Moving Tools

At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we understand careful organization and planning are the keys to a successful relocation. We’ve put together these resources and tips to help make your move as organized and stress-free as possible.

Not sure how to set up your moving timeline? Check out our moving checklist for a complete, week-by-week breakdown of the move planning and execution process.
Will you need a few extra sets of hands on moving day? Do you need to set up care for your children or pets on moving day? Do you need to request time off work? Be sure to contact any helpers you plan to enlist well in advance of your move date. If you don’t provide plenty of advance notice, you may have trouble acquiring the help you need. Submit your request for time off of work several weeks in advance too.
At least two weeks before your move, submit a change of address notice to the post office. You should also notify your utility company, your bank, your insurance provider, and anyone else who needs to know about your change of address.

If you’d like personalized service, we are here to help! Contact us via phone or email with your moving questions.

Organization Tips

When you work with our moving company, we handle all of the packing for you. However, you may not want to take everything with you. Taking the time to organize your belongings gives you a chance to declutter so you can start fresh in your new space.

Here are some tips to help you get organized:

As soon as you know you’ll be moving, start tackling your storage areas. Declutter and organize your attic, basement, spare closets, garage, and any other areas where you store infrequently used items.
During the declutter process, organize items by category rather than by room. For example, start with apparel. Collect all your clothing from each closet, dresser, hamper, and laundry basket around the house. Make a massive pile. Then start sorting clothing items according to what you want to keep, sell, donate, or toss out.
When sorting through your possessions, be selective about what you choose to keep. If you haven’t used something in the last year, chances are you won’t use it in your new home either. Rather than cluttering your new home with unneeded items, opt to downsize instead. Getting rid of unused stuff also makes your unpacking process far less time consuming.
Selling your unwanted items, either through a garage sale or via online listings, can help offset your moving costs. Not only will you put cash in your pocket, but you’ll also save on weight-based transportation costs during your move.
Stop purchasing perishable food items one to two weeks in advance. Professional movers cannot transport perishables, so if you don’t plan to move them yourself, there’s no sense in wasting perfectly good food. Consider donating any food items you don’t plan to transport to a local shelter or food bank.

Packing Tips

Pack a bag of essentials for your first night in your new home. Include must-have items, such as toilet paper, disposable utensils, paper plates, paper towels, coffee maker, coffee, sheets, towels, and cleaning supplies. You’ll also need an overnight bag, with personal essentials, such as a change of clothes, toiletries, laptop, and anything else you rely on daily.
Keep a close eye on irreplaceable, sentimental items by transporting them in your personal vehicle.
Designate a box for important documents, such as birth certifications, titles, tax documents, social security cards, and insurance information. Keep these documents with you at all times during your move.
Your moving company must follow federal, state, and local laws regarding non-allowable items. Check out this comprehensive list of non-allowables, so you can make the appropriate transport arrangements before your move.
Pack formal clothing and professional attire in wardrobe boxes to avoid taking it off hangers.
Consider vacuum sealing seasonal clothing for easy unpacking and storage when you arrive at your new home.
Clearly label each box according to the room (kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom, etc.) its contents belong in. Write labels on the side of each box for easy viewing while boxes are stacked.
Screws, cords, other small parts are easily lost during a move. To ensure you can properly assemble furniture and electronics in your new home, secure small parts in plastic baggies and using tape, affix them to the item they belong to.
For easy electronics reassembly, snap photos of each item’s wiring and connectors prior to disassembly and packing. Use the photos as a diagram when you set up your electronics in your new home.
Rather than packing dishes horizontally, one on top of another, situate them vertically inside each box, so that they look like records. Though counterintuitive, packing dishes vertically reduces their risk for damage.
Pack heavy items in small boxes. Large boxes stuffed full of heavy items like books can be a struggle lift. To reduce your risk for injury, only use large boxes for lighter, more manageable loads.
Prevent accidental liquid leaks by creating makeshift seals. Simply remove the caps from all liquid-containing bottles and insert a plastic bag or a piece of plastic wrap over each bottle opening. Replace the cap over the plastic seal and secure it tightly.

Moving With Children

Whether moving your family to a new state or a new neighborhood, make sure all members of the family are on board. Preparing kids for what to expect, listening to their concerns and adding a sense of adventure are all essential steps to suppressing kids' moving fears and keeping your stress levels at bay.

Here are five tips for a family-friendly move:

Time your move. Although circumstances often dictate the date of a move, try to time the process so that it occurs at a calm period in kids' lives. While school schedules make the most obvious difference, milestones in kids' lives like sleeping transitions or potty-training should also be taken into account.
Keep the lines of communication open. Even toddlers understand family circumstances more than parents realize. Acknowledge that a move will inevitably induce fear in kids. Involve them in the conversation; that way, you're more quickly able to answer questions and avoid mood swings or temper tantrums.
Keep enthusiasm levels high, and make it an adventure. Show kids pictures of their new house, school and neighborhood ahead of time. By describing room décor and key points like a bigger backyard and the activities offered by the new community, an unfamiliar environment becomes a place to look forward to rather than fear. Anyone who moved as a child remembers the extra trips to fast-food restaurants, getting to swim in a hotel pool or sleeping in forts. To keep kids' spirits high through the upheaval of a move, capitalize on these unexpected thrills.
Label boxes clearly. In addition to staying as organized as possible with room-by-room labeled boxes, remember always one toy that their child has to play with "right now" so do your best to know where to find things after the big move. By including specific details about the contents of a box while labeling, specific belongings are easy to find and at the forefront of the unpacking list.
When in doubt, call in the troops. Turning to outside help to provide alternate entertainment is oftentimes essential. If family or friends are available and willing, use them—you're likely to accomplish much more if you can find a few kid-free hours or add a few helpers to the mix.

Want the best possible school for your children after the move? Click to learn more.

Protect Your Move

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has provided a resource to help you learn about moving fraud and how to protect your move. Click to learn more.

Moving Day Tips

When the big day arrives, things can get hectic. Some simple, yet useful tips for successfully managing your move day include:

Take photos. Are you moving out of a rental? Avoid paying for damages you didn’t cause by taking pictures of the entire home or apartment. If you’re moving into a rental, the same holds true: Take photos of the place as soon as you arrive.
Rest and relax. At the end of a long, hectic moving day, there’s nothing more appealing than crash-landing in a comfy bed. Set yourself up for unencumbered rest and relaxation by making your bed as soon as you arrive at your new home.
Organize boxes. When your movers unload the truck, place boxes in their corresponding rooms right away. Doing so keeps clutter out of heavily trafficked areas, so you can enjoy hassle-free unpacking.
Should you tip? Tipping for moving services isn’t required, but it can be a nice way to show your professional movers appreciation for their effort. If you feel the urge to tip, $20 to each person, or 5% of the total bill, is customary. Alternatively, you can express appreciation by providing water, snacks, or other refreshments.

Ace Moving is a full-service relocation company servicing the needs of families and businesses in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Rochester, and Seattle/Tacoma. Our priority is providing our customers with professional, careful, and courteous staff all striving to deliver your products on time and without a scratch. We offer many different services to fit your moving and storage needs – contact us today for a fast quote!