Moving is an exhilarating time, but with excitement, comes many things that you’re responsible for getting done quickly. While there’s no foolproof method to avoid relocation worries, hiring professional movers is a great way to minimize stress. If you’re considering how you can best help movers during the process, Maffucci Moving & Storage, the most trusted moving team in the Northeast for 110 years, can guide you through every step.

Planning out your move ahead of time with Maffucci’s dedicated team of experts will make a world of difference in your ability to avoid moving challenges like poor organization, bad time management, damaged boxes, and injuries. Our company offers complete moving services, including packing, furniture disassembly and reassembly, loading and unloading, storage, and more, all at a reasonable price. 

Planning Your Move

The first step when planning to relocate is deciding on your moving budget. How much is too much to spend on a mover, and would you mind paying more if it means your items are guaranteed to arrive on time, safely? To figure out how much you’re looking at spending, consider the following factors:

• Moving distance – How far are you going, and what will it take to get there (gas, moving truck, etc.)?
• Home size and packing materials—How big is your home, and what supplies will it take to pack it?
• Moving insurance – Do you want extra protection for your items in case of an accident?
• Storage costs – If not all items can move and you need to store them, how big of a storage space will you need? 

Choosing the Right Moving Company

The first moving company you stumble upon will rarely be the right choice for what you need. They might have a snazzy marketing plan, but do they have the skillset and services necessary to help you make the move successfully, with as little issue as possible? When combing through moving companies in your area, consider the following. 

Reputation and experience

A moving company’s reputation is a good sign of reliability. Do they have many reviews? Are most of them positive? Would people you know recommend them to you? Generally speaking, if a company has been in business for many years, the answer will be yes to all of those questions. 

Services offered and equipment

Look through what services they offer. Do they have a storage facility? Could they help you with packing and unpacking? If moving a long distance, can they transport your vehicle? To be sure the company is equipped to help with all of your needs, expected and unexpected, select a full-service moving business like Maffucci. 

Customer service and communication

Since you’re trusting them with everything you own, they should be more than willing to answer any questions you might have. Communication should be upfront, transparent, reliable, and friendly. The second a representative shows an attitude or seems annoyed, alarm bells should ring.

Rates

Never settle for the first price you’re given. Ask at least three different companies for estimates you can compare while looking for red flags. These include asking for a cash deposit before you move and if they are pushing to get payment upfront. Other red flags are if they seem unprofessional, show up late, appear unsure of their capabilities, or appear in a rented van. 

Once you’ve done your due diligence, it’s time to sign the contract. Keep your guard up during this process, as some con artists will use contracts to take advantage of people. When reviewing the contract, look out for:

• Additional fees that weren’t discussed
• A blank contract without an inventory list of all your items
• A price estimate that’s higher or significantly lower than discussed
• Unclear payment terms
• No physical business address/license number
• Limited liability for lost or damaged items

With Maffucci Moving & Storage, you never have to worry about being taken advantage of. Each member of our team has undergone a thorough vetting process to ensure they can meet our standards, and we’ve collected countless glowing reviews over the years. We’re prepared to offer our physical strength, reliable equipment, and many helpful moving tips so you can have the smoothest move possible. 

What to Ask Potential Moving Companies

As we said earlier, all legit movers must be licensed at a state and federal level. If you ask to see the mover’s licensing and they hesitate or flat-out refuse, run for the hills. Other essential questions to ask a company before hiring them to assist with your move are as follows:

1. Can I have a list of references?
2. Do you have experience with my type of move?
3. Do you offer tracking/guaranteed delivery dates?
4. What liability coverage do you offer?
5. Do you provide a binding quote or a not-to-exceed estimate?

Packing Tips and Tricks

You’ve got a lot of things to manage. You might be asking yourself how much can go in the car with you, if you have to stop overnight, how you can make it easier for kids and pets, and how to get started packing. We understand that moving is a challenging process, but there are a few different ways to ease stress during this time. If you adhere to our packing tips and tricks, you’ll make it out better than expected.

