5 STEPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR MOVING DAY WITH FRIENDS:




Moving can be overwhelming if you try to do it alone - it's a task which requires more than one set of hands. That's what friends are for, right? But even if your friends gladly offer to help, you still need to follow a few rules of thumb to ensure that your friends remain your friends, even after moving day.
Enlisting friends to help you move can be wonderful, but be prepared for the fact that it requires a bit of preparation on your part. Here are five steps to setting up a successful moving day with friends:
Reach Out Early. As soon as you know you'll be moving, pull together a friendly and organized email and get it out to as many people as possible. Giving people adequate notice ups the odds that you'll get a good group together - remember, the more people that show up to help you move, the easier it is for everyone.
List Needed Tasks, "Potluck" Style. When asking people for help, list out specific tasks that you need assistance with. Do you have any super-organized friends that would like to help you with sorting through items before packing starts? Do you want to organize "teams" of people (couples, etc.) to tackle one room together, so they know exactly what they're signing up for? Be creative, and be specific - think of it like a potluck, where everyone signs up to bring a specific dish. If people know what they're in for, it allows them to plan their own schedule and approach the day with optimism.
Keep, Discard, or Donate. One of the joys of moving is going through all of your rooms, item by item, and determining what you really need to keep, what should go to trash or recycling, or what needs a new home. If you've found some friends who want to help with this task, all the better - it allows you to reminisce as you go through things and make decisions together. It can be overwhelming, and time may not be on your side. See who volunteers to help, pick a date (or two), and be ready to tackle the project methodically. Having space in one room with "Keep", "Discard", and "Donate" signs helps people know where things go and keeps things moving.
Have Supplies Ready. Get a list of moving supplies together (blankets, packing tape, boxes) and have it ready-to-go on the day of your move. Whatever items you have not discarded or donated will be packed on that day, and you want to make sure to have the "tools of the trade" ready for your volunteers.
Music and Food Are Key. The day of, you want to make it as fun as possible - if you're moving far away, this may be your last chance to spend time with these folks, so keep it festive! Music (don't pack away your speakers just yet), snacks, and beverages will go a long way with your volunteers. As an added touch, think about getting a little something for each person, or writing a personal thank you note to each one. They're giving you their time, and you want to make sure they know how appreciative you are.
How else have you planned for a successful moving day with friends?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Moving & Packing Supplies do We Need for Moving?

Image
Choosing the right packing supplies is essential step for a successful move.  You need to make sure you have enough moving boxes and moving supplies in order to pack your belongings properly. Your household items should arrive at your new home without a scratch, so do not underestimate the packing process.  It is a quite time consuming and annoying job, but you have to do it precisely. Starting with your packing supplies moving list you need to make sure you have all your belonging secured, especially if you are moving long distance. First of all, you have to decide if you are packing yourself, or you are using a moving company to do it for you. Every option has its pros and cons. You can start your  search for professional movers here . Where to Buy Moving Supplies There are many options. Start by checking Craigslist for used moving supplies. There are many people that give away their moving boxes for free. This way you will save money and keep the environment c...
Read more

How To Keep From Injuring Yourself During The Move:

Image
Ask any emergency room doctor, moving day (and the days building up to the move) can be dangerous. If you take the right precautions, though, you can prevent that trip to the emergency room. Save Your Back Your back is one of the most vulnerable parts of your body, and we’ve seen people tweak their backs after lifting small boxes, not just heavy furniture. Remember to always lift from the knees, not from the back. Also, it’s a good idea to use a back brace on moving day. Save Your Knees After running up and down stairs, and back and forth to and from my car, our last moving day just about killed my knees, and they take months to heal. Knee pads and knee braces can be lifesavers during a move. At the very least, invest in some sleeves to help support your knees. Save Your Ankles Ankles rarely give you any notice before you injure them, so it’s important to be very careful. Don’t move too fast. Take slow, deliberate steps when carrying things. If you are the one who gets ...
Read more

What Are the Average Hourly Moving Costs?

Image
Whether you realize it or not, the move distance plays a major role when you’re moving to a new house or apartment. In relation to the distance between the two homes, you’ve got LOCAL MOVING : moving just across the street, moving within the same town or city, or moving to another place within the same state; CROSS-COUNTRY (INTERSTATE) MOVING : moving to another town or city in a different state in the country; INTERNATIONAL MOVING : moving to another country. And while the difficulty of the relocation will increase proportionally to the move distance, so will the cost of the residential move itself. When you’re moving locally, you need to remember that the moving company you hire will charge you  by the hour . What that basically means is that if you’re familiar with the average cost of movers per hour, you’ll be able to calculate roughly how much you will pay in the end. What are the average hourly moving costs? Hiring local movers by the hour Hiring professio...
Read more