From the desk of a valued Quality Services Moving Employee: 

Moving day can be stressful, but some of the stress can be avoided or at least taken down a notch.  As a mover for many years,  I picked up many simple moving day tips -mostly from my customers- that help reduce the stress of relocating.

One of the most troublesome aspects of moving is when packers inadvertently pack items that should not have been packed.  This especially becomes difficult when families pack and move on different days. If the family hasn’t set things aside, packers aren’t aware that they should leave certain things out. So here’s the debacle: you prefer your moving company to pack your belongings, but you don’t want to be stuck with clothes on your back and McDonalds for your move. (Not that McDonalds isn’t a good road-stop choice!) What should you do?

A military customer of mine told me what they do:  They designate one closet or bathroom as a “safe haven” where they will put all of their last-minute belongings before the move. Then, they tell movers and packers not to touch that room. It might seem like a simple communication, but “safe haven” deeming calls for careful planning because you need to pack the room’s original contents before moving last minute essentials in.

When choosing which room to be a safe haven for your moving day needs, consider the contents of each space and evaluate which would be easiest for you to pack. Try not to pick rooms with high value or fragile items as a” safe haven” because you’ll want your professional packers, like our team at Quality Services Moving, to take special care for those.

Designating one bathroom in the home as a “safe haven” is a great idea because you’ll be using that space throughout the little stay left at your home. Even though you might be using your kitchen, don’t deem it your safe haven! Most families have fragile dinnerware they’d like packers to take care of too.

After selecting a “safe haven” space, pack the room’s contents. If you’re choosing a bathroom, pack everything you won’t be needing that isn’t a liquid and isn’t flammable. Label those boxes as bathroom boxes and put them aside for your mover. Uncertain how to pack the big mirror? Leave that to your mover too.

With an empty room, you can start organizing the items you’ll be keeping in your “safe haven” until moving day. Below, is a comprehensive (and helpful!) list of things you’ll want to keep out and away from packers.

• Change of clothing for the trip
• Laundry bag to place dirty laundry
• 1 Set of Towels for Shower
• Necessary Toiletries
• Kid’s backpacks
• Keys (new and old, even if you’re not taking them)
• Chargers (phone, games, camera)
• Phones (Even if you have a camera phone, leave your camera out too)
• Snacks and drinks
• Games to keep kids entertained during long days on the road
• Medication needed for the trip
• Kids school records
• Medical records
• Personal financial records, such as bank statements and blank checks, stocks and CDs
• Any other item you feel should travel with you

Before the packers arrive, close the door to the “safe haven” and place a large label on the door indicating you do not wish anything in that room to go, such as “Items in this Room Do NOT get Packed.” Make sure you show the room and sign to all crew members when doing the walk through at the beginning of the move.  If a different crew arrives on a second or third day, make sure you show them as well because they will not be aware of the situation until you show them and explain to them.

By having a “safe haven,” you should feel relaxed knowing items you will need for the trip will be with you. You can kick off your new home adventure prepared, comfortable, and confident that your belongings are safe.