Decluttering Before the Move

Before you pack, go through your belongings and look at what you do/don’t need. When decluttering, set goals that you’d like to achieve regarding how much you’ll donate. Finish one room at a time, create an inventory list of the items you’ll be taking with you and the room where they belong, and try packing a little as you go. Our top decluttering tips include:

• Utilizing the 20 rule method (toss if it costs less than $20 to rebuy and you don’t use it)
• Hire us to help manage the process
• Only make a toss and keep a pile
• Start with items you use the least/are out of season
• Purge your closet
• START EARLY; DON’T WAIT

Efficient Packing Strategies

It’s time to get packing. Without a doubt, this is the worst part of moving. Packaging all your belongings into boxes is overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. The best way to start packing efficiently and to maintain a method that works is by having a clear organization and labeling system. 

For each room, label the boxes with numbers, the room name, and what items are in them. Put items that are the most important together and label them “urgent to unpack.” Note that you can’t pack fragile items the same way as you can unbreakables. They’ll require more cushion and wrap, like packing peanuts and paper, to protect them during transit and should always be placed into your most sturdy boxes. 

To maximize space, place smaller items inside bigger ones and wrap them as much as possible with towels or dish rags. Once you’ve finished packing, make a list that you’ll keep with you on the moving day of each box and check it off as it’s put on the truck to ensure nothing is left behind. 

Moving Day Preparation

In the days leading up to the move, confirm details like start time, addresses, and date with your team. Double-check that you’ve updated your information with the Post Office, DMV, the bank, subscriptions, and any other service you use. You may also want to send out a note to friends and family telling them you’ve moved. Finally, ensure that you’re good to go with utilities in the new place and that you’ve successfully scheduled the shut-off date in your old house. 

Pack a bag with a few changes of clothes, hygiene products, chargers, and other necessities for easy access in preparation. This will save you from rooting around in boxes and making a mess before you’re ready to unpack. In your bag, we recommend having all important documents and paperwork like passports and birth certificates. Other prep for moving day includes gathering necessary supplies such as moving blankets, shrink wrap, a toolset, ratchet straps/rope, mattress bags, dollies, furniture pads, and cleaning supplies. 

Moving Day Tips

Even though you might be tempted to sleep in when moving day arrives, get up and start early. Not only will this allow you to beat the heat depending on what time of year it is, but you’ll beat traffic. Pull out that list of boxes we mentioned earlier to keep track of your belongings and document when they’re put on the truck. Remember to do a final walk-through with the movers to recheck your inventory, ensure everything is packed, and that you’re ready to head off to your new home.

Post-Move Madness

Now that the heavy lifting is done (literally), it’s time to settle in. We hope you’ve had a pleasant experience working with Maffucci Moving & Storage up to this point. We would love to continue our partnership through our unpacking services, but if you’d like to take over from here, there are no hard feelings on our part. We understand wanting to get familiar with your new space and set it up exactly how you’d like, no matter how long it takes. We’ll leave you to it with these departing unpacking tips: 

1. Sort the boxes and place them in the correct room
2. Clean and make repairs before you unpack 
3. Create a floor plan for each room
4. Unpack the essentials first 
5. Anticipate needs and set up your furniture  (i.e., installing closet shelving)
6. Unpack on a deadline (i.e., ten boxes daily, two rooms daily, etc.)
7. Don’t open everything at once 
8. Give yourself rewards in between tasks to motivate yourself
9. Throw out moving materials or pack them away
10. Decorate last to avoid distractions

For a Move That Feels Like a Vacation, Work with Maffucci.

When you’re getting ready to move, there are a lot of things that you’ve got to think about. Because of that, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But, when you choose a reliable moving company, things become much more manageable. Up North, the most trusted moving team is Maffucci. 

Maffucci Moving & Storage is a full-service business providing customers with a move that goes so well, that it feels like a vacation. For more than 100 years, our team has been helping families, individuals, and businesses start the next chapter in their lives using our unique skill sets, unlimited resources, and valuable tools of the trade. We’ll assist you with getting and staying organized, packing, furniture reassembly, loading and unloading, and more. 

Reach out to Maffucci Moving & Storage for a complimentary moving estimate. Whether you’re just starting to plan or are prepared to move, our team provides tailored advice and assistance to ensure your move is as economical as possible.