As you all know, we moved a couple of weeks ago so I’ve decided to put a complete moving guide together for you all. Back when I was just out of college I loved moving, it was always so much fun packing up all your things and moving to a new home. I looked forward to putting everything away and finding just the right spot for my things.
Moving is always such a crazy process, especially when you have kids. It always amazes me how much stuff accumulates after having children. Although I can’t really blame it all on the kids 😉 At this point in my life, I know my design likes and dislikes. I’ve curated my belongings to things that I love and it’s precisely this, that makes moving SUPER stressful.
The last few times we’ve moved we’ve hired movers to pick up our boxes, pack them in their truck and unload them at the new place. We’re definitely past the point where we can call friends and family to come over and help us. BUT this time, I thought…Why not take it a step further? Why not hire the movers to actually pack our stuff for us? I mean, after all, they’re the professionals when it comes to packing and moving not me. So that’s exactly what we did! And it was SO worth it.
When it came time to deciding on a local moving company I did a ton of research, the one that popped up as being the Bay Area’s top moving service was NorthStar Moving Company. AND not only did they have great reviews/ratings, they also focused on being green. Definitely a huge plus in my book.
I reached out to them not only to get an estimate, but also to see if they’d be interesting on working together on a post. I wanted to create a super informative post that had lots of tips and tricks on the whole moving process from start to finish. And I definitely reached out the right company, Laura McHolm, the cofounder of NorthStar actually contributes on a few different publications (like the Huffington Post) on moving advice. Cool right? Here are a few of her tips on how to select the right moving company for your move.
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT MOVING COMPANY:
- How long have they been in business?
- Are they licensed?
- Is the company insured?
- Have they won any awards or accolades for service?
- Check their rating with the BBB.
- Understand their rate system.
- Find out the details of the job (how they pack, how many movers, how long, etc)
- Any specialty experience (art, pianos, china)?
- Will they measure and take pictures before the move?
- If the estimator doesn’t have questions for you that’s a red flag.
And once you’ve picked the moving company you’d like to work with, here’s a handy (and very thorough) MOVING CHECKLIST to help make your move easier. Seriously this is an amazing resource, it literally has everything you need.
MY FAVORITE TIPS FOR MOVING:
Konmari it!
Luckily I read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up a couple of months before so the Mr and I were already well on our way to purging the unnecessary and getting ready for the move.
Craigslist is King
In the spirit of Konmari, we got rid of SO MUCH stuff. The book talks about throwing stuff away, which was one thing I majorly disagreed with. I’d much rather find a new home for things that are still useful. Hence, Craigslist. We actually sold so much on Craigslist that it ended up paying for our move! And on that score I would definitely recommend selling things on Craigslist as opposed to a garage sale. Yes, it’s a huge hassle to make appointments with people and yes, there are a ton of flakes out there, but really…it’s so worth it when you get $100 for a nightstand that you would have sold for $5 at a garage sale. Just sayin’
Insure the $$$ stuff
We learned this the hard way. During our first time using movers we just went with their standard 60 cents per lbs reimbursement. Fast forward to after the move and my husband’s wine fridge was damaged. That 60 cents does not go a long way believe you me 😐
Create a layout of rooms beforehand
AKA know where your crap is going. AND if you’re super organized you can tape it to the wall so the movers can reference it. Super helpful. I hadn’t thought to do this, but I’m definitely doing it next time!
Leave cleaning supplies
You’re going to want to do a deep clean to your old house after moving. So keep that in mind and maybe leave things like *toilet brushes* behind so you can do your job 😉
Leave a few tools
Just like those cleaning supplies, you’re going to need a few tools to help out at the old house. Things like spackle and a screwdriver will come in handy for those random odds & ends.
Get a baby sitter
Last but definitely not least. Get your kids out of the house AND hopefully have them spend the night elsewhere that first night. This will be super helpful because one, they won’t get in the movers’ way and two, you don’t have to worry about them breaking and getting into things they shouldn’t before you’d had a chance to put them away.
As for our moving experience with NorthStar…I was pretty in awe of their skills. The only thing broken was the on/off switch on my blender. Yep, that’s it! It’s kind of unbelievable when you think about it. I’ve been through 4 moves with professional movers and on average I had at least 5 things that broke in transit…per move. This time? Only one. Not a single wine glass or picture frame (or wine fridge *ahem*). I’d definitely chalk that up to my moving team’s attention to detail. I was amazed at how efficiently they were able to pack things up and load things up. Oh and when it came time to unpack? They took everything away with them to reuse. Yes, that’s right! No leftover boxes to get rid of. Super convenient right?
There’s no doubt that moving is an expensive process, but when it comes down to it. Hiring professional movers to not only move your things, but to pack them too? Totally worth every penny in my book. I’ll never go back! 🙂
This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Copy Cat Chic and our generous sponsors. I was given a discount on our moving services with NorthStar to partner with them on this post.
Mom Knows Best says
We had a move that my husbands job paid for the movers. It was so worth it.
Patricia Delgado says
I will be moving at the very end of May and we have been going through and getting rid of so much, it's nice to have a little checklist.
Natalie Kaman says
I was hoping for more packing tips, but I agree with the Magic of tidying up book recommendation, Craigslist, & Babysitter:)
oana79 says
We used professional movers to pack our big items of furniture last time we moved, made such a difference to my stress levels!
Michelle Gwynn Jones says
Knowing where things are going to go is such a simple way to relieve some of the stress of moving.
Mai C. says
We haven't moved in a long time, but my family tends to hoard stuff. To this day we still have a lot of things scattered in the living room and it's really annoying to look at. These are really awesome tips!
Heather Jones says
I think if we ever move again, we'll definitely hire a moving company. I'd rather not have that headache when I've got the headache of unpacking and putting things away.
Heather OCain says
Great tips for moving, we were always lucky and hired great help!
Ms Katrina says
I must say that my method of moving have been less than organized. They have, however, been quite efficient in just getting moved from one place to another.
Emma White says
Our moves are abit different here in the uk, a lot of us just hire a van and pack it ourselves so it's interesting to read how differently you do things. There's some brilliant tips here about moving, I also recommend selling of unwanted items and having a plan of where everything is going before you move. My mistake the 1st time I moved was not doing this and I ended up with a room full of boxes and no idea where they was going lol. Moved a quite a few times since then so I'm more prepared now 🙂
Christine McMichael says
Love this! Moving is always so tedious, so these tips are perfect! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Berlin Maynigo says
I love change especially if it will bring beauty and peace in our life. Moving from one place to another is most welcome if it will be for the greater good. And your moving tips are very practical and very much appreciated.
Berlin Maynigo says
I love change especially if it will bring beauty and peace in our life. Moving from one place to another is most welcome if it will be for the greater good. And your moving tips are very practical and very much appreciated.
Katie M says
Love these tips! Will definitely be saving them for the future!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
Christina Aliperti says
The last time we moved, we did it all ourselves. I swore I would never move again! This may help change my mind lol.
Lisa Rios says
I agree, moving is such a crazy progress & that too when you have small kids I am sure it is going to be a huge challenge. The NorthStar sounds like a wonderful moving company & I love that they focused on being green, which is a big bonus. Great tips on choosing the right moving team as well.
Amy Jones says
Great advice, we always find people to do it for us, maybe next time i can save up some money hehe
Nicole Escat says
This is such a must see post/blog for my cousin since they are about to move. thanks for sharing this. i will show this to her
Kathy Kenny Ngo says
I’ve moved 5 houses in 8 years so im pretty badass when it comes to moving but you still have some really good points.