Save Your Sanity With These Moving Day Tips:

Is there anyone in the world who actually likes moving to a new home? Organizing and packing up years of accumulated stuff, keeping up with odds and ends, tripping over boxes—is there any way to make that sound fun?

While we may not be able to make moving an enjoyable experience, we have some tips to help relieve some of your stress. To start off, try not to think of moving to a new home as a single, overwhelming ordeal. Break the moving process down into easy-to-accomplish phases to keep you focused and motivated.

Here’s our suggestion for a four-phase move along with some interesting packing tips to make things easier.

Phase One: At Least Three Months Before Moving Day

1. Don’t waste time or space packing what you don’t use or need. Clear out closets, cabinets and any other random storage places and sell, toss or donate anything you haven’t used in more than a year. Have a pre-moving yard sale and make a little extra cash while you’re at it!

2. Start gathering sturdy boxes from grocery, furniture or electronics stores. It may take more time to get what you need, but they’ll be free!

3. Start pre-packing! If you’re selling your home, this will help you clear out clutter and make your home appear more spacious to prospective buyers. Pack up photos, knickknacks, rarely used dishes and cookware—almost anything you don’t use on a daily basis.

Packing Tips

—Label and/or color-code boxes to make unpacking easier. Place labels on the sides of boxes so you can see them when the boxes are stacked.

—For items that must be disassembled, keep screws, washers, and so forth in labeled plastic bags. Put all the bags in one box so they won’t get lost. Do the same with the cords from your electronics.

—Instead of wrapping each dish in newspaper or bubble wrap, separate your dishes with Styrofoam plates. Stack them in boxes vertically instead of flat. They’ll be less likely to break.

Phase Two: One Month Before Moving Day

1. Coordinate your moving dates with some overlap. Leave plenty of time between closing on your current home and the move-in date for your new home to paint or put in new flooring—whatever projects you have in mind—before you move in.

2. Go ahead and set up utilities and internet access at your new home and notify the post office of your new address.

3. Take measurements at your new home to make sure your current appliances and furniture will fit.

4. Keep packing!

Phase Three: One or Two Weeks Before Moving Day

1. Finish up the immediate updates to your new home.

2. Put up shower curtains at your new home and stock the bathroom with towels and soap so you can have a hot shower after a long day of moving. Have paper plates, disposable cups, paper towels and cleaning supplies at your new home so you don’t have to search for them the day of the move.

3. Pack a bag of essentials for each family member: medicines, toiletries and a change of clothes. Keep these handy so you’ll have everything you need for your first night in your new home without digging through boxes.

4. Nearly done packing!

More Packing Tips

—Take pictures of your electronic hookups so you have a guide to use when you get to your new home.

—Slip your hanging clothes into garbage bags while they’re still on the hanger. Simply transport them to your new closet and remove the bag.

Final Phase: Moving Day

1. All your prior hard work should make this day a simple matter of moving your things from one location to another. Make things even easier by having a friend watch your kids and/or pets so you can focus on the task at hand.

2. If you’re relying on volunteers to help you move, organize your teams in shifts so one group of friends helps you move out while the other helps you move in. That way no one has to give up a full day, and you get all the help you need.

Professional Movers Can Do the Heavy Lifting

If your budget allows, consider hiring professional movers who will take on much of the physical stress of packing and transporting your belongings. Remember, it’s your responsibility to keep things organized.

Look for companies that have a reputation for good customer service. Be sure you understand your responsibilities so you don’t end up paying more than you expect.

A Small Price to Pay for a Great New Home

Don’t let the task of moving keep you from finding a new home you and your family can enjoy. Take your time, think ahead, and keep your sense of humor!

If you think you’re ready to start shopping for a new home, we can put you in touch with a high-energy, high-octane real estate agent Dave recommends to help you make the home-buying process as smooth as your move.

Retiring in Portland Booming Thanks to Age-Friendly Activities:

Portland offers top-notch food and drink, scenic outdoor activities and lots of chances to volunteer among many other draws to those considering retiring in Portland. This beautiful northwestern city lies near the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains. Learn more about Portland and why a growing number of retirees love calling it home! 

Portland at a Glance

The scenic northwestern city lies near the Pacific Ocean and Cascade Mountains where the Willamette and Columbus rivers meet. Despite a population of about 2.25 million, the city offers many appealing aspects.

Portland boasts a public transportation system that includes 52 miles of light-rail track and 84 stations. Bike paths run for 319 miles leading nearly 20,000 people to pedal to work. With the city creating an “urban growth boundary” in the 1970s, Portland reduced sprawl and increased its walkability. The average drive to any place in Portland takes 20 minutes or less.

