How to Keep Your Move Merry and Bright this Holiday Season

Moving soon? Fair warning: there are few things more stressful than moving during the holiday season. All of that gift shopping and mindless packing can, unfortunately, turn what’s supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year” into the most stressful time of the year. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to keep your holiday move merry and bright – despite the chaos of it all. T o ensure that your upcoming relocation goes as smoothly as possible this holiday season, take a look at these seven tips below.

Pack christmas decor and gifts separately

The last thing you want happening during a move is to lose or (worse!) break your holiday presents! Trust us – with all the unpacking that’s ahead of you, you’re not going to have time to shop for gifts again. So as you begin packing, gather all presents – whether wrapped or unwrapped – into the same pile. You will want to pack these items with extra care using appropriate moving boxes, packing tape and plenty of bubble wrap before moving these items. I also recommend packing all christmas decor separately in clearly labeled, easy to locate boxes. A few items to consider packing separately from the rest of your household goods include:

Christmas lights
Ornaments
Menorahs
Fake christmas trees
Holiday dinnerware sets, mugs and glasses
Wreaths
Snowglobes
Light up decor

Hire a reliable moving company

Don’t let moving scams spoil your holiday season! To avoid being taken advantage of, I strongly recommend hiring a reputable and reliable moving company to handle your upcoming move. Come Christmas time, you don’t want to be ripped off, angry and broke – thanks to sketchy, rogue movers. To find a trustworthy moving company, check reviews on Moving.com’s Moving Company Directory . The directory includes customer reviews for more than 600 moving companies nationwide. For your convenience, our reviews also include: the moving company’s U.S. DOT number, specific moving services, fleet size, Better Business Bureau rating, any official complaints filed with the FMCSA, and whether the moving company has any association with the ATA ( American Trucking Associations).

Also, be sure to watch out for red flags, such as a too good to be true cost estimate. Any company that quotes you a firm price without surveying your things by video or in-person should not be trusted. Make sure to compare at least three or four quotes from various moving companies before hiring a mover for the job.

Play festive music during the move

Just because you haven’t decked the halls of your new home yet doesn’t mean you can’t get into the holiday spirit. One easy way to join in on the festivities is to play holiday music before, during and after your move. Thanks to WiFi and Bluetooth, it’s now easier than ever to stream music throughout the home and car. All you need to do is purchase a bluetooth speaker or smart home device that will play music directly from your phone. Of course, you can always play music via your computer or stereo. A few excellent holiday playlists on Spotify include Holiday Classics , Happy Holidays , Holiday Jazz , Chrismas Classics and Disney Holiday Songs (for the kids!). With “Jingle All the Way” in the background, you’ll practically forget about the moving stresses.

Get your utilities up and running

Unless you want to spend the holidays in a freezing cold home on moving day (without internet or electricity), I strongly recommend getting your utilities up and running on or before moving day. The holidays are also a busy time for many companies, which means it may take longer to get a service person out to your new house. For this reason, I suggest calling your cable and utility service providers early on to let them know about your upcoming change of address and to schedule an appointment. A few things to schedule ahead of time include:

Cable
Internet
Security system install (you may need to make appt for your alarm system installation several weeks in advance.)

Change of Address

From Christmas cards to holiday presents, a lot gets sent in the mail during the December to January months. To avoid having this mail sent to your old home (and new owners), change your mailing address pronto. All you have to do is simply go to USPS.com and choose the date you wish to begin forwarding your mail. Also, don’t forget to let your bank know you’re moving and to change the billing addresses on your credit cards.

Pack cold weather essentials separately

In addition to packing your holiday gifts and decor in separate boxes, I recommend packing all cold weather essentials in clearly labeled boxes. These include winter clothes, warm pajamas, an emergency first-aid kit, flashlights, batteries, hats and gloves, shovels, blankets, windshield scrapers, bottled water, snacks, cell phone chargers and possibly road salt. If you’re moving somewhere cold, you’ll also need to keep the possibility of precipitation and bad weather (read: snow and ice) in mind. So make sure you waterproof as much as possible inside your boxes – wrapping items in plastic bags.

Make plans to spend the holidays with friends and family

If all else fails, you can always celebrate the holidays at a friend or family member’s home. This will take away from the stress of unpacking, as you won’t have to hunt through every box for your gifts and decor. You also won’t have to worry about cleaning the packed-up dishes or cooking a holiday meal in the new kitchen. Instead of worrying about setting up your own decorations, lights and other holiday paraphernalia, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the festivities elsewhere after the move.

Ready to hire movers for your holiday move?

Fortunately, Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to find and book the best moving company for the job this holiday season. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Best of luck and happy moving!