So, you read the first part of this series and you've gotten rid of all your extra stuff, taped up your pictures and mirrors, documented all your high ticket items, packed your valuables, important papers and medications to be hand carried, sorted out your unaccompanied baggage (if you're shipping any) and spent many sleepless nights stressing over your move and what you've forgotten to do. All your plotting and planning has ended and the moving van has pulled up in front of your house with a team full of strangers who will be touching all your stuff. Take a deep breath and relax. There's nothing you can do now except sit back and watch as everything gets wrapped, packed, boxed and taped up. Well, okay there are things you can do. Here's a list of things you can do to make your moving day go easier. And hey, at least you don't have to worry anymore that the military hired the company with the lowest bid. Cheap-moves-R-us, anyone?
1. Get a good night's sleep before hand. I know this is difficult (believe me, I KNOW), but it is essential. Take a melatonin if you have to but get some sleep. You don't want to fall asleep on the sofa while your stuff is being packed. I know of what I speak. Also, it's terribly embarrassing.
2. Have plenty of drinks on hand for the movers. A lot of people don't think it's necessary to provide for the movers, but let's be honest, they work in extreme heat and cold doing back breaking work and trying NOT to damage your precious belongings. The least you could do is give them some thing to drink. I always have bottles of water and soda for them. If it's a cold day, make a batch of hot chocolate or coffee and offer it. Some will take it, some won't (more will than won't) but they will certainly appreciate the offer.
3. Relax. Try to keep a positive attitude and be friendly to the movers. You may watch them like a hawk if you want (I do), but don't look at them like they are criminals. Smile. Crack a few jokes. It will make your day (and theirs) much better.
4. Have a neighbor/friend/teenager/etc. watch your young children and/or pets. They can get underfoot and you are probably going to be too busy answering questions and running from room to room to keep them out of the way and from potentially getting hurt. It's best if they are gone for most of the packing. It will also keep them from getting upset over seeing their toys packed away. There's nothing like a screaming child or having to chase after a pet who slipped out the open door to take the fun out of moving.
5. Offer to feed your movers lunch. This one is controversial, but I think it's a smart move on your part. Get it? Smart MOVE. I crack myself up sometimes. Anyhoodles, I always, always, always offer to feed my movers. It's just good manners, IMO. It doens't cost that much and they really appreciate it. If dh is there for the packing (rarely-he usually seems to get out of that part), I'll offer to go pick up something for them or if dh isn't there, I'll order in (pizza, subs, chinese, whatever). You could also have a bunch of sandwich stuff on hand and some chips or pretzels if the thought of buying fast food for 3-5 people is too much for you. I know a lot of people feel that the movers are there to do a job and are getting paid so they can get their own lunch. Well, sure, but if they are left to their own devices they will skip lunch (because it takes too long to go get it) and then they get tired and cranky. I don't want tired cranky movers! I want happy, well fed movers. my theory is that if they are well fed and watered they are far more likely to be careful with my stuff. This isn't a fact of course, but it's a well known fact that men are crabby when they're hungry.
6. If you have special items, talk to the packers about how they will be packed. Make sure your grandmother's china is not packed with her cast iron skillet (this has actually happened and it did not end well).
7. Check, check and re-check the packing list. Make sure every item is listed. If it's not on there, it might as well not exist. Make sure your high ticket items are listed on the high ticket sheet. Make sure the serial numbers are listed. And don't sign anything until you've looked it over.
Now that the military has enacted the new full replacement value system for damaged goods, packing has become a longer and more careful process. All of the furniture is now wrapped in padded brown paper, there is much more packing paper involved and fewer things put into each box. This is both a blessing and a curse. It means more boxes and paper on the other end. But we'll talk about that another day. Get through your packing day. Stay calm, breathe, remember that it will be over soon and be grateful you don't have to do it yourself. When the last of your stuff is packed and you've signed the papers (after carefully reviewing them, of course), take yourself (and your family) out for a relaxing dinner and maybe a drink. Or one of those humongous, 7 different types of chocolate, makes you want to weep with sheer joy, slices of cake you can find at most restaurants now. And just think, only a few weeks (or months depending) until you get to start unpacking in your new home!
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Yes, yes, yes on the having food available!
We've only done one military move (opting to do the rest on our own) and it went fantastic – I think in large part because of our treatment of the movers. We had drinks and food and it went great.