Life is full of big moves. What to wear to prom, where to attend college, how to start your career, where to settle down, and how to buy your first house. Well now you’re at your next big move, and making the move! You have made the big decision to sell your home and move. Now what? Well allow me to explain 10 easy steps that will make your move a successful move! 
- Sort and Purge – If you’ve been in your current home for anything close to a year, chances are you’ve accumulated more “stuff” than you really need to keep, much less expend the energy in moving. Go through every room in your house and decide what you’d like to keep and what you can get rid of.
- Research – Start investigating moving company options. Do not rely on a quote over the phone; request an on-site estimate. Get an estimate in writing from each company, and make sure it has a USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) number on it. Here are a couple local moving businesses we recommend:
- Open Box Solutions – a new concept in the moving industry of incorporating green practices into an industry that is wasteful and in need of improvement.
- Dry Ridge Moving & Transportation – committed to providing the highest quality moving services to safely transport the most precious parts of your home, business and life safely to where you need them to be.
- Take Measurements – Check room dimensions at your new home, if possible, and make sure larger pieces of furniture will fit through the door. This is a great way to start mapping out your new place with your current pieces. If you’re moving into a smaller place you may want to consider storage options (see next step).
- Consider Storage – If you’re selling your home when making the move, you may want to stash some of your stuff in a storage unit, leaving only those belongings that’ll benefit the staging of your home. This is also a valid solution if you’re moving into a temporary home, or if you plan on selling off your surplus furniture at another time. Here are a couple reliable storage unit businesses in the local area:
- Stowaway Self Service Storage – your neighborhood storage provider, is conveniently located near the River Arts District of Asheville. Stowaway is a locally operated and privately held storage company owned by Mindful Management, LLC, and is committed to providing a quality storage experience offering a variety of drive up units for business, household and personal storage needs along with RV / Boat parking options.
- George’s Stor-Mor – locally operated and privately-held storage company, owned by Mindful Management, LLC, committed to providing a quality storage experience throughout 6 great locations is Asheville and Hendersonville.
- Begin Packing Early! – Making the move begins and ends with early preparation. Leave at least a month of packing time allotted. We recommend doing this room by room. Label each box to indicate its contents and the room where it’s supposed to go. For boxes packed with items you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home, write “Open First” on them. For extra piece of mind, you can even number each box, then track it and its contents in a spreadsheet. Color-coded labels also can come in handy to identify your belongings by room; for instance, green for the kitchen and orange for the garage.
- Label Everything – Unmarked boxes are no fun when unpacking, but there are so many ways to keep track of your stuff that it can be hard to find the best system. The most common method involves a black marker and room names on your boxes. Regardless of your method, clearly label and number each box with its contents and the room it’s destined for. This will help you to keep an inventory of your belongings. Pack and label “essentials” boxes of items you’ll need right away.
- Set Aside Important and Day-of Items – Hang onto passports, checkbooks, medication and other critical items. They should be kept separate from your everyday belongings. Don’t put them in boxes that’ll be heading off in a moving truck.
- Change of Address & Utilities – Go to your local post office and fill out a change-of-address form, or do it online at usps.gov. But in case there are stragglers, it’s always wise to ask a close neighbor to look out for mail after you’ve moved. Check in with them two weeks after the move, and again two weeks after that. Schedule the disconnection or transfer of utilities, such as electricity and cable TV, for the day after you’ll be out of your home. This way, you’ll have access to power and other services.
- Plan for Payment – If you haven’t already arranged to pay your mover with a credit card, get a money order, cashier’s check, or cash for payment and tip. If the staff has done a good job, 10 to 15 percent of the total fee is a good tip. If your move was especially difficult, you might tip each mover up to $100. Don’t forget that refreshments are always appreciated.
- Take Inventory – Before the movers arrive, perhaps the night before, take a full inventory of all your boxes, furniture, etc that will be moved. This is not only a simple list, but piece of mind too. Before the movers leave, sign the bill of lading/inventory list and keep a copy.
Making the Move doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Just follow these 10 easy steps to make your next big move a successful one. As always, I’m here to help, so please feel free to reach out with any questions!
