Category: Moving Tips

Every day, people deal with transitions in sometimes vastly different ways. But there is no escaping the fact that change and emotions go hand-in-hand. Significant changes such as marriage, graduations, retirement, and buying a new home come with highs and lows.

We sometimes forget that the moving process itself tends to create an internal rollercoaster that can be challenging to navigate. By identifying issues that may heighten feelings and employing strategies to manage them, you can enjoy moving and the new space that awaits.

What You Need To Know About Moving Stress

One of the driving reasons that many people find moving so stressful comes down to “fear of the unknown.” We like flexing a certain amount of control over our daily routines, and moving reshuffles the deck thoroughly. One living space is in boxes, strangers are loading your comfortable belongings into a truck, and everything you own will be in a new place — including you — when you wake up tomorrow.

It’s not unusual for people to experience telltale signs of stress before moving, such as the following.

• Body aches
• Headaches
• Sleeplessness
• Persistent worrying
• Feeling out of control

Can you relate to any of those? Now that we understand what we’re dealing with internally, we can do something about it.

Strategies That Help Overcome Moving Stress

If fear of the unknown starts our heads spinning, knowledge can prove to be a powerful cure. Consider conducting some online research about the various steps involved in moving. Read blogs about how long people usually take to unpack and get settled.

Consider ways the moving company can fast-track the process by providing a detailed plan about where things will go in the new space. There are moving checklists and advice columns about expediting the process. With that knowledge in hand, you can map out a plan to demonstrate how the process unfolds and precisely when you will wake up in an organized home.

How To Manage Family Moving Emotions

When adults decide that moving is in a family’s best interest, children may disagree. Their world may revolve around friends, school, and extracurricular activities. Things like job opportunities and improved quality of life are not necessary ideas they fully comprehend.

That’s why it’s essential to break the news of a move gently. Be prepared to answer questions about schools, people, activities, and issues that matter to children. Keep in mind children do not like change or the unknown any more than adults. It’s essential to exercise patients when their emotions overflow.

Make The Moving Process Fun For Children

The moving process does not necessarily need to be a difficult time for children. In fact, youngsters can be incredibly resilient. With a little prompting and promotion of the new space and neighborhood, it might not be difficult to make the ride fun. 

These are the ways some parents make transitioning easier.

• Help your child organize the contact info of friends before moving.
• Encourage your child to make a map of their new room.
• Point out the perks of the new space.
• Help your child run a Google search of age-appropriate activities in the area.

Although not every parent likes the idea of kids playing video games, they have become almost like playgroups, where friends log in together. Headsets and microphones allow youths to play and talk virtually like real life. The point is that the younger generation appears more comfortable with electronic communication. When used appropriately, it can alleviate homesickness by maintaining contact with friends in the old neighborhood.

Making the Move Easier

While we cannot avoid the fact that relocating raises at least some worry about the unknown, knowledge, planning, and a good moving company can make a world of difference.

We can help you plan a stress-free move. Contact us today for a quote.

 

Are you preparing to move soon? Perhaps you are getting your home ready to put on the market, but is your home ready?

You may not realize it, but the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house when selling your home. Is yours ready? Maybe your tired bathroom could use a little sprucing up, staging, or updating.

Updating your bathroom doesn’t mean a total overhaul. If your bathroom is looking a little dated, you don’t necessarily have to invest thousands of dollars. Instead, give it a refresh. There are ways to make adjustments to turn a tired bathroom into a revived room to sell your home.

Here are some tips.

1. Add a splash of color

Giving an old bathroom a bright splash of color can do wonders for its appearance. A few good accents include a new bath rug, shower curtain, and matching towels. If you have windows, hang some new curtains. Convert a tired wood vanity into a brand new one by applying a new paint color to complement the other additions.

2. Install new hardware and fixtures

Worn out hardware and bath fixtures can give a bathroom an overall dingy appearance. Try the following suggestions:

• Swap out your vanity’s cabinet door handles and drawer pulls with new hardware.
• Install a modern sink faucet to give the sink an updated look.
• Change out the tub’s faucet and add a modern shower head.
• Add new matching towel racks and toilet paper holder.