Known as “The City of Roses” the temperate climate with highs in the 80s and lows in the high 30s makes the area ideal for gardening, especially roses. Additionally, the city averages 37.5 inches of rainfall annually and 155 rainy days.

Food and Drink

Portland’s restaurant and bar scenes have gotten showered with accolades by national food critics from The Food Network to Travel and Leisure to the Washington Post. Portland restaurants and its more than 70 microbreweries consistently rank among the best places to eat and drink in America and around the globe.

Additionally, national media, such as CNN and U.S. News & World Report, have recognized Portland as the world’s best city for food from street vendors. Portland has more than 600 licensed food carts, which allow residents and visitors alike to sample cuisines from around the world.

As if that’s not enough, Portland also features micro-roasters and cafes honored for their specialty blends that please every coffee lover.

The Outdoors

Few cities match the natural beauty found around Portland. The 5,100-acre Forest Park, one of the country’s largest urban forest reserves, lies near downtown. It features about 70 miles of trails with scenic views overlooking the Williamette River.

About 10 miles northwest of downtown Portland sits Sauvie Island, one of the largest river islands in the United States. Its flat topography and lengthy roads make it ideal for cycling.

Additionally, Mount Hood and the Columbia Gorge, which features more than 90 waterfalls, exist a short drive from Portland and offer a plethora of activities, such as sightseeing, hiking, wind surfing and more.

Volunteer

Retiring in Portland doesn’t mean becoming a professional couch potato. Thousands of meaningful and rewarding volunteer possibilities exist. At last count, Portland had more than 3,400 registered charities, according to the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. The Corporation for National and Community Service reported Portland ranked No. 6 among 51 of the nation’s largest cities in its volunteerism rate at 33 percent. Continue to contribute to your community — get off the couch and volunteer!

Things to Do After Retiring in Portland

The Oregon Zoo

The 64-acre Oregon Zoo annually receives up to $5 million from a nonprofit organization to help support advances in conservation and education. The zoo features animals from around the world, plus galleries, exhibits, classes and camps.

Portland’5 Center for the Arts

Every year, Portland’5 Center for the Arts brings more than a thousand music, theatre, dance and lecture performances to Portland. Its five venues make it the fifth largest performing arts center in the country.

Golfing

Portland features several private golf courses and five public courses. The only city to host four USGA national golf championships, more than 400,000 rounds of golf are played yearly on Portland’s public golf courses.

Parks and Recreation

Portland’s parks and recreation department provides retirees many recreational, educational, and wellness activities that promote healthy living. The city’s 144 parks cover 11,712 acres with nearly 8,000 acres remaining undeveloped and in their natural state. Explore all the city offers on Facebook!

You Worked Hard All Your Life, Now Enjoy Retirement!

Great food and drink, scenic outdoor activities and plenty of volunteer options make Portland a city that retirees love to call home! When you’re ready for retiring in Portland, hire the Master Movers team of professionals to move you here. Call us today to learn more!

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Tips for Moving While Sick:

You’ve planned, made 100 lists, and hired a reliable Campbell moving company. Moving day should be a breeze! But then something you can’t plan for happens: You wake up sick on moving day.  While rescheduling the move would be the ideal option, that’s not possible in most cases. Instead, here are a few tips to help you make it through moving day when you’re not feeling your best.  

Call for BackupEven if you thought you had everything covered, being sick changes the moving game. It’s time to call for reinforcements. Try to find a neighbor or family member who can oversee the moving operation on your behalf. Even if you still plan to be present, you’ll need some help so you don’t have to overdo it.

Let the Campbell Movers Do the Heavy Lifting
You were smart enough to hire a trusted Campbell moving company, so let them do their jobs. Many people try to help the movers, or feel bad just sitting there while others do the work. Even if that is your personality, on this day when you’re feeling under the weather, just let the movers move while you conserve your energy for getting better.

Find a Place to Rest
If possible, head to a neighbor’s home to rest for a bit. If that isn’t an option, perhaps you can find a few minutes of refuge in a room that has already been emptied. You can also retreat to your car for a few minutes of much-needed quiet and solitude.

The Organizing Can Wait
Once you make it through the move itself, stop. The work of getting your new home organized can wait. Throw some sheets on your bed, climb in, and get the rest you need.

Planning a move? Contact AMS Bekins today. Since 1949, we’ve provided quality moving services and exceptional customer care. Our accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and ProMover status with the American Moving & Storage Association are testaments to our commitment to quality and to the kind of service you can expect when you partner with us for your relocation.

Give us a call or fill out our online contact form to get a free, no-obligation moving estimate. Just be sure to cover your mouth when you cough—we don’t our hardworking Campbell movers to catch your cold!

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