What I Wish I Knew About Moving Out for the First Time

Moving out for the first time can be exciting, especially if you are getting your own place or that job promotion you always dreamed of. However, moving is not necessarily for the faint of heart. Many first-time movers have expectations more rooted in fantasy than reality, but the reality can still be pretty awesome. It just might require some tweaking of expectations.

This article discusses ways that moves do not go as planned and how you can make your first-time move go a lot more smoothly. We also discuss why hiring professional moving help is usually better than trying to move yourself.

No, Your Friends Don't Want to Help You Move

Many first-time movers are young adults, about 18 to 30 years old. Moving is easier for folks in this age bracket, for sure. They have more energy, and some are perfectly content to be paid in pizza and beer.

However, you may find that you have a much harder time rounding up friends to help you move than you anticipated. All of a sudden, they have weddings to attend, relatives visiting from out of town, and places to go. These “excuses” sound all too convenient but could actually be legitimate.

The reality is that moving is hard work. It can easily take up the better part of a day or even several days. People have lives. Even friends who previously committed to helping you move may change these plans if something more appealing comes along.

Plus! And this is important. Your friends are not experienced, professional movers. How will you feel if they break your prized vase, accidentally drop your favorite blanket in mud, or get tired after only an hour of loading a truck?

All this is a setup for resentment on both sides. It probably won’t put your friendships at risk, but asking friends to help you move could lead to conflicts that could have been avoided.

Moving is Time Consuming

You likely have decades worth of stuff to pack. Even if you are a light packer, your years of life mean you have quite a few things to move.

Give yourself plenty of time to pack. This is not a task to do at the last minute. Strategic packing also makes for easier loading and unloading.

As for the moving logistics themselves, your U-Haul suddenly has much less space than you expected, so you have to make a lot of trips. Staircases and doorways become steeper and narrower than you thought. You could find yourself downright exhausted after moving surprisingly heavy furniture up and down the stairs after “only” an hour.

That’s assuming you already had all the right equipment in the first place. Moving usually involves hand trucks, dollies, furniture blankets or pads, mattress bags, plastic wrap, rope, and everyday tools for disassembly and assembly. You may also need special power tools. Fortunately, they are easy to find online and in-person, but first-time movers might not realize how essential they are.

Moving Out for the First Time Can Still Be Pretty Awesome

Maybe you have excellent friends who are truly happy to help you move (like you’d be glad to help them move). You have no hesitation about asking them to help, you have plenty of time to pack, and you can easily source a rental truck and moving equipment. Great! In such cases, DIY moving out for the first time could match the scenario in your head.

For many folks, though, professional movers are the answer to making the reality of a move as smooth as possible. The moving labor companies you find through MovingLabor.com boast the following features.

• Experience and expertise: Movers move for a living. They know what they are doing.
• Loading: Pros load your stuff into your truck or moving container like, well, pros. The risks of damage are low.
• Unloading: Get settled in your new home as quickly as possible.
• Stress relief: Your body and mind get to take it easy. No going up and down steps a hundred times and less stressing about whether your valuables are broken.
• Damage coverage: Get protection in case your items are damaged.
• Cancellation flexibility: Take advantage of no-fee rescheduling in case you get sick or need to cancel.
• Price locks: Enjoy inclusive prices with no surprises.
• Packing: Some (but not all) of the companies also offer packing services.

All in all, professional movers can make your first time moving out something to remember for good reasons instead of a memory you cringe at years from now. Check out MovingLabor.com today! We make it easy for you to compare hourly moving help to find the mover that best fits your budget and needs.