Moving is a word that can strike terror into the heart of even the most fearless homeowner. Moving means having to find a new home in an unfamiliar neighborhood, city, or state, while leaving behind familiar faces and the home where family memories have been made. Even worse, moving means trying to sort through years of accumulated possessions, deciding what to get rid of and then packing the rest up for the journey to the new home. Luckily there are some proactive steps that will help make the dreaded moving process easier and less cumbersome than you may have ever believed it could be. If you will be moving soon, start with these six proactive tips for an experience guaranteed to really move you! 

Tip 1) Make hard choices first to reduce the load

It is never too early to begin preparing for the move, and the best early preparation you can make to pave the way for moving success is to reduce the amount of possessions that will need to be moved. Outgrown clothes, unused books and periodicals, unwanted furniture, and any other items that are no longer used add extra weight and cost when moving. Instead of paying to move these unneeded items, dispose of them early in the moving process by donating, recycling, or selling them to lighten your load and simplify your move. 

Tip 2) Draft the family to help with packing chores

Moving can be an emotional time for families. A good way to help children adjust to moving is to include them in the packing chores as you prepare for the move. To do this, consider setting aside an hour or two each evening when the family can gather in a room and carefully pack away all items that won't be needed until after moving day. This will give kids and adult family members time to discuss the move and work through any problems well before moving day, as well as make short work of packing chores. 

Tip 3) Opt to replace aging appliances instead of moving them

A good way to lighten the load and lessen the work of moving is to consider leaving aging appliances when you move. Refrigerators, stoves, freezers, and laundry equipment take up a lot of space and can be messy to move. If getting new appliances is on your to-do list anyway, buying new ones in the city or town in which you are moving to can be a much better option for many reasons, including: 

• purchasing new appliances from a home center in the city you are moving to is likely to include free delivery and installation, freeing you from the hassle of finding someone to properly install them in an unfamiliar area
• purchasing new appliances allows you to make sure that the appliances are the right size, color, and model for your needs in your new home
• leaving your existing appliances in your old home may entice buyers to make a better offer for your home

Tip 4) Label, label, label

Taking time to correctly label boxes as they are packed will make unpacking much less frustrating. To get the most from labeling when moving, make sure that each label specifies the room that the box contents belong to and includes a short description of what is inside. For example, a box of games might be labeled as family room / games. Doing this will make it easier to find exactly what you need during those first few hectic days without having to open dozens of boxes to do so. Your moving company representative can assist you with high quality, easy-to-read labels, as well as other packing materials. 

Tip 5) Pack a special moving day bag for each child

Moving day is hectic, even though you are using a trustworthy moving company to do the heavy lifting. This is especially true for children who are likely to already be worried about leaving their home and friends behind. A good way to keep everyone calm and happy on moving day is to pack a small bag of snacks and basic needs for each child to keep with them. A backpack or tote bag works well and should contain: 

• a bottle of water or juice
• light snacks, such as crackers, dried fruit, nuts or jerky
• a book to read or a handheld device for playing games
• a small toy 
• a jacket or light wrap for naps

Tip 6) Book a reputable mover well in advance of your moving date

The most important preparation for having a successful moving day is to book a reputable mover well in advance of your planned moving date. Since movers typically fill their schedules early for the busy summer moving season, contacting your mover two or more months ahead of your expected moving date is best. 

For more information, contact a business such as D N R Movers Cincinnati.