Moving and relocation can be overwhelming, but only when you don’t know how to get it right. No matter how many times in the past you have relocated, but the moment, you get that job transfer latter in hand or decide to move to another house, you start feeling overwhelmed.
Naturally, household moving and relocation is not one big task, but it’s like a process with several smaller, but crucial tasks involved in the process.
Proper packing is equally important like careful handling, arranging good quality packing materials is equally important than using right size of vehicle for moving. Careful handling at the time is equally crucial, like unloading and handling.
Not sure if you have relocated in the past, but if you have relocated to another state or even locally within the city, I am sure you would agree that it takes some prior planning to relocate without hassles. And for senior citizens, moving to a different house can easily be tiring and frustrating, especially when they don’t have other family members who can help through the process.
If you are a senior citizen and you are you planning to relocate household goods, then here’s a post that’s worth checking. Today in this post, I am sharing a few of the best moving tips for seniors to relocate household goods safely and without hassles.
Hassle-free moving tips for senior citizens and families
As I said, moving and relocating the entire household goods should not be looked like one simple task. It’s a process and it involves various crucial tasks such as:
- Arranging packing materials
- Disassembling wooden furniture and appliances
- Packing of goods
- Loading, unloading
- Unpacking and re-arranging etc
Thankfully, there are professional packer movers companies near you, who can help you with all these tasks.
But still, you have to put in efforts in planning your inventory, taking quotations, hiring a mover and packer, supervising them and getting things done the right way.
That’s too much of work, but there is no escape. Whether you are a retired person or you have got transferred at your job, and you need to relocate your family, with all the essential household goods, you have to plan, prepare and get relocated safely.
If relocation is on the card, you have to go through this process, I am here to help you through the process of relocation.
So are you ready, well, I heard you saying yes. So, let’s dive in.
There’s so much that the movers can do for you. But then, everything comes with a price and so you have to think of the overall moving expenses as well.
So take a note book, or use a checklist to manage all the process much more efficiently.
Start early
When you are relocating to another state, it’s always better to plan everything in advance. Early planning gives you added advantage because you won’t be in hurry to fix things instantly. When you have time, you can plan everything correctly, evaluate multiple options, negotiate better and do much more.
So, early planning everything related to your relocation can be the key differentiator.
Make smaller goals
Now that you have started planning, it’s time that instead of looking at the entire task as one, you should divide it in to several smaller tasks and track it correctly.
For instance, you can have tasks like
- Sort listing 5 moving companies
- Preparing list of inventory
- New space planning
- Downsizing the move
- Finalizing a moving company
- Fixing the date for the move
When you have these smaller individual tasks listed like a things to do list, you will be able to manage each of these tasks properly. Secondly, you won’t miss out on any of the important thing related to your relocation.
Plan everything well
Planning is the key to safe and secured relocation and so, you have to start with a fool proof plan for the upcoming move. Think though everything, whether you are going to do it yourself, or you will need professional packing and moving services.
If you plan to use moving services, then do you want to avail end to end moving services or just transporting part? Do you need value added services like unpacking etc, or you plan to do it on your own?
Prepare the inventory
Now that you have a task to do list and almost started planning your relocation, the next important thing to do is to prepare the list of items you want to move. The overall moving cost depends on the size of the move, so make a list of all the essentials that you must be moving.
May be you have to make another list of goods that you plan to leave behind. If there are items that can be sold or donated, plan for that.
Compare moving companies
This is a must, and can’t be under estimated, especially when you are moving the entire household goods. As you have decided to use professional moving services, you can’t really compromise on the overall quality of packing, handling and of course the prices.
Moving service rates are usually variable i.e. two different companies are going to quote you two different prices for same moving tasks. Since they offer services, prices could easily vary based on the packing quality and on overall service quality of a goods removal company.
Take door to door moving service
Now that you have already started discussing your move with probable moving companies, there is an important thing to note about the service. The mover packers companies offer door to door service as well as city to city moving service. Usually the service is on door to door basis, but in case of shared move, they take your goods from your home and then unload at their godown, which is generally located at the outskirts, and may ask you to move your goods to your home from their warehouse. Obviously, such services are comparatively cheaper than door to door arrangement.
But not taking door to door service means you still have to put in effort in moving your goods. But it works for smaller move like when you want to move a bike or a couple of carton boxes. Think about it seriously and if possible go for the door to door moving service option.
Get ready for the move day
Now that everything is final, you should prepare for the final move day.
So, make sure to remind the moving company about the move and confirm the time for them to arrive at your home. At times, he moving companies may simply cancel the move for various reasons, so it’s better to confirm one day before the final move day.
Also check with the mover if there is anything specific that you need to do.
Usually, they will share advice like:
- Switch off the home appliances e.g. fridge, mixer grinder, washing machine etc
- Sort out the important items that you want to carry with yourself
- Pack your own essential survival box e.g. medicines, diapers, soap, torch, lighter, candle, snack etc
- Pack valuable possessions like documents, passport, jewellery etc separately to carry these with yourself.
- Plan for meals, as you may not get time for cooking.
Now that you have taken care of all these tasks, just wait for the final move day.
Move day essentials
Now, it’s the final day and hopefully, the team of mover and packer will turn up on time. Once they arrive, just talk to them and let them start with disassembling and packing.
If you have packed anything, then let them know so they can assist with that.
If there are items that are not to be packed, let them know, so that they can keep those items separately and avoid packing such goods by mistake.
There is nothing much that you have to do today, the movers will take care of everything. But, it’s better to supervise them and help them while they continue packing and work on other tasks like packing list, labeling, loading etc.
Taking delivery
Now that the goods have reached, it’s time to take delivery.
Start by counting the boxes, the number of boxes should match with the packing list you signed at the time of loading. So make sure that each and every box has arrived.
Now, that the number of boxes is same, the next step is to randomly look at the boxes and check that none of the boxes are opened in transit.
If you notice any sign of damage, or opening the box, alert the mover about the same and mention this as remark in the delivery challan.
Unpacking and re-arranging
Depending on whether you have availed unpacking and re-arranging services, the movers and packer can help you. If you have not paid for such value added services, then you have to unpack and re-arrange your goods on your own.
Take a deep breath and start unpacking.
Depending on the move size, it may be easy and may not be easy for you to unpack all of the boxes in one go. And since the goods are there, you don’t really have to unpack everything in one go. If you start unpacking all those boxes in one go, you may get tired.
So it’s better to start with packing of all the essential boxes and the follow. There is no harm in unpacking slowly for next couple of days.
The point I am trying to make is, there is no hard and fast rule and you should unpack, slowly and as per your need and convenience.
Over to you
Moving to a new house is not just a task, but it’s a process which involves several crucial tasks. Right from planning the entire move, to finding and hiring a local packer and mover company who can help with loading, unloading, transporting and delivery, is not easy.
It takes a lot of efforts and time to plan everything; be it sorting out inventory, or finding and comparing moving companies, packing essential survival moving box or discarding the old damaged goods, it all requires efforts.
Thankfully, there are ways to plan and execute all these tasks easily.
And I have already discussed the most crucial moving tips including:
- Benefits of starting early
- Planning everything well
- Compare moving companies
- Use door to door moving service
- How to get ready for the move day
- Thing to do on final move day
- Tips for taking delivery
- Unpacking and re-arranging
Whether you are a senior or you are younger, whether you have relocated many times in the past, or this is the first time you are relocating, you can use these essential moving tips to relocate safely and without hassles.
What else do you think one should do while relocating to relocate safely?
Feel free to share your tips and hacks.
Happy relocation!
