Moving is considered the third most stressful life event, following death and divorce. From the packing, to the lifting, to the loading, and to the reorganizing, it makes sense that people don’t look forward to this process! What makes it even more stressful is that there are so many tasks and responsibilities prior to the move, that people often become forgetful. Here is a list of items that should be taken care of before you move.

1. Forward mail to your new mailing address. Waiting until you are in your new home delays the receipt of mail from your old address and actually increases your chances of losing new mail. The United States Postal Service recommends that you update your address within their system, several days in advance.
2. Notify your friends, family, subscriptions, memberships, bank and other government institutions of your change of address. If you’d rather not have to chase down a package from a family member or deal with the fees associated with having mail forwarded, notify people and organizations ahead of time.
3. Organize your finances. Make sure that you have a system in place that helps you ensure that you are making payments on time and tracking your bills. It’s possible that without a system, you may miss a payment in the whirlwind of the moving process. Don’t fall behind or damage your credit because of this misstep!
4. Notify your insurance companies. Whether it’s car insurance, home insurance, renter’s insurance, or health insurance, notify your insurance company of your move. If you’re changing zip codes, your rates may change. Make sure your address is up to date so that you will remain covered.
5. Cancel irrelevant recurring charges in your area. Whether it’s a gym membership or spa membership, anywhere you go that requires a monthly fee will need to either be updated with your new address or canceled if your new location does not have the same business.
6. Take pictures of your belongings. Whenever you are working with movers, you want to ensure that your belongings remain intact. Professional movers are typically insured, so in case something does happen, you’re covered. Take pictures of the items the movers will be moving to make sure you will know if anything happens.
7. Make a bag or box dedicated to what you will need the day of the move. Preparing ahead of time always helps you during the process. The bag or box can include toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, towels, cutlery, plates, sheets, and anything else you think you will need on moving day.

While movers can help you with packing, lifting, loading and unpacking, there are some tasks that we cannot help you with. These are the ones that involve your personal information and lifestyle needs, like the ones listed above. Take care of these before you move in order to streamline the moving process and comfortably settle into your new home!

Moving can be an enormous undertaking, especially if you’re relocating to a different city, moving into a home that is larger, moving into a high rise apartment, or even moving into a place that is smaller. In fact, most people dread moving. Did you know that moving is considered the third most stressful event in life, following death and divorce? From the packing, to the lifting, to the loading, and to the reorganizing, it’s no wonder that many people do not look forward to it.

However, we all have to move on to another residence eventually! The average person moves eleven times in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are movers like Burrows Moving & Storage that can take some of the dread away from the big moving day. Here are three major reasons you should hire movers for your next move.

1. There’s less of a chance you’ll end up in the hospital. People are often surprised how easy it is to get injured during a move. When you don’t know how to properly pack or lift something, you can potentially injure yourself and others. Typically moving companies will provide best practices for packing those items that can become dangerous, such as sharp objects like knives, fragile objects like glass, and electronic items like cords and appliances. Furthermore, moving heavy items like furniture and mattresses can be awkward and often requires certain equipment. Leave it to the professionals, and eliminate the potential for injury.
2. Movers will have all of the necessary equipment. Moving large furniture can take on a different level of stress when you realize you don’t have the tools to dismantle each piece. At this point you won’t have to worry about breaking your back, because you won’t be able to fit any furniture through your front door. Furthermore, moving large, delicate items like pianos, require a step-by-step protocol and specific equipment and wrapping, in order to maintain the structure and fragility of the instrument. From the tools to the wrapping to the trucks, professional movers have all of the equipment necessary for your big move. 
3. Your valuables are insured with professional movers. Are all of your expensive and fine furnishings insured? Do you trust yourself with moving your own valuables? If you’ve answered “no” to these questions, you should give a professional mover a call. Licensed movers often provide various coverage to ensure that your goods do not get damaged during the moving process. According Burrows’ “insurance options” page of their website, ​”in Illinois (by state law) movers are required to provide their customers with four options for moving coverage in case of damages to household goods.” Reputable companies, like Burrows, all provide insurance options for their consumers.

While a potential hesitation for hiring movers could be the cost of using them, we frequently find that people end up saving both time and money in the long run. Often people underestimate the possible costs of moving on their own: the loss that can result from potential hospitalization, the destruction of valuable furnishings due to lack of equipment, and whether or not they are insured if something goes wrong. Stay safe, be smart, and let your professional movers make your moving day run seamlessly, efficiently and stress-free.