These small adjustments can completely change the look and feel of your bathroom, essentially giving it some eye-catching features.

3. Replace outdated lighting

Many bathrooms have lighting that not only dates a bathroom but is inefficient. Replace any glass vanity covers with a modern style, such as cracked glass or alabaster frosted glass. If you can afford to go a little bigger, try adding something slightly more dramatic, such as chandelier or pendant lights. Make it bright. Choose bulbs with simulated natural light. 

4. Add fresh paint

A new coat of paint can do wonders. If you have tired wallpaper, buy a wallpaper steamer (these can be purchased online for about $50) and spend an afternoon taking it down. Once you sand down any rough spots, you’ll be ready to give the bathroom an entirely new look or just neutralize it.

Are you not wanting to remove the wallpaper or do a complete paint job? Give the medicine cabinet, bathroom door, shelving, or the foot molding some bright white paint to draw the eye away from any old tile or wallpaper.

5. Deep clean everything

Make sure you scrub the bathroom before your open house and showings. Nothing is worse than mildew, scum, and hair in and around the sink, tub, and toilet. Prospective buyers want everything to feel fresh and clean! 

PRO TIP — When getting your home ready for an open house or showing, remove all medications and toiletries, add some fresh flowers, and make sure the toilet seat is down. 

Moving Help

Freshening up bathrooms can be an expensive job, and many people find it cost-prohibitive. Instead, look for smaller ways to add function and character. A little flair can go a long way towards sprucing up outdated bathrooms to get your home sold.

Are you looking to relocate? Call us today to learn more about our services. Check out our blog for other essential tips about moving.

A change of scenery can also offer life-changing opportunities. But picking up and moving your life and belongings isn’t always easy.  Planning for a long-distance move is a big task, but it’ll be much easier with these long-distance moving tips.

Tips for a Long-Distance Move

The smartest way to start with a long-distance move is to make a plan. Using these tips, you can create a moving strategy to quickly, safely, and efficiently get you to your new destination.

Pick a Date

When can you move and when do you have to move? If you’re moving for a job or a time-sensitive reason, starting with a date will give you the best chance to be there on time and with some breathing room.

Hire Professionals

Moving in the same neighborhood or city may feel easy with a few strong friends and a truck. But moving to another state is a different situation. When you’re planning a big move, like moving internationally, it’s best to hire a company that knows what to do.

You can get a good estimate from multiple companies before deciding. Start the process early and work with professionals who can help you move without worry. 

Plan Your Pack

Are you wondering how to pack for a long-distance move? It can feel overwhelming without a plan. An excellent place to start is with a timeline of events, so you know where and when to begin.

Once you have a timeline, you can begin on lists of what to pack and when it needs to be packed. You may leave some things until the last minute to pack, but you can take care of a lot ahead of time, leaving you with less to worry about as your moving date comes closer.

Downsize

A long-distance move may offer a chance to start over and begin anew. But it won’t be any easier if you insist on bringing every little thing you own with you. You can save money, time, space, and energy by downsizing before you move.

Consider donating to friends, family, or local stores and shelters. If you plan ahead you can also make some money off items you don’t need by selling them before the move.

Label Everything

The last thing you want when arriving in a new city, state, or country is to be lost in a sea of brown boxes with no idea where anything is. It’s one of the most simple moving tricks but also easy to forget. Keep a marker on you as you box up your home to make the unpacking and even loading up process easier for everyone.

Prepare Essential Items

Think of the things you use every day like your toothbrush, a change of clothes, and other necessities. When you’re packing everything up, make sure you plan a few boxes and bags of items you’ll need for the trip out to your new home, and for those first few days when everything is still boxed up. These priority items will come in handy as you settle in.

Don’t Delay

One of the most important long-distance moving tips is to simply not wait. As soon as you know your plan, you can get started. Packing tends to take longer than expected, and it’s easier to stay organized if you’re on schedule and not rushing to finish up before the movers arrive. Start quickly and stay on top of the process to make moving to another state or overseas look easy.

To the Next Adventure

A long-distance move offers you a new home and a new state or country to explore. It should be an exciting time. By planning ahead you can avoid unnecessary stress and focus on the positives. And if these moving tricks helped you feel more ready than before, check us out for more good tips.

