Are you preparing for a move? Great! As you will soon find out there is a lot of things to take care of. From sorting, packing and labeling to organizing friends and movers, tasks just seem to pile up. It might seem that not doing inventory will be a huge time saver. Why would you waste time on listing all the things you know you have. Well if you think in that manner, you couldn’t be more wrong. And here is why.
Reducing stress
The first benefit of doing inventory is reducing stress. Being overly stressed will make you less productive and likely sick. Having all the things you have to move listed will help you get a better idea of what needs to be moved. Wich will greatly reduce your stress during your move.
Keeping things under control
When organizing your move, control is the biggest issue. There are a lot of things you can’t control, like the weather and unforeseen circumstances that may prolong and complicate your move. Therefore increasing your potential for control will give you some much-needed peace of mind. Listing all the things that are supposed to be moved will give you a clear picture of what you need to tell your friends to move and in what order. It will also give you a better idea on what you actually need to move. Moving estimates vary upon the number of things that you move, and getting rid of the things that you don’t need is a huge money saver. By making a list you force yourself to go over all the things that you have and to think trough if they are really necessary.
Having things planned out in advance
Having a plan for moving is essential. The less you hire professionals to help you, the more you are going to need to manage and organize yourself. By doing inventory you will better know how to delegate various jobs that need to be done. What is packed where and how heavy things are is vital information when organizing your friends, and you don’t want to find that out on the spot. Having a list to check off when you load your truck will keep you centered and calm.
Helping out the movers
If you are hiring a professional moving company, be it some local movers in Florida or an online one, you might think that the value of doing inventory goes down. But you would be wrong. Having a list of all your possessions will give movers a clear idea on what they need to move and how to approach organizing your move if they require more than one truck. When packing you should label what is heavy and what is fragile and you should also note that in your inventory list. Letting movers know in advance will give them more time to plan.
Helping with packing
Packing can sometimes be a big hassle, especially if it has to be done in a short while. If you didn’t have enough time to prepare and gather all the packing materials, you are going to do a sloppy job. In that case, don’t risk it. Hire packing services in Florida, and avoid unnecessary stress. But, having people pack you, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take part in it. Doing inventory while they pack will give you a better idea of where everything is packed. Knowing which box contains what will immensely help you when unpacking, especially if you have to find something in a hurry. Just be sure to stick around when they pack and take note of where everything is.
Figuring out the estimate
When you move you will need to figure out with your movers how much they will charge you. And coming to an agreement is always easier if you know how much stuff you have and how it needs to be moved. Doing inventory will give you the necessary information for making moving plans. Be sure to know if you can move something on your own. Small alterations in the number of things you need to move can save you some money. Also, it will be easier to checks if everything was properly transported before you pay your movers.
How to approach doing inventory
When you start doing your inventory there are a few guidelines you should follow in order not to overburden yourself.
Have a clear idea on how you want to pack
The way you pack your things will naturally change the way you note them. You can either pack by room or you can pack by type. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Packing by room makes it easier to figure out unpacking, but it can be wasteful since you may end up not using the full potential of some of your containers.
Label moving boxes
On the other hand, when you pack by type you might take longer to unpack properly and the weight distribution of your things will be way off. A box of books weights considerably more than a box of clothes. Whatever style you pick, be sure to clearly label the boxes. And use the same label when you are doing inventory. The style in which you choose to pack will change the number of boxes you have to get. Be sure to mark for heavy or fragile items when necessary.
Don’t overanalyze your inventory
There is a sweet spot when analyzing your inventory. A good idea is to take inspiration of the way that big companies do their inventory. Just listing things as they are packed won’t give you enough information, but having your list color-coded and overly precise will overburden you with unnecessary information. Just stick to simple labels and clear names for your items and item groups. There is no need to call something “The blue shirt I got when I was on vacation in Hawaii”. A simple “shirt” or if you have may “blue shirt” will suffice.
