Moving into a new apartment or house is a physically, mentally and emotionally draining experience that is almost unavoidable at some point in our lives. This is especially true when we plan to do it ourselves in order to save some money or do it at our own pace. But when you have so much large furniture, like beds, dressing and dining tables, cabinets and wardrobes, this becomes a huge undertaking with many variables that must be factored in order to make it go smoothly and safely. If you are looking for great advice that will help you through this process, then you have come to right place, as we have six ways that will surely help you do it properly.
Any seemingly daunting task, like moving furniture into a new house or apartment, can easily be broken down when we make a plan, making it a straight forward process. This takes away the anxiety and minimizes any surprises that can be encountered, especially on moving day. A careful plan includes the following items:
It is always a good idea to know your physical limitations and assess your level of fitness. Most people usually take this advice as something negative rather than the safety measure that it really is. This information will enable you to take the necessary precautions that will help you avoid common injuries that can happen when moving large or heavy furniture all by yourself. Many things can get injured, broken or sprained when you subject your body to something it was not prepared to do.
When all you have are small items or pieces of furniture, then you can manage the move all by yourself with a couple of boxes. But when large or heavy furniture is involved, you need some backup from friends or companions. Not only do you get extra help, but this option is also cheaper than hiring movers, who are on a contract and have time constraints. Just make sure to ask them in advance in order to avoid any inconveniences, prepare some refreshments and snacks and reward them for helping you afterwards (something like a pizza or beer).
In order to minimize the physical exertion that comes with moving furniture, you need to use equipment that is designed to give you some physical advantage. Hand trucks, which are L-shaped carts, can help you wheel around furniture with ease and even help you climb up and down stairs with the furniture. A lifting harness, which is a strap that helps take the pressure off your back and free you from bending down, can help you lift and balance large, heavy furniture. Sometimes you don’t even have to lift it, which is recommended, you can just slide it using a slider.
It is very important that no furniture is moved unless you and everyone else helping you is adequately prepared and safe. Make sure that you are all not wearing any loose and long clothes, have rugged gloves on to protect your hands, and have water readily available in order to stay hydrated. The moving area also needs to be cleared of any obstacles and children and pets are safely out of harm’s way.
Driving a moving truck, especially when you are not used to it or in bad weather, is very challenging and extra precautions need to be taken in order to avoid risks and accidents. The most important tips here is to drive slowly at half the speed of a regular car. You also need to keep some distance between you and other vehicles to give yourself adequate braking time, since heavy, weighed down vehicles take time to come to a complete stop. If you are driving a long distance, then taking breaks is also vital to keep yourself fresh and energized. These breaks should take place every eight hours of driving and should last for a minimum of 30 minutes. Your new home is waiting for you and not going anywhere, so it makes less sense to rush and put your life and everyone else's in danger.
