5 Tips for Moving with a Dog

Moving homes with a dog can be stressful when you’re already considering how to function as a family during the move and get all of your stuff there safely. When it comes to pets and even plants that you take care of daily, you have to take some additional steps to make sure everything goes smoothly and safely.

Fortunately, dogs are resilient and will go with the flow as long as you take care of their basic needs during the move. Use these 5 tips for moving with your dog and then when you arrive, you’ll get to enjoy a brand new backyard and neighborhood park for your furry little one to enjoy!

Exercise

The first tip is to make sure Fido is getting plenty of exercise. When your dog has pent-up energy, he or she is just going to get angrier about the move. It’s important to make sure your dog is able to burn off some energy so that he or she can relax a bit during the move.

The more energy in their system, the more anxious and misbehaving you’ll likely notice. Make sure the week before the move incorporates more exercise and the day of the move allows you to find pockets of time for a brisk walk and sometime moving around. If you have a backyard, allow your dog plenty of time to move around, but a walk to the park will really make a difference. Take turns as a family to do dog walks during the week of the move.

Keep them happy

You’ll also want to keep your dog happy during this time with some entertainment. Try some doggy brain games, such as playing hide-and-seek with treats and favorite toys, or buying a toy where the treat is in the middle and it takes a while to get it loose.

Bake some new treats that you can put in a baggy and serve occasionally as something special during moving week. Find ways to keep your dog entertained and busy while you’re taking care of the move.

Relocate them during the move

An easy way to handle the situation is to simply take your dog somewhere else while you’re moving. You might have a friend or neighbor that can keep your dog for the day so that you can get through the process, but there are always options like a kennel or doggy daycare that he or she can go for a few hours.

Your dog is likely going to get anxious from all of the boxes moving and want to stand by your feet all day making it a hazard as you’re dealing with heavy objects. Talk to friends or family about dropping off your dog for the day or send your dog off for the morning at a care facility.

Anxiety aids

Since this is a stressful time, you may find that your dog isn’t handling the emotions well. It’s a more stressful situation than normal, like a thunderstorm or fireworks on the 4th of July, which justifies a little extra help right now.

This is a great time to get some anxiety aids to help through the time being that will help with the stress. Talk to your vet about options or try some retail options like calming collars and Thundershirt. There are even treats available at your local pet store that are made for anxious dogs.

Routine and quiet

Lastly, try to make the week before your move a calm one in which you stick to a routine. Your dog might be noticing changes and feeling the tension. Now is the time to stick to a routine, practice patience, and give your dog plenty of peacefulness and compassion.

If there is much activity going on throughout the week, find a quiet place that your dog can go to relax with familiar blankets and toys so that you can feel free to pack, run errands, or move boxes without stressing out Fluffy.

Use these 5 pro tips to make sure your dog is happy during your upcoming move.

What to Move First When Moving

With so much to pack in your home, where do you even begin? There’s actually a good answer to this question because there is a part of the home that is the perfect place to start packing and moving first. It’s definitely not the kitchen or the bedrooms, but it may be items found stored in these areas of the home. The answer is also not to just start somewhere.

There is a way to pack the home that is going to make the most sense for the least disruption to your regular routine and the most efficient for moving everything from one home to another. Take a look at where to begin your residential move first and how it will make the process smoother.

Before Packing

The first thing to do before even packing or moving anything is to get a moving checklist, take an inventory, purge some things, and hire your moving crew. Your moving checklist will tell you how to get all of your tasks done and in what order, such as when to change your utilities over and what to pack first and last.

When you take inventory of what you do have, it will easily spell out for you what you need to be packing first, which will be the things you rarely use that you do want to keep.  That is because there will be some items you rarely use, and even some you use often, that you’ll decide you’d rather part with going into the new home.

Purging your belongings after taking your inventory will help you to see how much stuff you really have and help you downsize some of your things before moving them into another home. Less stuff will give you less to move and allow you to even make some money selling them in a yard sale. Lastly, hire your moving company now that you have an inventory of what’s going and they can help you get an estimate of what your move will cost and require.

