Tips to Reduce Moving Stress

You’ve found the perfect neighborhood and the ideal new house for your family. But before you can settle in and begin making your new surroundings feel like home, you have to cross one more dreaded hurdle: moving day.

“Finding a new home is a wonderful and exciting experience, but moving can be overwhelming -- juggling packing, moving essential belongings and transforming your new house into a home,” said Wendy Froehlich, vice president of marketing at Homes.com. “Homes.com believes in providing the best tools and tips for consumers to make their lives easier. We’re proud to share best practices to make the moving process less stressful and more organized - ensuring a smooth move.”

One mistake many movers make is attempting to transport items that should actually just be replaced. A commonly overlooked example is mattresses, which can prove cumbersome and difficult to keep clean during a move.

“Many people find that moving is the ideal time to replace a mattress, especially if it has reached or surpassed the eight-year mark,” said Steve Stagner, chief executive officer of Mattress Firm, Inc. “Our hassle-free delivery for your new mattress and pick up for your old one means you have one less thing to worry about as you begin life in your new home.”

To help movers avoid unnecessary stress and reduce property damage, the experts at Mattress Firm and Homes.com have partnered to provide these tips:

Plan ahead: The key to executing a move that is both efficient and stress-free is to plan your move weeks before the actual day. A moving file and calendar are great ways to keep all of your moving information, such as your lease or mortgage contract, utility hook up, power documents and other important information in one place.

Get organized: Organize boxes for their corresponding room in your new home, sealing them with colored duct tape to color code.

Don’t crack under pressure: Keep your plates in one piece by stacking plastic foam plates in between each one, and protect glasses by putting them inside pairs of clean socks.

Vacuum seal out-of-season clothing: Don’t waste time fumbling through out-of-season clothing. Not only will it take up less space and be a breeze to pack, but it can go directly into storage in the new place.

Think of the little things: Keep sandwich bags handy to hold any small items you have to take apart, such as the screws for a mounted flat-screen television or your bed frame, and tape them to the backside. Label the bags accordingly to make unpacking and reassembling furniture a breeze.

Sweet dreams: Check the mattress tag; if a mattress is more than eight years old, it has accumulated dust, dust mites and sweat that can make it practically double in weight. Avoid the hassle of moving it and arrange to get a new one delivered to your new home. If the mattress is still in its prime, use a mattress protector to transport it safely to the new home.

Green thumb: Transport plants delicately by using a Christmas tree bag to keep all of the appendages safe and prevent snapping.

Survival kit: Make life easier when arriving at the new home by packing an easily accessible overnight bag with clothes and necessary toiletries. Don’t forget to include first day essentials, such as a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags and power strips.

For additional tips to make your moving day run smoothly, visit www.mattressfirm.com or www.homes.com.