Five ways to take the stress out of moving

While moving to a new home can be an exciting time, it's no secret that relocating can also be a very stressful life event.

Here are five ways to make your move as stress-free as possible.

1. Move highly sentimental items and small items of extreme value yourself. It can relieve a huge amount of stress to know that these items are safe and sound at all times. Family heirlooms and unique artwork are good examples of items to move yourself. Basically, if it's irreplaceable and it fits in your car, move it yourself. For larger items such as art collections or grand pianos, hire specialty movers.
   



2. Choose movers whom you are comfortable with. Do your due diligence on moving companies before hiring one. Always get multiple quotes and base your decision not only on the estimate, but also on the level of professionalism the company presents. Ask for referrals, and try and talk with people who have used the company before. On move day, get to know the crew members, and maybe offer them a cold drink. Getting on the movers' good side will ensure that they take extra special care of your things, thus relieving a ton of stress on your end.
   



3. Ask questions. Wondering how the movers are going to protect that flat-screen T.V.? Just ask! So much of our stress comes from the unknown. If you're concerned about how specific items will be handled, your crew's leader would be happy to explain the process.
   



4. Let the pros do the packing. Are you worried that you just won't have the time to pack up all your things before moving day? For many, a great deal of stress can be relieved by knowing a professional team will have all the packing done on time. This kind of relief can be worth the extra cost
   



5. Insure your move! Remember, your movers are human and accidents can happen. Movers typically offer minimum liability coverage (often $0.30 or $0.60 per pound) which still leaves you at a loss in the case of an unfortunate accident. Choosing a third-party insurer for full coverage is a good way to achieve full peace-of-mind. Read more reasons why moving insurance is a must.
   

To Pack or Not to Pack? Here Are Some Answers

If you have chosen to hire a moving company to handle your move, there are some things that are typically not allowed to be loaded onto a moving company's truck. Here are a few categories of items that are usually not good to go:

• Irreplacable items: If you are moving jewelry, family heirlooms, or valuable documents, you will want to keep these things on your person during your move. If you are not sure, ask your moving insurance provider if any of these items can be covered in transit.


• Perishables: Most moving companies will not permit food and other perishables onto the truck, so you'll probably want eat or give away whatever's sitting in your freezer.


• Flammables: Hazardous materials, gasoline, and lighter fluid are probably not okay to put on the moving truck. If you aren't sure, pack questionable items such as paint, aerosol cans, or ammunition in a separate box and be prepared to take the box with you if the movers refuse to pack it.


• Living things: Plants, animals, and people are usually not allowed to go into the moving truck.


• Essentials: Anything you might need during your personal move such as your cellphone, wallet, medication, eyeglasses, or keys should not be loaded onto the moving truck. This might seem obvious but with so many of your belongings going into boxes, you'll want to make sure you don't lose anything important.