One of the tricky things about moving is that you probably don’t do it very often. If you are like most people, you’ll only move a handful of times in your adult life – meaning you don’t get much practice with skills and techniques that go into the moving process. Steering clear of some common mistakes can help you have a better moving experience, and this article will dive into five such mistakes below.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do in this process is to hire some of the best movers Greensboro has to offer. Steele & Vaughn is one of the leading Greensboro moving companies thanks to affordable pricing and a commitment to outstanding customer service. Call today to learn more!

1 – Packing Heavy Boxes

When possible, you want to avoid packing up boxes that are going to be too heavy to move reasonably. Cardboard boxes are not particularly sturdy, and a heavy load may cause the bottom to fall out of the box – leaving a mess and potentially breaking some of your things. If you have heavy items to pack up, use small boxes so the total weight of the box doesn’t get too high. Large boxes are best left for lightweight items like clothing or linens.

2 – Failing to Label

It’s easy enough to think that you will remember what is in all of the boxes, so labeling might seem like a waste of time. It isn’t. Taking the extra few moments to label your boxes will save you tons of time and frustration later on. After a hectic moving process, the boxes will all start to look the same and you’ll find yourself digging through them just to find one or two items. Do a good job labeling and the whole experience will be easier to manage.

3 – Hiring an Inexperienced Moving Company

You want to have experience on your side when moving to a new home. There are many companies that will help you move your things, but it’s not worth the risk to go with one that hasn’t been in this business for a while. Moving an entire house full of stuff is a complicated task, and it requires professionalism and the right equipment to handle it properly. Go with a proven name like Steele & Vaughn and you’ll be far more likely to enjoy a seamless move from start to finish.

4 – Packing Everything

When going through a move, you will want to leave some stuff out so that it is easy to access as you need it in the coming days. These are basics like toiletries, some clothing items, and personal electronics, among others. If all of your stuff is boxed and taped up, you won’t have any way to access it and you might find yourself feeling frustrated and uncomfortable until you can open up the boxes again.

5 – Expecting Perfection

The right attitude going into a move is one of flexibility and patience. Most likely, things won’t go exactly as you planned, and that’s okay. You can still get through the process and wind up in your new home sooner rather than later, but there might be some bumps you have to get over first. Knowing this reality going into the process is going to reduce your stress level and keep everyone in the right frame of mind.

Moving is always a challenge, but it can become a little more difficult when dealing with winter weather conditions. If cold and wet weather is in the forecast for your upcoming move, don’t panic – you might have to bundle up a little more, but you can still execute a stress-free and successful move while keeping all of your things safe. This article will present some basic tips for dealing with winter conditions during a move.

Steele & Vaughn is a trusted long distance moving company that is up to any challenge Mother Nature might have in mind. Among the leading movers in Greensboro, NC, Steele & Vaughn can be trusted to treat your things with the respect they deserve. Get in touch today to learn more or to get a quote on your upcoming move.

The Right Supplies

You don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute to track down the supplies you need to get through this move successfully. Instead, you’ll want to have everything you need on hand and ready to go when the day arrives. That includes various things that can help you deal with adverse weather conditions, such as the following –

• Salt or sand. If outdoor surfaces are a bit icy on the day you plan to move, having a couple of bags of sand or salt available will help make those surfaces easier to navigate.

• Floor coverings. Moving means coming in and out of a house over and over again, and your shoes may be covered with snow (or with the salt/sand we mentioned above). So, have a roll of plastic that can be used to cover the floor in the house, along with some mats to place at the doors. Also, it’s a good idea to move as many things into the garage for staging as possible before you take them into the house with clean feet.

• The right clothes. Dressing in layers is the best approach for a winter move, since the weather will be cold but you’ll be working hard physically. With layers, you can easily add or subtract clothing as you get warm and then cold again.

Watch the Weather

You can only trust a weather forecast roughly a week in advance, and even then, you need to watch for any changes in those predictions. As the day of the move closes in, pay attention to the weather forecast and consider backup plans, if necessary. For instance, if your moving route goes through an area that is expected to have bad weather, look for other routes that could get you safely to the destination. In a worst-case scenario, you might need to push the move to another day if a storm comes in and makes it unsafe to go ahead with your plan.

Working with a proven mover like Steele & Vaughn will go a long way toward making this winter move a smooth one. Reach out today to learn more about scheduling their services and you can ask any questions you may have about planning this move. Keep in mind, the Steele & Vaughn team has moved thousands of families successfully in all types of weather conditions; so no matter what Mother Nature has in store, Steele & Vaughn can get you through it.

A big move can be really stressful. Let’s be honest… ANY move can be stressful!  Moving is commonly listed as one of life’s most stressful events.  It can be overwhelming to think about packing up all your belongings and making a transition to a new residence. A few simple tips (and partnering with a top-rated mover such as Steele & Vaughn) will help make the move go smoother. Some of these tips follow.

Label your Boxes

As you are packing your boxes (or totes), label them clearly so the movers can place them in the correct location at the new home (this not only helps with overall organization, but in the case of a local/hourly move, will save you money). If you decide to have Steele & Vaughn pack boxes for you, the same strategy should still be used… you will need to tell the packers how you want them labeled. One simple method is to name the room where the goods are coming from or going to (example: Master, Sarah’s Room, Office, etc.) and putting that name on the wall of that room so the packer knows how you want it labeled. Anything that requires special attention such as fragile goods should be marked as FRAGILE, TOP LOAD ONLY, THIS SIDE UP, Etc.

Use the right size box

If you choose to pack your own boxes, it is important to use the correct box size for the many different types of items being packed. There are six basic box sizes: Small (also called a Book box), Medium, Large, Dish, Mirror and Wardrobe. Here are a few general guidelines. Books should be placed in book boxes only! Soft goods such as bed linens, pillows, and folding clothes should be placed in Medium or Large boxes. These items can also be placed in the bottom of a Wardrobe box as well, in the void often left by hanging clothes. Lamp bases should go into whatever size box will hold them; dish boxes are good for taller lamps. Often, two or more lamps can be packed together. Lamp shades should go into the appropriate size box but that is all that should be placed in it (one, or two shades max if they are matching). Glassware, dishes, and china should go into Dish boxes. Minimize the weight of dish boxes; do not overload; use lots of packing paper and/or bubble wrap. Pots and pans are generally packed into whatever size box will hold them, or they can be added to the top of a nearly full dish box. Mirror cartons should be used for Wall Art and mirrors. Smaller pieces of art can be packed in regular boxes with other items. Save your TV Boxes!! The best box for packing a TV is the box it came in. If that is not available, you can purchase TV boxes. Sometimes mirror cartons can be used. Lastly, hanging clothes need to go into wardrobe boxes that use a bar at the top. Shoes can be placed at the bottom of the wardrobe (if you are concerned about dust and dirt, place the shoes in a trash bag first). Garden tools, brooms and rakes are best packed in an open wardrobe box; leave the flaps up and tape them so you are effectively creating a large, square barrel. Outdoor furniture cushions, umbrellas, garden hoses, and miscellaneous garage or shed items that don’t need a lot of protection can also be placed in these as well.

Change Your Address

Take the time to fill out a change of address form with the Post Office. Also, take the time to update your new address directly with all the companies and organizations that you do business with… insurance, banks, phone companies and any other service providers.

Use Towels and Blankets to Wrap Items

Bubble wrap and packing materials are expensive. To save money, use some of the blankets and towels that you need to take with you anyway and use those in place of the bubble or paper wrap. This is efficient on space and saves you money!