No matter what the circumstances or situation moving can be tough and always seem to be at a bad time. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to making a move and getting out of dodge. Before you hastily pack up some boxes and get into a new place, make sure that you are moving the best time for you and/or your family.

When we are talking about kids we are talking about a school schedule: their life. Kids do really well on schedules and given expectations and routines. Taking them straight out of their routine at school and then tossing them into a completely new schedule can be daunting and painful for a child. If this sounds like you, consider planning your move around the school calendar so that your kiddos can have the least amount of pain and transition with ease. Summertime is a great opportunity to move with kids, as for the most part there is good weather nationwide and they are out of school.

A time NOT to move would be on holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving or Ramadan is all holidays that include family. Use them to spend time with family, not to pick up your life and shift. Not to mention that resources and people are just not readily available these dates. Instead, why not move right after a holiday to make the holiday itself a time of goodbyes and farewells to family and friends. It is important to plan this special time for yourself and the people in your life that you care for most.
Another less ideal time to move would be wintertime. Besides the obvious: snow storms and blizzards, hail and wind, wintertime has a slew of other issues when moving. Factors like your items freezing/getting damaged because of the weather are a large risk when moving at this time. Also, when you consider what kind of freezing and thawing process may happen as a result of climate change from one location to the next, ultimately resulting in water damage.

No matter where you move or what you have to take with you, taking the time to consider the dates of your move could be the breaking point between a successful move and a disastrous attempt.

Many people like to either move before their things arrive to their new destination or have no choice-they must be out and their things have their own time schedule. If this is you, it is incredibly important to have what I like to call an essentials box packed away just for you, that you bring along in the initial trip. This will save you money, headache and time—bring your essential home items with you!

This is an unofficial list. If you find that there are things on this list that are missing, please feel free to comment , as people all have different ideas of what essentials are.

I can’t leave my old home to my NEW home without:

• Toilet Paper
• Dish soap
• Dishtowel and dishcloth
• All-purpose cleaner
• Garbage bags
• Portable tool kit
• Instant coffee
• Paper Towels
• Radio/iPod
• Mug, plate, fork, knife, spoon for each member of the family
• Toaster or small toaster oven
• Jar of pasta sauce and pasta (or some easy food item for one dinner and lunch)
• Unopened small jar of jam/peanut butter
• Snacks (healthy preferable—less stress!)
• Beverages (water, juice)
• Pet food and dishes
• All-purpose cutting knife
• Scissors/box cutter
• Small emergency kit
• Flashlight/candles/matches
• Shower curtain
• Shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, floss, and paste
• A change of clothing and towel for each member of the family.
• Important records such as medical records, passports, leases, financial information, etc.

What you know from moving in the past or from reading this blog, is that moving can be daunting, and has a big need for organization. The minute that you decide that you are going to move, is the minute that you can begin the process. Below are a few key elements to remember and to implement in your moving process.

Talk talk talk. Talk to your moving company, talk to your family, talk to your friends, talk to your job (whether relocating or moving to a new job). Communication keeps relationships with people open flowing and healthy, use this element the same here. Treat your move like a relationship. When the people in your life know exactly what, where, when, who and why the process becomes free flowing and much easier to transition in and out of.

Talk to your new and old electric companies, your new and old landlords, make sure that everyone that you are financially obligated to has a full understanding of your payment plan, day of shut off or turn on, etc. You don’t want to be paying for utilities you are not using….or to not have them when you arrive from a long arduous trip.

Make a moving checklist that you hand out to all family members. This list will have individual tasks and overall goals and deadlines that the family will need to abide by. Organization is the key to a successful and stress free move. If you have young children you can have them begin sorting toys and books out at this stage, to help you pack them up when moving day approaches.

The key rule in packing? It’s never too early to start packing. Continue packing each day if you are moving yourself, or readying your house for the movers.

Having everyone that will be impacted by this move in full understanding of the agenda and timeline will not only save you stress, but save you money. Pack and organize early, to fully prepare yourself for the big day.

