ADVICE FROM MOVERS
A Smooth Transition
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T’S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN FOR-SALE signs start sprouting in yards and moving trucks start rolling, taking housefuls of belongings from one home to another. If moving is on your agenda this spring or you plan to assist someone else who is relocating, tips from local experts can make the process a bit easier. The first task most people face is deciding what to keep and what to discard before the move. This can be especially stressful for those who are downsizing and have decades’ worth of possessions to sort through. Kristen Lund, owner of Home Sweet Home, which specializes in helping older people move, also provides decluttering and organizing services. “We can help our clients downsize, if necessary, and remove unwanted items that are no longer being used that will just clutter up their new home,” she says. Lund also calls upon her background in interior design to create a plan for the new home. “I can help measure and draw up a furniture-placement plan to help not only identify the location of current possessions in order to save time on move day but, if the client is simplifying, we can help
BY CONNIE MITCHELL
them prioritize what pieces will not only fit safely and functionally in an organized manner, but also create a beautiful spacial plan that will show off their things beautifully.” Lund helps clients stage their existing home for sale and refers them to estate sale companies and other resources that will help remove and donate, discard or resell possessions that are not slated for the new home. Many of Lund’s clients opt for a full-service, one-day move, in which Lund and her team do all the packing and unpacking. However, she has some advice for those who plan to do their own packing. “If packing yourself, make sure the proper material and boxes are used to ensure valuable and sentimental items arrive without damage,” she says. “Three inches of packing paper all around the inside of the box or bubble wrap will ensure a safe delivery of breakable items. Use strong, sturdy boxes that are in good shape, if the moving company is not providing and packing them for you. Make detailed lists and identify contents of boxes to keep your move organized.” Cathleen Jones, marketing manager for Two Men and a Truck, agrees that proper packing is key. “Use only small boxes for books. They get
very heavy, very fast,” she advises. “Try to pack all electronic equipment, such as stereos, in their original boxes. Otherwise, use low-static bubble wrap when packing these items.” Jones also recommends packing important and sentimental documents separately to keep them accessible. “And pack a box of essential items you will need immediately after the move,” she suggests. “Make sure it’s the last thing added to the truck.” Underestimating how much you have to move is a common pitfall, Jones adds. “You are moving, not evacuating,” she notes. “Take the time to organize and liquidate.” Both Lund and Jones stress that hiring an insured, bonded moving company with a good reputation will help a move be less stressful and more efficient. “How they handle issues afterwards is just as important as how they conducted the move, especially if there are damaged items that need to be repaired or replaced,” Lund says. “As they say, you get what you pay for, and the cheapest company may not always be the best one. You want to trust your things to a company that will handle your personal treasure as if it were their own.” {LadueNews.com} April 3, 2015
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