At Top Shelf Delivery & Moving, we have 23 years experience with helping customers move. But did you know the owner, Roy Odom has moved more than 20 times throughout his career in the Army? So it's safe to say we are thoroughly experienced in the moving department!
Here are a few tips to get you started in your preparation to move, whether you are packing yourself or having a professional company do it. (Don't forget we offer packing services as well!)
1. Make an OPEN FIRST box. Mark it clearly! Include items that you'll want and need during your first night and morning in your new home. Items to include: sheets, pillows, towels, SHOWER CURTAIN!, toilet paper, paper towels, COFFEE POT! (and filters and coffee) and kitchen and bath essentials that you don't want to be hunting for after a long day of moving.
2. If packing your own boxes, be organized in your method. The more you can group like items and label them properly, the easier the unloading and unpacking will be. Some helpful ideas are to use different colored tape for each room of the house so it's quick and easy to see which room it belongs in when unloading the truck. If you have children, give them a special color tape and make it fun for them to label their own boxes. This may even excite them enough to help you unpack too!
3. Keep baggies and markers on hand when packing to keep screws and hardware together and labeled. After disassembling furniture or taking hardware off of something, place all into a baggie and tape the bag securely to the furniture! This prevents a lot of stress on the unloading end when your baby is ready for bed in a new house and the crib screws are missing.
4. Purge and clean out household items BEFORE moving day. Use this as a chance to de-clutter and minimize your belongings. Plus the less stuff you have on moving day the less you have to move! (also do you really need those old beanie babies that aren't really worth anything or that collection of old tshirts from high school?)
5. Identify all high value and fragile items to the movers so that extra care can be taken.
6. Take a picture of the back of your television and electronics BEFORE unplugging anything so you can remember the setup. It's also helpful to add small labels to each cord before unplugging for even easier setup in your new home. (i.e. HD cable for Xbox, Wii power cord, etc) Nothing is more frustrating than trying to remember where everything goes!
The more prepared you are on moving day, the more efficient your move will be and the less time it will take for yourself or your moving company to get you moved. Take time BEFORE your scheduled moving day to organize and purge, and pack as much as you can leading up to the day if you're packing yourself. Trying to move all of your stuff in giant trash bags and laundry hampers is best left to dorm moves!
We're happy to help with any moving questions you may have! Call us today for a no obligation free estimate!
