Suggestions to ease your moving day tension

Plenty can go wrong on moving day, even if you’ve hired a professional moving company.

Here are some tips from industry representatives to make sure moving out doesn’t cause any delays or headaches:

Research the moving company carefully. The industry has a horrible reputation, and it has earned it. There are good guys, and there are bad guys, and it’s really hard to tell at the time of estimate. Price is only one piece of the puzzle, and homeowners should make sure they find someone they’ll be comfortable working with. “Some moving companies are the real deal, and then there are a lot of others where you just have a guy running it out of his apartment,” one mover said.

Label like crazy. Labeling boxes will make moving into the new home much easier. Be sure to make the labels clear and indicate specific rooms. Remember, some movers charge by the hour to move boxes once they are in the home.

Tell the movers what’s valuable. You’ll have many fragile items. Be specific and let the movers know in advance. “The best way to deal with damage is to avoid it by communicating about things that are fragile and meaningful,” said Mike Dahlman, general manager of You Move Me.

Do some parking prep work. Before the movers show up, figure out the logistics. Where should the truck park? If the move is from a condo or apartment building, does the owner need to reserve the building’s elevator or are there designated moving hours? If there’s a particularly heavy item the movers will need to move, let them know in advance so they can add extra help if needed.

Get out of the way. Don’t get on the truck and help sort or carry items. Let the professional provide their service. You may end up slowing down the move and even posing an insurance liability.