 

 

Moving is generally stressful for everyone involved, and this includes your pets. But it doesn’t have to be. Your pet is a part of the family, and the moving process can cause a lot of stress for them.

Going to a new place, be it a new city or state, can be invigorating. Pets should be able to love the new environment they get to explore, but that can take time. By utilizing some of these tips for moving with pets, you and your pets will have an easier time adjusting and accepting a new home.

Tips for Moving with Pets

It’s not a good idea to jump into the moving process before you know how to transport pets and what your pet will need for the move. Professional movers can help with your side of the move, but taking your pet with you is typically a separate process. Different pets and types of animals will react to a move in unique ways, but these tips can help ease that process from the start.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Before you begin moving with animals, you need to be prepared and plan ahead. Know what your new space looks like. How long will it take to get there, and what will your pet need for the trip? If you’re driving, be sure they’re ready for the car ride and have their own crate or carrier comfortably in your car with whatever food or toys they will need. Plan the route, and designate plenty of stops for potty breaks.

Keep Calm  

When you begin packing for your move, your animal will be curious and could become stressed in the process. Provide them with their own room, away from the noise and bustle of packing materials, moving trucks, and more. Keeping them away from all this will keep them from getting underfoot and calm while you focus on where to put everything. Let the movers know which room is designated as your pet’s “safe room” so that they know not to enter that space.

Vet Prep

Be sure you are in contact with your vet about the best ways to move your pet if it’s a trip they haven’t made before. If you’ve never taken your pet on a plane before, it’s a good idea to prep for the trip with a professional’s advice. 

Prepare Your New Home

Animals can get into various trouble in a new space. Pet-proofing your new home is key to moving safely. You know your pet’s habit and the kinds of trouble they may want to get into while you’re busy unloading boxes. Plan ahead and get spaces ready for your pet to explore without worrying about how they could get hurt or damage your new home.

Update Tags and ID

Make sure that you update your pet’s identification tags with your new home information. If your animal has an ID chip, make sure that your new home information has been updated through the chip service as well. Sometimes scared pets tend to run off. Having current information on their tags assures that you can be reached if they get out and away from you.

Baby Steps

Similar to the moving-out process of keeping your pet in their own small area away from the action, when you’re moving in, it can be easier for your pet to provide them with a small new space at first. This also allows you to prepare one room for your pet and then deal with other areas instead of feeling like you have to do everything at once. 

Move Smart, Move Safe

If you plan and prepare for your move, there is no reason why it shouldn’t be smooth and easy for you and your pets. Moving with pets might feel daunting, but they can handle it if you take care of the necessary details and tend to their needs. 

Keep your pet safe and happy with these tips, and have a worry-free move to your new home. If you found these helpful, check us out for more great moving tips.

Most people view moving to a new home as a stressful event. Yet, we can all benefit from a move in some ways, especially if we systematically and calmly approach it. 

Studies show that any fresh start can help motivate us to renew our goals and aspirations. 

These moving tricks and tips will help you get settled in your new home as quickly as possible and embrace all the best benefits of relocating to a new home. 

Plan Your Room Layouts

Planning is always a sure-fire way to ensure things run smoothly, and there are many ways to streamline proceedings during a move. 

Before you move into your new house, walk through it while it’s empty to get an idea of the space and how you might set out your furniture.

If you can’t get a copy of the floor plans, take the measurements and draw a rough sketch of the layout by hand. Or plug the measurements into a room layout app. Use this tool to develop your floorplan and determine where your furniture will fit.

Remember to measure all the windows so that you can alter or replace your window dressings as necessary as well.

By planning your room layouts, you can help your movers place items in the correct rooms on arrival and decide which items of furniture to donate or recycle before moving.

Create a Move-in Ready Home

When you visit your new home in advance, you can also carry out any repairs or painting and pet- or child-proof areas before you arrive.

Use this time to locate the fuse box and water shut-off valve so that you know where they are when you need them. It’s essential to set up new utility accounts in advance and ensure your house has water and electricity from the first day.

Ensure you have enough electrical outlets for your needs and ask an electrician to install some more if needed. 

