After bereavement and dismissal, moving is, according to studies on the subject, one of the most stressful situations in life. In 2006, a survey carried out by the TNS Sofres institute confirmed this: 76% of French people admitted to feeling anxious when changing residence, the figure even rising to 82% among women, who remember having spent a very bad time during their move. The good news ? If you're organized, you should be fine. And it starts a good month before the date set for changing your life: it is then time to find THE mover. Do it in advance if you want to have the choice between several service providers, especially if you are moving at the end of the month. This is the busiest period in this area, not to mention the end of the school year.
How to choose the right mover?
We competeby making appointments with different companies. To avoid any last-minute surprises, remember, from the outset, to mention what is also in your cellar, your attic and... under the beds! Be aware that to cover loss, theft or breakage (it happens), moving companies must take out insurance. Before finalizing your choice, ask to consult the compensation conditions provided by the insurance companies and compare them with those of the other companies questioned.
We forget the estimate without a visit.If the moving company sends you an estimate online (according to your non-professional estimate) specifying that it does not need to go at home, forget it. Even if you have answered a specific questionnaire, you may well have to pay a large extra on the day of the move.
Beware of the very cheap quote. If it is much lower than the others, it means that there is bound to be a scam or that the service will be catastrophic, or both. Unless you want to get rid of mother-in-law's dishes at all costs, ask for written estimates and read all the clauses carefully before committing.
The payment of a deposit.As a rule, companies ask for 30% of the cost of the move. If a company asks you for more, refuse.
And to lower the bill.Avoid the end of the month, the beginning of school holidays and reduce the volume of what you are going to transport as much as possible. Why not take the opportunity to organize a clearance sale to sell the furniture and clothes you no longer need? Do you really want to move that old Norman cupboard found at the flea market ten years ago with your ex, a cupboard that weighs a ton and you don't know what to do with? Ditto with this ski suit bought for your 16th birthday and which has been buried for two decades at the bottom of your closet. If clearance sales aren't your thing, consider charities, vintage shops or Boncoin.fr.
What do we do 3 weeks before?
The first boxes! From the superfluous to the essential, that's what you need to remember. You will be able to start packing what is least useful to you on a daily basis (Christmas decorations, the complete La Pléïade - no more time to read -, the raclette machine and non-essential kitchen utensils) by applying an important rule: heavy objects in small boxes, light objects in large boxes. In order to save time when moving in, you can close them with thick colored tape to be defined according to the rooms where their contents will be unpacked: red for the kitchen, white for the living room, blue for the bedroom... Another solution, of course a bit tedious, but which will make you proud on D-Day: stick a label on each side (therefore 4) of your boxes and write a number on it (C for room + a number). Don't forget to write everything down, classified piece by piece, in a notebook. Once at home, it will only take you a few seconds to find your favorite jeans. Except, of course, if you have stored the precious notebook at the bottom of a box...
If you are of a very anxious nature, do not entrust your favorite objects and your photos to the movers, keep them with you and store them in two boxes at the most - otherwise, what is the point of taking a company? - this will reassure you. Music lovers, store your vinyl on its edge, especially not flat, at the risk of finding it broken. Parents, give your toddlers a mission to make them feel involved: let them pack their rooms themselves, it won't be too much.
Three weeks before the move is also the time to notify your Internet service provider, your telephone company, EDF-GDF, and your various insurance companies.
Finally, start eating what is are in your cupboards (we are no longer in wartime) and in your freezer (you won't want duck legs, snails or Picard desserts the day before the move).
What do we do 15 days before?
It's time to set up the transfer of mail by post, to report your change of address to the crèche, to Social Security, to the mutual, to the various newspapers to which you are subscribed… And if you have five minutes, which we doubt very much, send an email to your loved ones to inform them of your new address. Finally, remember to sign a contract with the electricity and/or gas suppliers: a minimum of five working days is necessary to set up a new contract.
On the practical side, we stop watering the potted plants (so as not to have to carry heavy pots full of water), we start planning the future location of the furniture in each room – just to be able to respond to the questions from the movers when the day comes -, and we clean the major household appliances (yes, yes, behind too). Finally, for pet owners, we are looking for a nanny for the day. Because nobody would like Rufus, your very pissed off Labrador, to bite one of the movers, or Max, your over-stressed Bengal, to try to scratch every human being within reach.
What do we do a week before?
We continue the boxes, we wash the curtains and put them away, we rent a shampooer for rugs and carpets. Remove everything that is hung on the walls (paintings, wall lights, photos, etc.), remembering to wipe it down first. Take the opportunity to fill in the holes... you will also have to prepare your inventory. On D-2, empty and defrost the fridge and freezer, drain and unplug the washing machine. Unplug your hi-fi devices and, above all, put labels to recognize the different cables.
Don't forget to pick up your clothes left at the dry cleaners in January and take your shoes left at the shoemaker last month. Prepare your "survival" box: phone charger, flashlight, toilet paper, disposable dishes and paper towels, multiple socket, can opener, corkscrew... Finally, we will call the mover to confirm the time of the appointment you, without forgetting to ask him again (for the third time) if he has contacted the prefecture for permission to park his truck in front of the building.
What do we do the night before?
We breathe? Not yet. Normally almost all cartons need to be finished. We take the opportunity, not to go to the hairdresser, but to check each closet, remove all the power strips from the walls, unscrew the bulbs from the lamps (plan to keep a shoebox to pack them in). Finally, if you have hidden valuables or money in the house, now is the time to retrieve them. Take the opportunity to clean up as much as you can before the move. You have certainly given copies of your keys to your children, your neighbors or the babysitter. Consider getting them back.
Take your pets to their nanny and fill up your car: tomorrow you won't have time. A quick trip to the local supermarket to get water and soft drinks for the movers will be useful. Prepare a bag with a change of clothes for two days, a first aid kit with the basics and your laptop (yes, with the charger). Whatever happens, keep your precious objects with you, your passport, your diplomas… Finally, go to bed early.
The day of the move
Read the figures on the electricity / gas meter(s) in your home (unless the network manager has already taken a reading in the part of a termination appointment). Then call the current provider(s) of the accommodation you are leaving to provide them with this information. They will take it into account to send you the cancellation invoice. Tell them the address where you want to receive this invoice.
As the morning progresses, questions you may not have thought of will arise. It's normal. You must be very available to be able to respond to them: avoid assigning yourself too many tasks and always listen to the movers, your new best friends. Keep your new address handy in your wallet or bag. In the panic of the move, you might forget about it…
After these gentlemen have filled their truck (you might have surprises, some are very fast), make sure nothing is lying around, don't leave the objects that you have finally decided not to take to the sidewalk... It is often necessary to give a last wipe with a sponge or mop, so do not put all your cleaning products in the boxes... The easiest way is to pay a cleaning lady for a few hours; you are no longer close to that.
Arrange for there to be someone present in your new home to receive the movers on arrival and indicate the location of each piece of furniture. Check that there is no breakage when unpacking. If you find any damage, report it on the delivery note. You then have ten days to confirm your observations, by registered letter. Tip the movers and offer them a drink. Welcome home !
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