Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do, and having good helpers around on moving day can make all the difference. What are some things you can do to make your friend’s moving day easier? Here are our thoughts.
Do you really want to help on moving day?
Helping someone move furniture around is hard, physical labour. If that is not your thing, or you’re worried about your fitness, think carefully before agreeing to it. If you don’t want to do heavy lifting, say so as soon as you’re asked so your friend can find other help. Don’t leave it until the last minute to say no, as that is likely to put your friend in a difficult position.
But even if lumping furniture about is not your thing, there are plenty of ways to help out. Speak up if lifting and carrying are going to be hard for you because of an injury, or a physical limitation. There are other things you can do to help around moving day that don’t involve heavy lifting, for example, packing or cleaning the old property. Some people may also need help with admin (like organising change of address) or decluttering in the run-up to a move. Or you can help by caring for a pet or small child, bringing groceries and a meal to the new house, or making up beds.
Show up on time
Many people are on a tight schedule when they move – for example, they may only have the van they are using for half a day; or they’ve agreed with the landlord or their buyer that they will be out by 12noon. When a helper or a driver turns up late, it can increase anxiety and make the move harder than it has to be. So find out what time you’ll be needed, and commit to showing up on time and ready to work.
Bring gloves and snacks
A pair of furniture handling gloves will help you work better and longer on moving day. They cost just a few pounds and they give extra grip and protect your hands from bumps and scrapes.
Snacks and drinks will help keep your energy up, and they act as a good morale booster, too.
Learn how to lift and carry safely
Take care of yourself by making sure you know how to lift and carry safely before you offer to help move. We’ve got some hints and tips about safe manual handling during a house move which may be of interest.
Let your friends know what your limits are
Good helpers know how to say no as well as yes. Saying yes when you want to say no is likely to make you resent agreeing to help and could damage your friendship. So think carefully about what you can offer and set reasonable boundaries, for example:
- I can help until 6pm
- I can pack, but I can’t do any heavy lifting
- That’s too heavy for my car and I can’t carry it safely
Using self-storage on moving day
Many people use self-storage to take the pressure off themselves during a move. Self storage can be helpful if there is a gap between the day they need to move out of their old accommodation and the day their new accommodation is ready. It can also be helpful if the new house needs some work before it’s habitable. Self-storage can also be handy for downsizing as gives breathing space for making decisions about which possessions to keep and which to sell.
But whatever reason your friend is using self-storage at public storage, it’s likely that they’ll need to insure their stored goods. Be sure to shop around for self-storage insurance to avoid overpaying. Get a quote from Store and Insure to start you off.
