Preparing for your Post-Holiday Move

The holidays in Farmington Hills are a time filled with warmth, friends, and family. There’s nothing better than enjoying our favorite meals and traditions with those you love. If this is the last holiday season in your current home, then you are likely feeling emotional. Any Farmington Hills moving company will tell you the same thing - moving will be a huge adjustment. But if you are moving right after the holidays are finished, the season of giving may quickly become a season of stress! Lucky for you, preparing for the holidays and your upcoming move can be a breeze if you take some time to prepare properly.

Get Organized

Taking the time to get organized now will save you a ton time and stress when your moving company gets to your house! We’re sharing tips to get organized and on track this holiday season:

• Print a calendar that you’ll only use for moving related tasks. Highlight your move day. Counting backwards from that day, make a draft outline of all your move-related tasks and items to pack. Making a timeline will give you a sense of accomplishment and will keep you from losing your focus in the hustle and bustle of December.
• If you are ending up with a lot of boxes from online packages, keep them! Use them to pack your belongings. If these packages arrive with peanuts, paper, bubble wrap, or other padding, save them! These materials will provide even more support and protection for your fragile décor pieces.
• Gather plenty of tape, boxes, markers, etc. With all your moving supplies handy and kept together will let you be ready whenever you get the inspiration to pack something!

  

Decorations

Opening that dusty box and pulling a sentimental holiday decoration out for the first time in over a year is an exciting feeling. The holidays are officially here! Getting out our favorite decorations, ornaments, or keepsakes makes us filled with nostalgia and excitement for the coming season. But as you are starting to decorate, it’s time to think ahead about how you will take it all down. Not to downplay holiday festivities, but you’ll want to get prepared more than in other years for how you’ll pack your decorations back up. Your ornaments, snowglobes and breakable keepsakes are usually kept in great storage boxes that sit in your basement or garage. But are they secure and ready to be moved? Do not create additional work for yourself when the season is over. Making a plan for how you will take down and then carefully pack your décor will save you time and headaches when preparing for your move. Some general tips to follow are:

• When taking down your Christmas tree, have packing supplies ready. Carefully wrap your ornaments and fragile pieces with tissue paper or unprinted newsprint before putting them into a dish pack.
• Garlands and wreaths fit neatly into wardrobe boxes!
• Menorahs and kinaras should be wrapped with tissue paper or newsprint, then put in a book carton, or inside of a dish pack along with similar items.
• Wardrobe boxes are fantastic to safely pack artificial Christmas trees. Put two on top of each other for taller trees!

 

Holiday Meals

While the family drifts off in tryptophan bliss, use that time to clean and pack your seasonal plates and tableware. If you have holiday cutlery, casserole dishes, or sets of china, washing them and then packing them right away is a great use of your time. Because those things are used only once a year, just properly pack them for moving right now!

Gifts

There are a few things to consider when thinking about any new gift purchases. If you are moving near the holidays, you have already had your moving company give you a quote, this could be based on time or weight depending on the type of move. If you have gotten or given any large gifts that could affect your quote, please contact your moving company asap. There could be extra costs, services, or special disassembly for increased/decreased weight or time than your initial quote. Some common gifts requiring extra care are:

• Exercise bikes and treadmills - especially the ones that have video screens, these are hot holiday gifts! But, because of their size and servicing needed to secure the electronic components, you will have to notify your moving company if you’ve gotten one of these!
• Game tables – pool tables, poker tables, and ping-pong tables may add weight or time to your move. If you get a slate pool table, that will necessitate special service prior to being moved. It will also need refelting after the move.
• Lithium batteries- power tools, cameras, hover boards and more tend to use lithium batteries these days. Though moving companies can typically move these batteries without concerns, you’ll want to check that the battery is properly disconnected and stored. Lithium batteries cannot be sent in an air shipment, if you’re moving internationally.

 

Bonus tip: If you have access to your new home ahead of the holidays, you could consider having family and friends ship your gifts to your new home. This will prevent your moving company from having to handle them, preventing a reason to update your quote.

Get nostalgic

As long as your current home is still nicely decorated, make sure to enjoy festive treats, all your favorite holiday traditions, and don’t forget to take pictures. You will be thankful you have these memories and pictures to remember for years to come. Having a farewell holiday party is also a wonderful send-off. Make sure to invite neighbors and loved ones you may not see much after you move for one final holiday shindig.

Contact Corrigan

Because we’re a family-owned and operated Farmington Hills moving company, we know a thing or two about moving around the holidays! We take pride in having the most compassionate and knowledgeable employees in the industry. Don’t let yourself get caught in the stress of the season, and miss out on the magic and enjoyment of your last holiday in your current home.

Our expert relocation professionals are ready to help you navigate the season ahead. Contact us now to schedule your free, no-obligation, in-home or virtual moving quote today!