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Things to Do When Moving

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We do not offer intrastate moves unless in California.

Moving is never easy. There are a lot of complications involved with a change of address. Sterling Van Lines has been the leading pioneer for 30 years in the moving industry and specializes in small moves

Things To Remember

First, congrats on finding a new place. This might be your first time moving or you are a professional mover, either ways, discovering ways to make it more efficient and headache-free is exactly what everyone needs. Give yourself plenty of time to plan ahead, whether it’s to research for movers, request a quote to figure your budget, having to DIY packing/ hiring someone to do it, or transportation options (i.e., renting a truck or booking a moving company). Either ways, you will thank yourself for giving yourself plenty of time to do all the above and more. Typically, give yourself two months before your move date to prepare.

Many people don’t check but should check: Did you ask what associations the movers are members of? Remember, “You get what you pay for” so if your quote seems too good to be true; it might be. Be wary and look out for scam movers. If they passed with flying colors then complete and turn in your paperwork as fast as possible. Bargain shopping is great but you don’t want to miss your perfect, potential schedule just because you might find a better bargain. It’s kind of like retail shopping, you might want to wait to find a better deal but you won’t get exactly what you want… in the end. Now you’ve found a great mover, great!

Now what do you do? Declutter, of course. You don’t realize how much things you accumulate and end up hoarding. Have a starting point, like the least used room to the most frequently used (if you feel overwhelmed). Remember, you are not trying to conquer everything in one day but little-by-little. One sure way to help you organize is having three big labeled boxes- keep, sell, and donate. Don’t stop and reminisce, you’ll have plenty of time later on. You should ask and honestly answer the following questions:

  • When is the last time you’ve used/ worn this item [in question]? Over a year and more then sell or donate.
  • Am I saving this just in case? Or do I have something just like it (i.e., multiple)?
  • Holding onto a broken item/ something to upgrade to fix one day? Am I really going to fix or work on it so it’ll be useful?
  • Could I use this space for something else?
  • [Clothes] If I were shopping right this second, would I buy this? If answer is no, throw or donate it.

Once you have reduced the “clutter” it will cost less to move. Win, Win. Simple life is the best and healthiest. Benefits of simplifying:

Packing. Why, oh, why does it have to be so excruciating and draining? It can be painless, if you decide to have movers do it for you instead. Call and ask about our packing service. Realistically, you might have to do the packing yourself (or with help from friends, family, and coworkers) to have a smaller budget but you can always opt for a compromise. What kind of compromise, you say? It’s when you pack majority of your belongings and leave difficult items to the professionals. What would you consider difficult? That really depends; most would consider kitchen items (i.e., dishes, cups, wine glasses, and more) as a difficult item to pack while others might think it’s “do-able”. Improper DIY kitchenware packing makes it risky and a higher probability of damage. Sterling has packed and taken care of such items as mattresses, dishes, mirrors/ glass, and much more. A white glove service which is what we provide will give you a peace of mind.

There are many options of transportation. You can utilize portable storage containers, rental trucks (i.e., U-haul, Hertz, and etc.), or hiring a moving company. Depending on your needs and wants plus budget, you can determine which one will be the best for your moving needs. Renting a portable storage unit (well known as PODs), you know exactly how much it will cost and is typically serviced only locally. You can use it to store your belongings until your destination/ move-in is optimal; however, packing and loading will be a DIY project. The perks of a portable storage unit is that you don’t have to worry about the transportation since it is included. A rental truck is a complete DIY, meaning you will not only have to pack, load, unload but will have to drive the truck. We don’t know if you’re experienced in driving those bulky trucks but it can be overwhelming when you’re exhausted and inexperienced. Don’t forget that you have to pick-up and drop-off the truck yourself. It is definitely cost efficient though. Hiring a moving company to fully take charge of your move will be the easiest. You won’t have to worry about hauling heavy furniture and the fear of hurting yourself in the process. It might cost more than all the other options listed above but it will be the least tedious tasks to do and lower chance of incurring damage. If you can’t add on the packing service but will be hiring movers to relocate you, it’ll be relieving nonetheless. You won’t have to think about heavy furniture, bribing friends to help you, and the little time you have at hand to take on this tremendous task.

Remember, even though moving is a grueling project, you can do it. You just need to give yourself plenty of time to prepare ahead and have some lifehack tips and tricks to utilize. Don’t get mad and stress yourself out unnecessarily, too; learn to laugh and be cheery since it’ll be over soon. After unloading into your new place, you MUST celebrate this huge feat. Go on an adventure to explore the neighborhood and try something local. It’s essential to give yourself breaks and stop from trying to complete your move-in all in one day by yourself… it’s impossible. Just unpack fundamental items which you will need to use immediately like your bed, bathroom items, and some kitchenware. Everything else is items you want to use but not need. Just like the advice for packing for your move, unpacking will also need time to prepare and organize.

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(800) 264-6313

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See what some of our happy customers have to say

As a moving company, we are proud of the work we do in helping people to move- and thought we would share a few words from our customers.

Small Move Testimonial
Nothing but excellent things to say about Sterling Van Lines! Moving is stressful enough -- Sterling Van Lines definitely made the process easier for us!B.P. Small Move
Piano Move Testimonial
They moved a very old 1886 Steinway Baby Grand across the country and they did a wonderful job. Sterling had the best price as well. Tim D. Piano Move
Antique Move Testimonial
Sterling moved some antiques from PA to NV for my family. My main concern was that the pieces arrive intact and in good shape, and they certainly did.Shani C. Antique Move
American Moving & Storage Association A+ Better Business Bureau California Moving & Storage Association Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association National Association of Senior Move Managers Certified Pro Mover