Trying To Move Quickly? Avoid These Time-Consuming Mistakes
For most people, moving is not that enjoyable, even if it's just across town. You want to get your move over with as quickly as possible, so you can focus on settling into your new place. Unfortunately, most people make a lot of time-consuming mistakes when moving, resulting in a more drawn-out process than is necessary. So you don't fall into this rut, avoid these common mistakes that can turn a one or two-day move into a week-long venture:
Mistake #1: Burying your essentials deep within your moving boxes.
There are going to be items you need in the day or two before your move: toothbrushes, clothing, basic cookware, your insurance information. Many people unthinkingly pack these and other essentials away with their possessions, only to find out later that they need them. They then must unpack boxes and hunt for these items, and then repack. This is a huge waste of time that could otherwise be spend packing more boxes and loading the truck.
Avoid this mistake by packing a few separate "essentials boxes" that contain items you're likely to need during the day before, day of, and day after the move. This way, you don't have to waste hours packing and unpacking boxes.
Mistakes #2: Not organizing your moving helpers as well as possible.
The phrase "many hands make light the work" is only true if those hands know what their jobs are. If you have five people over to help you move, but nobody is given specific instructions as to what to do, you're all going to waste a lot of time standing around and deciding who is going to carry what box. To avoid this time sink, make a moving plan for your helpers before they even arrive. Decide who will be moving furniture, who will be packing boxes, who will be loading the truck, and so forth. This way when everyone arrives, they can get right to work.
Mistake #3: Micromanaging your moving helpers.
Just as bad as not giving your moving helpers any direction at all is giving them too much direction. If you want to move quickly, you have to let go of some of the control and trust your helpers to perform the tasks you have assigned them. Many people who are moving make the mistake of wanting to inspect every mug their helpers have wrapped, every box that has been packed, and every rug that has been rolled. This wastes your time and also makes your moving helpers feel untrusted. Step back, and remember that you asked these people to help because you trust their judgement.
Mistake #4: Thinking its faster to pack everything, and then sort through items you don't need later.
A lot of people fall into the trap of thinking "It's faster to just toss it in boxes, and then decide what to throw away once I get there." The reality is, you're going to have to spend a little time deciding what to donate and throw out whether you do it at your old residence or your new one. You save time by doing it at your old residence because then you don't have to worry about putting those items in boxes and into the lifting them in the moving truck -- and then doing the same thing again when you take them to the donation center.
An efficient way to deal with the items you plan on donating is to pile them in one room of the old home as you come across them. Then, when you're ready to go to your new place, assign one friend to stay behind at the old place, pack up the items to be donated, and take them to your preferred charity donation center.
Avoid the mistakes above, and you'll be well on your way to a speedier move. Above all, remember to take moving one step at a time and to stay focused. If you allow yourself to become overwhelmed and frustrated, you'll slow down due to sheer stress.
Check out sites like http://redondovanandstorage.com for more info.