Moving is one of life’s many pains. It’s stressful, exhausting, and can cause tempers to flare. But it doesn’t have to be. Of course we’ll be the first to advocate hiring professionals like your trusted friends at Cavalier Moving, but as experienced Richmond movers, we have pro-tips to share to help ease your next move. 1. Plan ahead. A no-brainer, but we see it time and time again; nothing will create more havoc on your move than procrastination. Plan your move ahead of time. Know where you’re getting supplies, volunteers, and vehicles. 2. Build a schedule. Build out an itinerary with realistic goals and checkpoints. Having an itinerary keeps you and your volunteer movers on the same page throughout the big move day. You could be as detailed as outlining who is packing what rooms and the duration for each; if you’re renting a vehicle, identify who is making the pickup; what time the boxes should be loaded; set break times; use Google Maps to estimate your journey’s duration on the road; and ideally how long to unpack the vehicles. It may seem like overkill, but keeping an itinerary is a great way to set and meet goals to keep the move efficient. 3. Protect yourself. Hand trucks and weight belts are your best friends. Both of these tools are often secondary thought but can speed up your move and prevent injury. Back injuries occur when movers try to do too much and with poor form. If you’re an experienced weight lifter you may know a thing or two about lifting form, but for your average Joe or Sally, this knowledge may not sit front-of-mind. The weight belt is designed to effectively stabilize and reduce stress on your spine. This spine stabilization also forces people to lift more with their legs than spine, essentially forcing proper lifting form. 4. Stock up on supplies. So you planned ahead and found your moving supplies of boxes and tape. One of the bigger issues we see do-it-yourself movers run into is running out of supplies. It’s always better to have too much than too little. So get as much as you think you need and then a little bit more. We suggest 4-6 rolls of packing tape; skip the tape gun, you pay extra for little value. Your boxes should be all sizes – small, medium, and large. Keep in mind too that small boxes are much easier to carry than the big, extra-large boxes. 5. Protect your furniture. Wrapping your TVs, chairs, and other home goods are effective ways to protect your valuables through the move. The Cavalier Moving is your source for trusted, clean-cut movers. Our team of professionals would be happy to talk you through your next move. We’re currently accepting new moves. To see how we can help you, contact us today at (804) 404-8048.