Moving is hard. In the hopes of making things easier, sometimes families don’t prepare enough for the process. And, trust us when we say, we’ve seen it all.

We’ve seen people skimp on buying enough boxes, start late in the game, or rely on friends that don’t show up on moving day.

But a lot can go wrong before and during a move, making the do-it-yourself approach not as easy or affordable as we might like.

So, how do you make moving easy? This is a topic we know a lot about. At Alliance Moving & Storage, we’ve been helping people in Chicago and surrounding areas move for years. We’ve written plenty of articles on the best tips for moving and packing. But this post is a little different. It’s from the perspective of moving an entire home from one town or city to another.

Here, we share some of our secret advice on how to simplify the moving process — especially for long-distance moves and when time is not on your side.

8 Ways to Make Moving Easy

Ready to learn the tricks of the trade? These eight tips are a great place to start.

Know Your Moving Size

It’s very important to understand the scope of the move. Sure, you have a three-bedroom home, but with a basement and an attic full of stuff, you might be moving more like nine large rooms worth of belongings (bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and dining room included).

To understand the full scope of the move, you’ll first need to get rid of all the things you no longer want or need. This is a wonderful time to get rid of all the junk in your garage or in that spare room. The more you get rid of now, the less you have to relocate during moving day.

Take time to give away things you no longer want or need. This includes getting rid of clothes, furniture, and other items that won’t be making it to your new home. If you have five brooms, you know what to do.

After this step, you’ll have a better understanding of how much you need to move. This will help you determine your budget.

Understand Your Limitations

Let’s face it, moving requires muscles. You’re moving and lifting boxes, appliances, and large furniture. Even if you have a dolly, moving an entire home will require physical endurance that you might not have or have time for you (we’re not judging). But honestly, this is why professional movers have jobs.

Take an inventory of the things you can and can’t do. Also, keep in mind that this includes the actual journey to your new home. If you’re moving a family of five across the country, dad needs to be with the family while they’re on the plane. He can’t be the one driving the rented moving truck.

There are other limitations you should be aware of. As mentioned, time is one of them. How much time do you have to move? If you’re moving during the weekend, prior to school starting, or before a new job, time is of the essence. A moving company with a crew of people can help you move faster than you could do on your own.

Other limitations include moves for senior citizens, college students, and moves for people with disabilities.

Hire Established, Experienced Movers

We’re not recommending that you hire movers; that’s your decision. But, if you do plan to hire movers, make sure they are established and experienced. You don’t want to book just any moving company. As with any job, a resume` matters.

Make sure that you do your research. Find out how long the company has been around and if they have experience in the services you’re looking for. Be picky. If you’re moving to a new area, a local moving company is vital to the move. You want them to know the roads and highways. They might even help you with finding the treasures in the new town.

Break Down Larger Items

To simplify the moving process, make sure to disassemble some of the large items in your home. This includes desks, shelves, giant sofas, larger dining tables, and other furniture that might not fit through your door frames. In other words, make sure you do this step before moving day. You don’t want to get stuck with items you can’t fit through the door, or in the truck.

Disassembling furniture and appliances is a big process that many people fail to prepare for. We find this step important for a successful move. If you feel that you can’t do this on your own, remember that the best moving companies offer this service for an added fee. Talk about this with the moving companies that you speak with.

Consider Temporary Storage Space

Earlier, we gave the advice to give away things you no longer want or need. But there are things you simply don’t want to get rid of that might not have a home in your new “home.” If you really don’t want to give away aunt Caryn’s giant glass dining table and eight chairs, consider a storage space until you decide what to do about it.

Temporary storage space is a cost. But, it’s a cost worth paying for the time you need to decide what to do with special items. Of course, if you simply have a lot of stuff you don’t want to give away, go ahead and store them in temporary storage units.

Stick with a Single Moving Company (For Multiple Services)

By now, you know if you need to hire professional movers, and whether you need special services such as a moving truck, rental of dollies, packing and unpacking of boxes, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, and storage space rentals. Now here’s the good part.

You can find a moving company that offers all of these services. So instead of hiring movers from one place, a truck from another, and storage space from a third place, make moving easy by picking a single moving company that offers all of these services.

Why? Because managing your moving will be easier. That’s what this article is all about; simplifying the moving process. When you work with a single company, dates and times will be better coordinated and you can easily save money, too.

Always Get an Estimate

The moving industry has a bad reputation. While we have an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, not all companies operate the way that we do. Before you go with any moving company, make sure to get an estimate of the cost of your move.

Since you now know your moving size, it should be easy for you to give them the size of your move and the distance you’ll need to travel. When you get an estimate, this is also a good time to let them know if you need any other special services, which we’ve covered above.

Say Yes to Insurance

If you do go the professional route, you’ll want to protect your belongings with proper moving insurance. The good news is that we offer FREE basic liability coverage for both local and long-distance moves. So the estimates you get from our company include insurance.

If you want more, we can help you get that, too. We provide a way for you to pay for Declared Value coverage. Just ask.

Alliance Moving & Storage Makes Moving Easy

You can trust our Chicago moving company for the tips and tricks you need for a smooth moving experience. But you can also rely on us for your actual move. If you’re moving to Chicago or surrounding areas, we invite you to request a quote online. If you need more information, please visit our Services page.