Arrange for a housekeeping service to conduct a deep cleaning a few days before you move in. 

Figure Out the Lay of the Land

Spend time in your new neighborhood and surroundings. Locate local grocery, convenience, and hardware stores, and the nearest hospital, and preferred bank. Knowing where the shops are will help.

Get off to an excellent start by introducing yourself to your neighbors before you move in. They might even provide useful community information or restaurant recommendations.

Decluttering Is Vital Before Moving

There’s a good chance you’ve accumulated a lot of unnecessary belongings during your stay in your current home. Moving is the ideal time to get rid of duplicates, broken items, and things you no longer need.

Donate these to a worthy cause, recycle them, or dispose of them responsibly. Charitable acts create a sense of self-esteem and can help you live longer too. 

Discover More Moving Tricks

By completing as much as you can in advance, you can save yourself most of the inconvenience of moving to a new home.

So, book your moving service early and start planning an effortless and exciting relocation.

Browse our blog for more moving tricks, or get in touch for advice and assistance.

The busiest time of the year to move is May 15 through August 31, with more than 65 percent of the annual moves happening over the summer months.

If you can move during the non-peak period, it’ll automatically make things less disruptive, but that’s not always possible. Let’s look at five tips for a hassle-free move no matter what time of year it is.

1. Plan Your Move Ahead

One of the things that makes moving so disruptive is all the steps involved. Between gathering moving boxes and other packing supplies, booking a moving company, arranging temporary storage, and various other tasks, there’s a lot to deal with.

It’s not something you should try to throw together on short notice.

If possible, start planning at least 6 to 8 weeks before your moving day. Write up a timeline with all the important tasks – booking movers, gathering supplies, etc. As the weeks pass, you’ll have targets to compare against your actual progress.

2. Notify Everyone Who Needs to Know

You’ll need to notify a lot of people and organizations that you’re moving, including:

• Friends
• Family
• Credit card companies
• Banks
• Clubs and associations
• Utility companies

Some need to know sooner than others, but you should send them the details as early as possible. This will help avoid having bills or other necessary correspondence to go to your old address.

3. Pack in Waves

Part of the first step of planning your timeline is to figure out what you can pack and when. Some things can get packed away earlier than others.

For example, if you’re moving in the summer, you can safely pack your winter clothes as soon as you know you’ll be moving. You’ll need other things, like kitchen utensils and toiletries, up to the day you move.

Knowing when to pack up specific items and areas in your home gives you a head-start without disrupting your day-to-day life.

4. Rent a Storage Unit If Necessary

As you pack things, it can help reduce disruption around your home if those boxes and containers are out of the way completely. A storage unit can help with this.

As things get packed up, move them into storage and out of the house. You’ll have more space to work with, and it will be easier to clean as you go.

5. Get Rid of Anything You Don’t Need

Most of us have things around the house that we don’t need, especially if you’ve lived in your home for any length of time. Don’t feel like you need to take it all with you, particularly if you’re downsizing.

Decide what you won’t take with you as early as possible, so you aren’t forced to deal with it right before you move. You could start with a garage sale, then try to sell it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, and eventually give it away or donate it if it doesn’t sell.

How Professional Moving Companies Can Help

Working with professional movers like Arrow Moving will also help make it a less disruptive experience. We can help you with any questions ahead of time, and our expert staff can help you save a lot of time and effort compared to doing it yourself.

Today, get in touch to discuss your moving plans and get a free, no-obligation quote.

Moving expenses can really add up. Even though donating unwanted items can lighten your load to reduce costs, the essential supplies you need for a successful move, like boxes, can also add up.

One way to limit expenses is to supplement your box supply with more affordable or free boxes.

Are you wondering where to find affordable supplemental boxes for your move? Here are some suggestions of places to look.

Apps

Check out apps such as LetGo or OfferUP to see if people are giving away or selling boxes (possibly from their own recent moves).

In particular, the Nextdoor app is a good choice. It connects you with other users in your area or neighborhood. This means limited travel to get boxes, and it also gives you a place to hand them off when you arrive at your new home and complete your move.

Online Groups

Facebook and Reddit have numerous groups dedicated to trading and freecycling. Get involved with something like the Buy Nothing Project to learn how to use less and score some gently used boxes from others pursuing the same ideal.

