Moving Day Moving is in the top five most stressful events in a person's life. We at GMAC Real Estate Northwest recognize this, and we have put together a list of tasks that you can use to help reduce some of the stress and anxiety associated with moving.  Print out this page, and check off the tasks, item by item. Many of the items can be done ahead of time, so do yourself a favor and review the list as soon as you know you will be moving, then you can decide which items you want to get out of the way right away and which items can wait. By the time moving day arrives, you will be in control and ready to supervise the entire move without anxiety or distraction.  Task One: Clearly Mark and Set Aside Items You Don't Want Loaded This will remind you to tell the driver what not to load as you conduct your preload walkthrough. Make sure your important paperwork pertaining to the move doesn't get packed and shipped with your household goods. You may want to use bright colored paper on the outside of the boxes for items that will be taken in the car with you (instead of going on the truck with everything else).  Task Two: Pack Special Items for the Kids Have the kids pack a box of their "special" items, things that they'll want to have nearby as soon as you all arrive at your new home. Point this box out to the driver so it's one of the first to be unloaded. Note: You may want to arrange for someone to take care of the kids (and pets) while the movers are packing and loading your items. Have the caregiver bring the kids back home prior to the truck leaving as it's important for young children to understand where their belongings are going.. Plus they may want to say good-bye to their old bedrooms. Task Three: Get Rid of Trash and Flammable Items Eliminate as much trash as you can before moving day. Last-minute garbage will inevitably build up the day prior to and the day of loading.  If you will have a lot of  trash or debris, you should contact your trash company and arrange for a large garbage bin to be delivered about week before moving. They are relatively inexpensive, and a truck delivers the bin to your driveway, and you can use it for a week, then the truck picks it up for disposal. One less thing to worry about. Many items that are considered flammable, like chemicals, gasoline, batteries, etc. are not going to be loaded by the driver and crew. Understand what these items are so that you are not stuck with trying to get rid of them on the day of loading. If you are uncertain what items can't be loaded, ask your estimator for a list. Because movers can't transport most household cleaners, they will be available for you to use throughout the day. Also remember to remove items from inaccessible areas like crawl spaces or attics.  Task Four: Reserve a Parking Space for the Moving Truck If you live in a congested area, recruit some friends and park all of your vehicles one after another in a space close to your home and do not move them until the truck arrives. The closer the truck can get to your house, the better your chances are of not incurring an additional charge. Be mindful of the parking rules on the street and date you will be loading. Moving trucks are not necessarily exempt from a No Parking on a street cleaning day sign.  Task Five: Clear Walkways Make it safe and easy for your movers to get in and out of your house by removing all obstructions. Move potted plants and planters from front porch, walkways and driveways. Remove all door and floor mats. Remove all rugs. The crew should protect the floors with a specially designed floor covering that does not slip. Remove low hanging items such as wind chimes or hanging plants. Disconnect the spring on the screen door so that it stays open during the loading process. If you had the moving company pack for you, work with them to keep walkways clear for the driver and crew.  Task Six: Point Out Special Items Set these items aside the day before the move. Then, once the mover arrives, point out items that are most special to you during the walkthrough. All your items will be handled professionally but take a moment to show them which ones need the most special care. Also, point out the boxes you would like to have unloaded first, if they are not going into storage. These boxes may include kitchen and bathroom items, or your children's toys.  Task Seven: Take Care of Your Driver and Crew Members Consider the needs of your driver and crew members.  It is not necessary to prepare an elaborate meal, as this is the last thing you will have time for. Still, run out and get some breakfast rolls or cookies and order pizza or pick up some sandwiches for lunch. It is a nice gesture and will be warmly received. Keep water and pop on hand for yourself and the crew. On hot summer days, provide Gatorade or some type of sports drink. These men and women work hard, handling your most important possessions. A cool drink can really help. Advise the driver and crew where to locate the drinks and food so that they do not have to ask each time. Advise the driver and crew which restroom you want them to use.  Task Eight: Decide on Tipping Should you? It is completely up to you. Many individuals do tip the driver and let him disperse the portion to the crew that they think is appropriate. You decide.  Task Nine: Before the Driver Leaves ... Make sure you understand all the paperwork before the driver departs for your new home. If there is something that is confusing to you, ask your driver to explain it before you sign it. Provide the driver with your destination contact information. Take down any information the driver can provide such as his cell phone, pager and satellite tracking information. Ask the driver if your shipment is the last he/she will be loading. Find out when the last shipment goes onto the trailer. This will give you an indication as to when they will be departing for your new home. Ask the driver about his/her plans for delivering your items. Find out as many details as you can prior to the driver leaving your residence. If the driver attempts to give you a delivery date and time, keep in mind that it is really only an estimate at the time of loading. Many factors can change the schedule for the driver, so remember you may have to be flexible. Ask the driver to call you with changes so that you can adjust your plans accordingly. If you have a delivery spread (a sequence of two or more days that your shipment can be delivered on and still be considered on time) understand that you can and may be delivered on any one of those days. Take one last sweep of the house before the driver leaves. Look through all closets, shelves, in the garage, attic, crawl space, storage unit, under the stairs, on the walls, the back yard, the porch, and any place else things may be hiding. You do not want to find out, after the driver has left, that something was left behind. Practical Tips for Moving Day Include: Mark boxes to identify in what rooms they’re to be unloaded. This helps the movers be more efficient, and helps you know which boxes to unpack first. Pull out a few items upon your arrival at the new destination to provide instant familiarity. Label these boxes “Last in/First out.” Put children’s rooms in order right away to make them feel at home the first night. Prepare an easy-to-serve recipe like chili, soup or a casserole ahead. Then take a break from moving for a pleasant meal. Designate a room in your new home where you can go to relax. Clear the room of clutter and boxes and set up some of your familiar belongings. Set realistic goals. Give yourself permission not to get all of the unpacking done the first day.

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