Moving day can be full of chaos, making sure everything is ready when the mover arrives while dealing with children or pets can make the day even more stressful. Taking the time to make sure you are prepared and ready to go on the day of your move will not only reduce stress for you but also for your moving company.

The good news is you can have a moving day that is almost entirely stress-free. Knowing what to expect and what you need to prepare for your move will give you peace of mind and make sure that your move gets off to a great start.

Plan the Packing in Advance

Packing is the last thing most of us want to do; it’s time and energy consuming. Even though we know it’s not a good idea, we are still likely to put it off until the very last minute. Then when the mover arrives, we are shoving things into boxes and bags with no idea where our possessions are.

Several weeks before you move date you should start an inventory of your items, and what room in your new house those items belong in. This will allow you to organize your packing by room, which will make it a lot simpler when you are unpacking. You will also want to make sure that you have more boxes than you think you will need, along with tape and any wrapping materials you will need to start packing your items. You should have these things at least two weeks before your moving date.

Also start packing things early that you do not need, if you are moving in the summer, pack all of your winter clothing and shoes. If you have kitchen equipment or china that you aren’t going to use, get it packed up.  The earlier you start, the better. Label boxes for each room and then put the unused boxes in those rooms as a reminder to pack the things that you do not need.

On the day of the move, the only thing you should be doing is packing what you need for the trip to your new home.

Check, check and check again

One day prior to your move most of your items should be packed and ready to go. This will allow you to have a complete walkthrough to make sure nothing is left in the closets, cabinets or the garage. If you have items you do not want to take with you, do not just leave them in the house. If they are in good condition, you can donate them to local charities. If they aren’t in good shape, set them out for trash pickup a week before you move.

You don’t want to be at your new house wondering if you forgot something, doing a detailed inspection before you leave will give you confidence that you have everything you need and make sure that the realtors or new owners aren’t dealing with a mess.

Be Ready for the Moving Company

If you have found a trustworthy South Florida moving company, they will most likely arrive on time, or even a little early, so you want to be prepared.  This is one reason that creating a moving plan, and having all of your packing done before moving day is so important; you don’t want to be up all night packing and oversleep or drive drowsy.

Make sure that all of the rooms in your house are accessible, and that hallways are clear for the movers when they arrive. You should stage your packed items in a way that makes it easy for your movers to get in each room and that provides a clear path for them to move large items and furniture without anything in the way.

Supervise your Move

Make sure that your moving company is aware of how you have labeled your boxes and what rooms you want items to be placed in. You don’t want to be stuck trying to move heavy items that could easily be put in the right rooms by the mover.

Also check any items that are breakable or valuable to make sure they arrived safely, you don’t want to find out the next day that all of your grandmother’s precious china is broken. The perfect time to review these items are while your mover is still with you, this allows them to take photos and complete reports that can help you get a resolution more quickly.

The best way to guarantee your move is stress-free is to plan in advance, and then follow through on the plan. Being packed and prepared to go, along with finding a South Florida mover you can trust will keep your move on track and get you settled into your new home before you know it.