Freecycle

Freecycle’s online forum is an excellent place to find used moving boxes from people who have recently moved.

Create a post and request ‘free moving boxes near me.’ Indicate how many you need. The Freecycle Community is committed to making use of other’s unwanted items. You’ll likely get responses from people anxious to pass their boxes onto you.

Local Stores

Local shops and grocery stores of different brandings all have boxes and shipments coming in daily. Check with a store manager; most of these places have a box toss time (10 pm or so). 

The discarded boxes tend to be first-come, first-serve, but some stores will also hold boxes for you. Supplies are limited, but if you hit them up for a few days in a row, you can probably gather a suitable free box collection for your move.

Your Mover

Check with your moving company. While they may not have free boxes, they might have affordable, gently used boxes ideal for your move. Similar sized boxes make transportation easier. Standard and similar sized boxes are easier to stack on a moving truck and in storage.

Are You Ready to Get Moving?

Keep yourself on the exciting leg of the moving experience with planning and resourcefulness. Looking for affordable moving boxes can help turn the packing experience into a treasure hunt, rather than a chore.

Then when your move is complete, pay it forward and offer your gently-used boxes up for the next family moving. However, if the boxes took a beating and are ready to be retired, contact your local recycling center instead of throwing them away. Inquire about how you can dispose of them in an eco-friendly way. 

Are you planning your move? We can offer suggestions about how to plan a successful relocation. Check out our blog. Then contact us for a free quote. 

 

What life event is most likely to cause stress? Is it a break-up, a divorce, or something else? According to researchers across multiple studies, moving takes the top spot.

Scientists say moving is so stressful because it includes hundreds of little stressors and changes at once. Everything – from the stress of adjusting to a new space to remembering where you put the forks – binds together and becomes overwhelming.

Avoid the stress of a move with the right preparation. Here are some tips to help make your move a calmer event.

Pre-Move Stress Relief

Some stressors will always be part of moving, like the unknowns of a new neighborhood or the feelings about leaving your current home.  However, you can prevent the unavoidable from becoming overwhelming by having a plan. Here are some things to consider when planning your move.

Budget

A residential move is complicated and can get expensive quickly without planning ahead. Be proactive and create a budget. Pay attention to the detail and stick to the budget. This will alleviate some of the stress that comes with moving.

Checklist

Create a checklist for your move. Include everything from transferring your utilities to ordering packing supplies and changing your address to purging things you no longer need. With a reference list, you know exactly what you need to do and when those tasks need to be completed.

Pro Movers

One way to help eliminate stress is to hire movers to complete the move for you and handle your packing as well. Full-service movers can pack, organize, and move everything to allow you to focus on the big picture, like helping your kids adjust.

Post Move Stress Relief

Get back on track and back in the swing of things after your move. It’s essential to get comfortable in your new space so that you can relax and enjoy your new home. Moving day is exhausting both physically and emotionally. Here are some suggestions for relieving stress post-move.

Prioritize

Once the boxes are in and you begin the unpacking process, avoid the clutter, and make a list of your priorities. Develop a plan of what’s most essential to unpack right away. You will want to focus on unpacking your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen supplies first. Then prioritize the other things on the list.

An unpacking list will help reduce the clutter that can cause stress. Since it might take days or weeks to get everything in the right place, this process will help.

Healthy Routine

Once you have settled in, get back on track by reincorporating regular exercise and healthy meals daily.

Walking is a fantastic exercise. Get out and walk the neighborhood. Acquaint yourself with your new community and new neighbors. Walking benefits both your body and mind. 

Treat Yourself

Reward yourself with something you enjoy doing. Find calm in an activity you like, such as a relaxing bath or spa treatment, a satisfying nap, a massage, or a walk through the woods. Find your personal way to unwind and rejuvenate.

Beat the Psychology of Moving with the Right Help

Moving is stressful, and if you aren’t careful, it can really take its toll on you. Have a plan to incorporate some of these suggestions, and it will make your entire move and transition much easier.

Get in touch for more great tips and a free quote.

Moving day is already stressful enough. The last thing you want to do is make it more stressful than it has to be. 