1. Think about location when selecting your storage. Where, how easily must it be accessed, how often will you need to access?
2. Try to fill the boxes to the top when packing, even if it’s just with padding and old, crumpled newspapers. Boxes that are only half-filled tend to collapse if anything’s placed on them.
3. If you’re storing a refrigerator in your unit leave the door ajar. This will prevent mold from growing inside.
4. If loading your own unit – leave walk ways in the middle and near the walls of the unit, for access and air flow.
5. Putting pallets, milk crates, or plastic storage bins on the floor of the unit will eliminate the risk of water damage.
6. Full service storage options allows for the unit to be packed professionally; with the blankets, plastic wrap, straps, and all the protection in place during storage.
7. Ask about climate controlled storage. This is best for leather furniture, candles, oil paintings, sensitive electronics, plasma or LCD televisions, records, or any highly sensitive antiques that could be damaged with humidity and heat.
8. Always keep your personal / high value items with you. Don’t store expensive jewelry, identification / personal documents, weaponry (guns and ammo), etc.
9. Empty any gas run equipment before storing, including lawn mowers, trimmers, etc. Just let them run until they are out of juice the last time you use the tools.
10. Don’t store liquids (especially cleaning supplies with harsh chemicals). In the changing temperatures, liquids have the opportunity to freeze, heat, and spill on your keepsakes. If you MUST store liquids like shampoo or lotion (non hazardous) be sure to put them in a zip lock bag and store in a plastic bin.
11. Self Storage? Ask about security measures at the location; cameras? Security guards? Gated area? Code and Key access?
12. Might need to get to it? Put these items closest to the door for easy access.
13. Label. Label. Label. Know what is in each box, in case you need to get to it during storage and so you know where the box goes when you move into your new residence.
14. Use blankets, sheets, and tarps to protect your goods from dust in storage.
15. You are better off renting a smaller unit that is filled or packed to near the top (”high and tight” as they say in the industry), rather than renting a larger unit and only filling the floor area (”floating” per indsustry lingo).

16. Let Exodus Help you do the rest…

As we all know, moving can be one of the most stressful things a person goes through. Finding a new place, packing, switching over bills and changing your address, cleaning, moving and unpacking sure can take a toll on the body.

Here are 5 tips that can help any situation (especially moving), a little more relaxing.

1. Meditation – Even if you only have 5 minutes to spare, do it. Meditation is a great way to clear your mind, relax your body, and energize your mind. No matter where you are, it is easy to just sit back, close your eyes, and try to think about nothing. Just envision something that makes you happy, breathe, and relax your body. It will do wonders for the move.

2. Yoga – This might seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but doing just one or two yoga posses can greatly calm down the body, loose up the muscles and make you feel more energized. The Warrior Pose and Down Dog are a couple of my personal favorites for stretching out my body and for getting my blood flowing. Take ten minutes, do some stretching, hold a couple of yoga posses, and get back to moving!

3. Tea – Don’t underestimate the power a hot cup of tea has on the body, especially tea that includes chamomile or lavender. It is so soothing to the body, and clears the mind. It only consists of heating up some hot water and throwing in a tea bag, then sit for 10 minutes and enjoy. It is important to take breaks during your move (which we often don’t do because we are in a hurry for it to be over), but when they are taken, they can completely revive your mind and spirit, and make you much more effective at packing those boxes and lifting that furniture.

4. Laugh – In any stressful situation, the first thing to be thrown out the door and never allowed back in is laughter. Laughter has so many positive health benefits, and releases endorphins, which makes you happy! Try to laugh at a situation, a person, or yourself. It will lighten the mood and relieve some stress.

5. Breathing – And last, but most importantly, breathe. When we get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle of moving, we forget to take care of ourselves, and forget to take deep, fulfilling breaths. When feeling stressed out during your move, stop, take 3 deep breathes in counting to ten each time, release, and feel the stress melt away. It works every time!

Good luck with your move, remember to put yourself first, and if you need any help, please feel free to contact us.