moving help

Did you know that the average person will move 12 times throughout their lifetime? Even if you think you’re a moving connoisseur, accidents and other safety issues could occur at any point during your move. After all, moving help can never hurt when you want to ensure the safety of your goods and family.

When you’re planning an upcoming move, your health and safety is your top priority. Whether you’re protecting your valuables, your family, or your back, rely on these safety tips to keep every aspect of your life safe during this stressful time.

1. Pack light

Most professional moving services will recommend that your packed boxes shouldn’t exceed 50 pounds in weight, even if you remember to lift with your legs and not your back. While you can always shirk this rule by using dollies or sliders, anything heavier requires moving help.

Heavy boxes can also put your valuables at risk for breaking or falling, especially if they’re unbalanced. It might be frustrating to invest in a few more cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, but your back will thank you later.

2. Store valuables in safe spots

Any number of items in your home may be considered valuable, but you should take extra care to monitor the placement of important documents, pricey goods, and fragile items. Unfortunately, robbers and thieves like to target people moving house since their goods are easy to swipe off the truck. As such, you need to move these items into a secure location as soon as you start moving into your new home.

You should also store these items with purpose during the move. For example, you need to know where your family’s birth certificates and social security cards are located at all times. The last thing you want to deal with during a move is a potential identity theft issue.

You can also utilize a safe to store small valuables, including precious jewels, money, or small electronics. Even if you’re moving to a safe neighborhood, you never know when an important good could get lost between the cracks. Label your boxes to make this process go more smoothly.

3. Learn to lift

We all know to lift with our legs, not our backs. But there are a few other tips and tricks you should utilize while lifting and moving heavy boxes.

For example, it’s always better to push a heavy object than to pull it. You should also never lift objects over your head or keep a heavy item away from your body. It might make it a little harder to walk, but keeping heavy items close to your body will help center it to your body weight, making it easier to carry. If you ever second-guess your ability to move an item, rely on a dolly to keep your body safe.

4. Move when the weather is nice

It’s always recommended that you move in great weather to prevent accidents from occurring. After all, an icy spot on the road or on your new driveway could put your entire family at risk if you move during the winter. You should also try to avoid incredibly hot days during the summer; the potential for heat stroke is higher, especially when you’re engaging in strenuous physical activity.

If you have to move during intense weather, be sure to supply your family and moving helpers with plenty of water. You should also call your gas and electric company well before your move to ensure that your home is a comfortable temperature when you move in. Without heating and cooling, you might find yourself in a hotel for the night.

5. Clear pathways both inside and outside

Moving to a new home means that your family is coping with unfamiliar territory. This means that the risk for a nasty trip and fall is already high. The clutter caused by a move can raise this risk even more should someone fall over a stray broom or errant box.

Prevent accidents from occurring by keeping boxes and goods in well-organized piles. While you don’t need to map out your entire home, simply stacking boxes in one corner of the room can keep stray items away from footpaths. You should also trim back any hedges and shovel any snow outside to prevent any other accidents.

6. Invest in pet care and daycare

Children can be a great help when it comes to moving but particularly young children are at an increased risk for getting hurt or lost during the moving process. Ensure the safety of your pets and young family members by reaching out to local daycare and pet care services on the day of your move.

7. Hire professional moving services

Even though you want to do it yourself, the best thing you can do is invest in moving help for your big day. After all, moving professionals have plenty of experience moving homes of all sizes. That means they have the right equipment, the know-how necessary to keep your valuables safe, and the efficiency required to get the job done quickly.

Why would you want to prolong your moving experience? Contact the residential movers you can trust: with Craig Van Lines, we have four generations of experience moving families in the DC, VA, and MD areas. We even offer packing and moving supplies as your one-stop-shop for moving help. Contact one of our representatives today for more safety tips and moving advice.

Top 7 Tips to Stay Safe During Your Move