to make sure you prioritize these items first. It’s best to get larger furniture items and essentials like your desk (if you work from home) or a couch so you have somewhere to sit, out of the way first. Especially if you choose to take your time moving in, make sure you get the most unwieldy items out of the way, and ensure you have some essentials for comfort’s sake like your mattress and kitchen table and chairs.

Bed Linens, Toiletries & bath towels

Even if you haven’t put together your bed frame yet, bed linens are important. Make sure you unpack your sheets, duvet and pillows first so you’re not scrambling at the end of the night looking for the items you need to sleep.

Similarly, you need easy access to your bathroom essentials like basic toiletries – toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and soap, as well as towels and facecloths. Pack these with your bed linens or other items you know you will need daily like clothes you plan on wearing.

Books

For the same reasons you pack your books first, you should unpack them first too. Your books will be in a lot of boxes, and those boxes take up a lot of space, so one of the fastest ways to clear a bit of clutter while moving into your new home is to tackle your books first.

Hopefully, these tips on what to pack and unpack first while moving help you make your move more efficient!

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Home Improvement

6 Ways to Help Your Aging Parents Move to a New Home

A lot of retirees want to live their remaining years more comfortably. They usually want to live in a home located in a community that is more laidback and suitable for their lifestyle, away from the noise and buzz of the city.

A number of retirees, on the other hand, choose to move because they find running and maintaining their current home difficult due to its size. Because of this, they will be relocating to a smaller house or apartment.

Lastly, many seniors move to a nursing home or assisted facility because they can no longer handle the various activities of daily living on their own. Leaving them on their own, therefore, is not safe or advisable.

Also read – Preparing Your Move This 2019 Tips

Assisting seniors with their move

Although your aging parents may have the best intentions for moving, the whole process will be challenging not only for them but for everyone as well.

Finding and hiring a reputable packing and moving company to assist in your parent’s relocation is a good start to help make the move successful and less stressful for everyone.

Below are other ways you can help your elderly parents as they go through the whole moving process:

#1. Get the whole family on board

No matter how much time is left before the big move, set a meeting with your parents and all the members of your family. Create a moving plan so that your parents will be ready for the actual move.

During this meeting, let your parents make important decisions and decide on a plan of action. However, take care of the smaller details such as designating certain tasks to other family members and with transferring the utilities.

Keep in mind that your parents will be dealing with the emotional part of moving and, as such, you may have to take care of all practical concerns.

#2. Get a floor plan of their new place

Regardless of where your parents will be moving, help them streamline the packing and moving process by getting a copy of their new home’s floor plan. This is something that you have to prioritize if you haven’t been to their new home yet.

With this layout, you will know how many rooms the new place has. Make sure the layout contains how much square footage each room has and the available storage space as well.

When you have these details, you and your parents can carefully consider what possessions will fit in the new home and how much can be kept. This will make the whole purging and packing process easier and less time-consuming.

#3. Encourage your parents to start small and early

Although everyone will be helping out in the packing stage, your parents should still have control over the whole process. As such, encourage them to prepare as soon as possible.

Give them a list of things to do every day. However, make sure these are chores they can do within 30 minutes. Don’t pressure them to spend too much time doing them.

You can help make the process of packing easier for your parents by asking them to begin packing a room that does not hold too much sentimental value. The kitchen and bathroom are usually good places to start.

#4. Help your parents sort

Since your parents have lived longer than you, they will likely have more possessions that they have amassed over the years. Be patient and gentle as you help them declutter and downsize.

As you help your parents pack, ask them if they use the item. If not, ask them if they want to sell, give it away, or donate it.

In case they can’t let go of something but their new home can’t accommodate it, suggest keeping it temporarily. Ask the other family members to keep the other things your parents can’t give away as well.

Keep in mind that it is important that your parents have enough time to go through their more “personal” possessions, so avoid rushing them when they are packing their bedroom or the attic.

#5. Let them keep what they want to keep

Although you may not understand why your father wants to pack the table football he hasn’t played in years, this item clearly means something to him. As such, let him bring the item to their new place.

However, your parents need to know that they will have to make some hard choices especially when it comes to furniture, appliances, and other bigger items. Aside from offering to keep some items, recommend renting a self-storage unit in the meantime.

#6. Help them prepare for moving day

Lastly, before the big day, check that your parents have prepared an “essentials” box or bag. This should contain some clothes, toiletries, towels, bedding, salves, and other items they need for their first night in their new home. Make sure they place their medicines in this box or bag as well.

With these items on hand, your parents won’t need to spend their first day or night in their new home rummaging through boxes.

Lastly, throw a small farewell party for your parents. Invite everyone in your family and their close friends. Make sure your parents get the chance to say their goodbyes properly to everyone they will be leaving behind.

On the actual moving day, make sure you are there for your parents. Assist them in any way you can and handle the physically taxing and more complicated details of the move.

More importantly, keep reminding them that even if they will be living far from you, they can always count on you for anything they need.

Author Bio: Craig Jones is the Managing Director at Aussiemove, Australia’s largest independent moving alliance. Craig is a respected member of the removalist network in Australia, having served in senior positions, including the President of the removal industries governing body, the Australian Furniture Removals Association (AFRA). With 23 years of experience at Aussiemove, he has the skills and the highly trained team to move families safely and reliably, in Adelaide, across Australia and around the world.