12 Mistakes That Can Be Prevented With a Little Planning

1. Packing the items you use daily too early.
2. Packing your important contact information–important papers for Insurance, Health, Licensees, etc.
3. Packing items that you will be donating –don’t ever intend to use again.
4. Hiring A Mover at the Last Minute.
5. Choosing the Lowest Priced Mover.
6. Packing Lots of Heavy Items in a Huge Box.
7. Using Produce Boxes from the Grocery store –can have pests in them.
8. Not packing items by room designated to the room it will be in, in you new location.
9. Not getting Mover’s Quote in writing.
10. Spending too much time wrapping up items that are not valuable.
11. Not making a Checklist.
12. Not keeping an emergency first aid kit handy.

 12 Things to Think About Before a Move

Having moved 22 times in the last 35 years I know a bit about moving and corporate moves. (7 moves were corporate moves).

1. If you are packing boxes yourself, buy “color coded moving labels” from Amazon.
2. Make sure to obtain all medical records for your pet and change your address with the Chip Company.
3. Arrange to have your pet stay somewhere they really enjoy or if they like their crate, let them stay home in their crate. The front door is going to be open a lot.  The last thing you need, those last few days, is running down the street after your dog. 
4. On moving day arrange for food to be brought to the house for you and the truck crew.  Healthy snacks will keep you motivated.  This is a tiring process.
5. If some of your belongings are going to be in storage for a bit make sure to take into consideration the weather in both places.
6. Establish a “safe zone” where you can place items that the movers are not allowed to touch.  Charge cords, medicine, your overnight bag. 
7. Make sure that your pet has enough water, food and medication for the duration of the move plus a couple days before and a couple days after.
8. Remember that the moving truck is packed First in Last Out.  The last boxes loaded on the truck are the first to come off.
9. If you know you are moving to a 3rd floor walk up in San Francisco be sure to tell the movers.  
10. If you are moving to a condominium ask management for the “Move-in Move-out Instructions”, there can be truck size requirements, special elevator protection, parking permits, special insurance, HOA move-in or move-out fees, and more depending on the complex. 
11. Make sure when the moving company crew has loaded the truck and your home is empty, they must give you a numbered list of every box and every piece of furniture put on the truck.  
12. Have fun, this is a very stressful day, if you have kids be sure you plan something fun to do with them in conjunction with move day, eat at a favorite restaurant on your way out of town or stay in a hotel that last night and order room service. There will be “stuff” that happens you were not expecting take it with a grain of salt. After moving 22 times, nothing I cherish is broken, some of my funniest and fondest memories were created with family and friends that helped out.