You’ll need to learn more about the moving company that you’re thinking of hiring, put together a budget, and choose the perfect date. What you may not have accounted for are your toddler and their temperament. 

Taking care of your little one during the move requires a strategy that involves a few crucial dos and don’ts. 

Moving with a toddler doesn’t have to be stressful when you use the tips below. 

DON’T Spring the Move on Them

You can’t expect your child to just go with the flow. Prep them far in advance so that they know they’re moving, understand what moving means, and when it’s happening. 

Springing the move on your child creates variables that can be difficult to manage. Prepping them for it gives your child a chance to express any fears and apprehensions, which you can then address ahead of time. 

DO Use Toys to Aide the Explanation

Create a mock move session with their toys so that your child knows what to expect. You can walk them through what moving means by using their toys as an example. 

Studies show that play is helpful for your child’s cognitive health and helps them make connections. Making a game out of it will help your child see moving day as an adventure. 

Also, pack a few of their favorite toys for the car. This way, your child is always occupied and not bored. 

DO Give Your Child Proper Rest

Don’t try to make them tough it out. Don’t expect your enthusiasm to move into your new place to translate to your child. 

Instead, plan ahead by making sure that you schedule naps and allow for a good night’s sleep before moving day. Getting the proper amount of sleep keeps your child mentally sharp and improves their mood. This means that they’ll be less cranky and better able to deal with long moving hours. 

DON’T Skip Meals on Moving Day

Anyone’s resolve will fade if they aren’t well-fed. Make sure that your child gets breakfast and that you also stop for lunch. 

Bring some healthy snacks that give them energy and keep their blood sugar levels steady. Don’t load them up with sugary snacks that will cause spikes and crashes. 

Make Moving With a Toddler as Smooth as Possible

The points above will make moving with a toddler a joy instead of a challenge. If you have a toddler and know that you’re planning a residential move, the tips presented will give you the help that you need. 

Plan as far in advance as you can so that you can account for these matters. All of these tips are strengthened when you also hire the best moving professionals. 

We’re seasoned movers that will handle your move quickly with experience and professionalism. Our team is the best you’ll find, and we’ll be glad to assist you. 

Get in touch with our team by using our site or call us up at one of our four locations. 

You look forward to moving to your dream home soon. But the thought of moving everything in your current home to your new home feels overwhelming.

The reality is, not every item in every nook and cranny of your current home has to go with you to your new place. You can decide right now what stays and what goes to make your new living situation as clutter-free as possible.

Whether you’re moving to an apartment or you need to declutter your life for your next home, this guide to the art of downsizing will help.

Put a Plan in Place

Before you embark on your residential move, begin by developing a moving plan as soon as possible. Ideally, you should create this plan several months before your move. 

During the planning process, you should envision your current home’s items in the new house. Decide which things would work best in individual rooms, focusing on a single room or space at a time.

If you have a detailed floor plan of the new space, this can be very helpful. It will help you to determine what items cannot fit in the new home. Don’t be surprised if you end up taking just a third or one-half of your existing items to your new place. 

Get Organized As Part of the Downsizing Process

As you begin the decluttering process, be sure to organize all of your items into multiple piles. These piles should include what you wish to keep, what you want to toss, and what you want to sell or donate.

Remember that many items can be recycled, so don’t toss things unless they are no longer useful or repairable.

Also, be honest and realistic when determining what things you want to keep versus get rid of. Don’t focus on what you might be losing. Think about the lower levels of clutter and stress you’ll be gaining in your new home. 

Go Digital Where You Can

These days, you can easily find efficient ways of electronically storing photos and documents to free up space at your new place. So, don’t be afraid to use a digital organizer or scanner to convert physical papers or photos to their digital versions.

Alternatively, you can hire a company to complete the conversion process for you.

Either way, the space you will save by electronically storing more items will be worth the fee or the time required to complete the conversion yourself.

How We Can Help

Besides guiding downsizing for a move, we offer top-of-the-line moving services for both residential and commercial customers. 

Our household relocation services include long-haul as well as local moves. We can help you whether you need full-service movers or need some heavy-lifting help.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about how our services can make your upcoming move a smooth one from start to finish.