Surviving Moving Day
Moving is extremely high in stress, and moving day is the most high stress part of any move. However, taking care of a few details in advance can make moving day much less of a strain. Here are three battle tested moving tips that will make moving day far more bearable.
Make a survival kit.
On the day you move out, you will have one last pile of things to pack: all the sheets and blankets, toiletries, cups and dishes, and sundry small objects (your cell phone recharger, alarm clock, French press, favorite coffee) you were using right to the end. You will have the urge to cram it into any half packed moving boxes you still have open. Resist it! All the things you needed when you were finished packing your old house will be the things you will need most as you unpack in the new house. Instead of forcing yourself to dig through half a dozen moving boxes to find the things you need, pack all your moving essentials into their own boxes. Write “Moving Kit” or “Open First” on the boxes. When you unpack, make sure they go into their own room and are not buried by a stack of other boxes. The first several days at your new home will be easier when you have your moving survival kit ready to use right away.
Pack a lunch.
It is too easy to spend moving day scrounging for something remotely foodlike in convenience stores and fast food drive throughs. By the end of the day, everyone is overcaffeinated, full of starch and grease, and cranky. To prevent that, spend the night before packing ready to go meals that do not need reheating. Even something as simple as a ham sandwich and a pudding cup can make an incredible difference in your and your moving companion’s moods.
Be ready to camp out in your house for a few days.
You were foresighted and had all the utilities connected a week in advance. When you move in, you expect everything, from the electricity to the gas to the phone and cable service, to be working. It never works out that way. The phone company thinks you moved to Middleton, not Mettleton, or the electric company took down the wrong charge card information, or the gas company needs you to be at home so the meter reader can get into the basement. Get ready to meet these little crises in advance. Pack flashlights, candles, matches, and warm bedding where they will be easy to find in your moving kit, fully charge your cell phone before you leave the old house, and pack a stash of food that does not need to be heated. Make a list of all your utilities’ phone numbers and your account information so that when you find that something has not been turned on, you can get it taken care of right away.