Guidelines for the big move

When that time comes to move to a new house or apartment, the feeling of excitement is replaced with stress and anxiety. Moving is never a pleasant experience. Long hours are spent packing loose items, organizing and boxing belongings, and unloading everything. It usually takes several weeks to finish. And the fun does not stop there. People have to also consider whether they want to rent a trailer or go through a third party to help with the headache of moving from one home to the next.

There are countless things to think about and consider when dealing with this type of situation. But it does not have to be as taxing as one may think. There are many tips that professionals help alleviate the pressure, as well as their assistance in the actual moving process. Across Town Movers specialize in this exact field, moving people across town or to another state, despite their name. This quality and sound company has been in business for over 21 years, and provides several other services that are valuable for this specific experience. Not only do they offer packing supplies, but also have storage space available to keep those precious possessions safe.

And if people choose to save a little money during this economic crisis, Across Town Movers still wants to be there along the way to guide people into an easy transition. They offer the following guidelines to go by before, during, and after the big moving day:

1. Don’t move anything you don’t want to keep. Have a garage sale before you pack. Rent a San Diego storage unit or give what’s left to charity; just make sure you get a receipt for your tax records.

2. Pack by room for the new house. Decide where furniture and rugs will go before your local movers start unloading.

3. Avoid moving loose items. Have your San Diego packing and moving service pack all small pieces in boxes with labels listing the contents of each carton. That way, you’ll know what’s in each box.

4. Measure doorways, halls and rooms in the new house to make sure your furniture and appliances fit.

5. Clean up the new house before the move. Allow extra time for painting (at least a week), and two weeks for refinishing floors.

6. Pack necessities in your car, not the moving van. You should take along the items you’ll need immediately. Items we suggest leaving out are your toolbox, cleaning supplies (the moving van will not transport aerosol cans, paints, and cleaners), phones, toiletries, toys for the kids, and a change of clothing. If you can’t live without your coffee, put the coffee maker on the list too.

7. As tempting as it is to send everything in the same truck, it’s a mistake to pack and ship any items that are extremely valuable or irreplaceable such as stamp and coin collections, jewelry, important papers (financial records, school records, and medical records), or dangerous, such as guns and ammunition, etc. You never know what will happen, so heirlooms and scrapbooks don’t belong in the van either. Keep all these items with you “just in case.”

8. Get help from friends and family to watch or keep the kids and pets on moving day.

9. Allow at least a day for cleaning up the old house. Consider using a professional cleaning service.

10. To reduce clutter, break down boxes as you unpack. (Save a few to hold packing material and trash.)

11. Notify gas, electric and phone companies to discontinue service the day following your move. Keep a phone directory with you of all old and new contacts including utilities, doctors, schools, etc.

12. Contact your San Diego moving company at least 48 hours in advance to confirm your move date, move time and addresses. Make sure all the information is correct before your moving day. You don’t want to sweat the small stuff on the big day.