Moving is something people may do several times in their lifetime. Whether it's going away to college, moving into the first home, changing jobs in other cities, or moving office space, moving takes a lot of work. With almost 31 million people in the U.S. making a move each year, according to Move Buddha, knowing the best tips and tricks for a successful moving process can reduce mishaps and decrease the likelihood of stress. Read on for some critical moving tips our moving service customers live by.

1. Do Proper Research

You don't have to take the first company you see. If unsure where to start, ask the people in your circle for recommendations; other family and friends likely had to move at some point. Check for reviews on sites, like Reddit, TrustPilot, Google, and social media. A mover service may offer various services like packing, unloading, storage, and more. So, make sure you sign a contract with a mover that has the services you need.

2. Don't Pick Just Any Moving Date

Let's face it, the time of year you move can affect how smoothly your move goes. Be mindful of holidays and school times. Early fall and early summer are when many students are moving into or leaving college campuses, so bear that in mind if you live in a college town. A mover service may charge more to move your items on weekends or in the summer.

3. Measure Your Belongings

Do you have large and oversized furniture like couches, big beds, and huge tables? Do you plan to take your refrigerator and washing machine with you? Such large appliances and furniture will require extra labor and tools for your mover service to use. You can get a more accurate quote if you measure these items as you consult with your potential moving service. Measure the hallways and doorways at both your current and new residence so that movers know what to expect as well.

4. Pack Smart

As anyone who's moved will tell you, the packing will always take longer than you think. In addition to getting the right supplies in order, you have to organize your items to ensure everything goes where it's supposed to go. Don't wait until a day or two before the big day to start packing! Once you set a moving day, pack as soon as possible. If you have anything you don't need to use soon, go ahead and start packing and set them aside. Don't forget you have to unpack once you get to your new place, so make sure all of your moving boxes are properly labeled. When you and the movers know what room each box is supposed to go in, it'll make your unloading process much faster.

5. Prepare Your New Home

As you move out of your current house, prepare the new one as much as possible. If the new house isn't clean, hire a professional cleaning service to do it for you. Then, when the boxes come, you can unpack everything without working around any dirt, dust, or grime. As mentioned before, properly label your boxes so that movers know what room each one goes in. Try to group related boxes as much as you can. For example, keep the kitchen boxes together. If moving into a large house, put a number label on each door in the new place and put those numbers onto those boxes.

6. Stay on Schedule

Do your best to maintain a timely schedule. Movers have a certain amount of time to move items, along with other customers to get to. If they have to wait around for you, expect to pay more per hour. So, have your boxes packed and ready for them to move upon when they arrive.

There are many moving parts to a successful move. Going from one house to another is a lot of work, but you can reduce the time and stress by following these simple tips above. As your local mover service, we look forward to helping you in your next residential transition. Please call Emanuel Movers, Inc for more information.