Begin packing these things first

Now it’s time to start the moving process by packing things that have the lowest impact on daily life first. This will include stored items, books, extra linens, artwork, china, knick-knacks, and out-of-season clothing. If you have items in storage, such as your Christmas decoration in the garage, these types of things will be packed first.

Then your clothes that are out-of-season right now are perfect to pack and you could even use some to wrap up your delicate knick-knacks. Your china, artwork, picture frames, and souvenirs should go next. Then you can start packing extra linens or towels and just live with less for now, and apply the same to your book collection since you are likely only reading one or two books at the moment.

On moving day, it will be easy to see what items should go first because it will be these boxes you’ve worked on first. Your Christmas decorations, wall hangings, and extra linens and clothes are the perfect place to start because you aren’t using them for several months so they are already sitting in a spot unused at the moment.

The things that need to be packed last are those kitchen supplies, everyday clothes, bathroom accessories, and your home office. These things being packed up first will make it too hard to keep living in your home, while your china and souvenirs will be fine being packed away for moving day.

Make sure to prepare for your move by packing and moving these things first so that you can pack the things you need right now last.

How to Communicate Best With Your Movers During the Process

Communication is the key to just about every relationship, even the short-lived ones. You won't have a long-lasting relationship with your movers, but the time they are helping you, it's essential to communicate well with them.

Movers need your guidance to help get your things from one location to another. They need to know what you're moving, how it should be packed, and where you want it when they arrive at your new home. Here are a few tips to help you better communicate with your movers during the process.

Treat them as Guests in Your Home

When movers arrive, make sure you treat them as your guests, even though they are doing a job for you. Politely greet them and introduce them to your entire family. It's also a good idea to learn and remember their names.

Just as you would for a guest in your home, offer a beverage, such as water or coffee. It's also a good idea to keep the bathroom clean and stocked with necessities for everybody involved.

Clearly State What You Want Moved, Packed, and Unpacked

While this will be important on moving day, it's also important when you get a quote for the move. Make sure you clearly state everything you want to be moved, packed, and unpacked. This will ensure you get an accurate quote without any surprised. It will also make it easy for your movers to know what needs to be done when they arrive.

If there will be items you may add later, make sure you discuss these items with your representative. It's also important to talk to your movers about any access issues, such as climbing stairs or using an elevator.

Come to an Agreement for Item Preparation

When you're getting a quote for moving, make sure you discuss how items, such as appliances, furniture, antiques, and other items need to be prepared. You should have a clear understanding of what's expected of you and what your movers will take care of on the day of your move.

Show Movers What Needs to be Done

The moving company should have already briefed your moving crew on the job and what's required. However, it's a good idea to show your movers what will need to be done so that they don't have any questions. Keep the lines of communication open throughout the process so they can get everything packed and moved, as necessary.

You want to remain approachable to help eliminate any errors or delays. Don't be afraid to tell the movers what you expect or inform them of an item you want to be handled carefully.

Provide Feedback

The final part of communicating with your movers is to provide feedback. Whether you had a great experience or a poor experience, the company you hired needs to know. If possible, provide praise for the individuals that made your experience great and make sure to be honest with your feedback.

Moving day doesn't have to be stressful. When you hire residential movers, and you communicate well with them, you can expect the day to go smoothly instead of becoming a day filled with stress.

How to properly use a dolly during a move

It’s moving day and it’s time to start using that moving dolly you’ve gotten your hands on. This is going to make moving those heavy items so much easier, right? It’s important that you know how to use a tool that is designed to help you do something more efficiently, and very dangerous to use something incorrectly due to improper training on it.

You don’t want to get hurt using a furniture dolly incorrectly and ending up taking on the weight of the furniture onto your body. Take a look at the types of dollies you can use for moving, how they can help you, and how to properly use them.

Types of moving dollies

 A dolly is a platform on wheels that allows you to move large, heavy items while steering it along the way. This could be used for furniture, appliances, and more. The first type of dolly you made be looking for is an upright utility dolly which is also called a hand truck.

This is an L-shaped platform that tends to be small in size needing only two wheels and a handle. By just sliding the lower portion of the dolly under the item, you can then tilt it backward to move the item where you need it to go. This is perfect for just about anything from lightweight furniture pieces to moving several boxes at once.

The next type is a furniture dolly that you would use to move large and bulky pieces. When you need to move a couch, dresser, desk, or other big items, you can use furniture dollies for this purpose. It’s intended to work for those heavy items that you wouldn’t use a simpler utility dolly for. You can typically handle up to 1,000 lbs. using a furniture dolly. It just can’t be used on stairs.

Another option is an appliance dolly which will work similarly to the utility dolly in the way it’s made but this will allow you to move big and heavy appliances. This is perfect for when you need refrigerators and washing machines. It will secure the appliance in place with strong straps and other safety features. You can roll this one up and down stairs while it carries around 700lbs.

How to properly use a dolly

First, you’ll want t make sure you’ve cleared the space for a path without any obstacles going towards your destination. Avoid topping a stack on the dolly with anything that will obstruct your view. Use a hand truck for anything going upstairs. Simply roll over bumps straight on if you encounter bumps as you roll onward.

To apply an item to your dolly, tip the dolly forward enough that you can slip the bottom flat surface underneath an item. Then you can tip the dolly back on its wheels while holding the item in place with your other hand. Largest and heaviest items go on the bottom but make sure the whole stack is balanced and aligned.

If you are going to be moving appliances, furniture, and other fragile items with the dolly, be sure to wrap these things in furniture blankets while still leaving room to get a proper grip on the item during transport.

Take out drawers if moving furniture with loose parts to help make it easier to maneuver and a little lighter in weight. Secure items that you put on these dollies and wrap anything that you want to protect the finish of like a wooden cabinet. It’s important to tie up loose items to avoid damage, such as hoses, plugs, and wires that you don’t want dragging on the floor.

If you want to move large items in your upcoming move, call a professional moving company to handle the job for you or practice these safety tips above.

What to Wear When Moving

Moving day is just around the corner and you need to figure out what you should wear. This is a stressful, hectic day filled with plenty of emotion. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable because you chose the wrong outfit. Even if you’ve hired a professional Chicago moving company, you need to dress for the day. Here are some tips to help you figure out what to wear on moving day.

Pants or Shorts

Depending on the time of year, you will want to wear pants or shorts on moving day. Avoid wearing a skirt as you will likely be bending over quite a bit and skirts can become very revealing. Choose a breathable and flexible fabric you feel comfortable moving around in. Plan for comfort, not cuteness and you'll we well on your way to feeling great on moving day.

Shoes

One of the most important things to wear on moving day is comfortable shoes. You will spend plenty of time on your feet, so comfortable sneakers are best. You also want to make sure you protect your feet, so skip anything with an open toe.

Don't wear shoes you love for moving day. If something happens to them, you may not be very happy about it. Tennis shoes, boots, sneakers or some type of shoes you'll be comfortable in and don't care about getting dirty are best.

Dress for the Weather

The weather in Chicago changes with the season. It can be extremely hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter. Sometimes, you don't get to choose when you move and you certainly won't get to choose the weather.

Check the weather forecast the day before and make sure you dress appropriately. If it's going to be 100-degrees, you probably don't want to wear jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. However, if you're moving in the winter, you may want several layers to keep you warm.

Wear Clothing with Pockets

Moving day will have you needing to keep track of things, such as keys, your wallet, your phone and even pieces of furniture or other hardware. If you have pockets, you can easily throw these items in your pockets and go on about your business.

What to Avoid Wearing on Moving Day

While there are certain things you should wear on moving day, there are some things you want to avoid wearing including:

• Avoid any long jewelry that could get in the way or get hooked on something. If you love it, don't wear it on moving day.

• Don't wear baggy clothing as it will make you uncomfortable during moving day.

• Avoid wearing flip-flops, sandals, high-heels shoes or basically any cute shoes as they are not safe on moving day.

While there are no rules set in stone for what you should wear for moving day, you do want to make sure you dress appropriately. Dress for the weather, for comfort and for function, not fashion. Moving day isn't the day to make sure you look cute. It's the day to be dressed to move boxes, furniture and get a little dirty.