Making the move to Kansas City easy....Bring Pizza!

If you’ve ever moved yourself before, you know, there’s nothing easy about getting it done. Whether it’s across country or just down the street, a move is a big proposition. It’s even bigger if you’re planning on doing it yourself. From packing to loading and unloading the moving truck to everything in between the task seems endless.

For those who are making Kansas City their home, and even those who have called it that for years, there are a few advantages to trying a do-it-yourself move in such a large metropolitan area. The biggest is the fact there are companies available that will help load or unload a moving truck if you intend to do the driving yourself. This is a great way to save money by not paying a traditional moving company to do it all. Plus, you don’t have to worry about breaking your back trying to get that 2-ton bedroom set you just had to have loaded onto the truck.

If you can’t afford such a service, however, don’t worry. There are things you can do to make a moving do-it-yourself job easier.

The first thing to do after you decide to move is to start rounding up people to help. Talk to friends, family and even co-workers. It’s amazing how many people are willing to help for a pizza and something cold to drink. Promise to feed them well and ask nicely and you might be surprised at the results.

If you’re moving across country, you likely won’t have the family and friends to help with the unpacking, so consider a service or even checking with new co-workers to get the job done.

Once you’ve lined up how to get your stuff onto and off of a moving truck, it’s a good idea to make sure you have one in the first place. In busy areas like Kansas City, moving trucks for rent might be available one day and booked the next. So, it’s a very good idea to reserve a truck a few weeks in advance. Shop around for the best prices and make sure to secure your reservation and double check on it if necessary.

Okay, so the people and the truck are lined up, but the work’s not even close to being done yet. Now’s the time to start going through your things and making the move easier on yourself. Start packing early and even think about weeding out things you might not need or even want to take with you. A good rule of thumb to follow here is to get rid of items that haven’t seen the light of day for a year or more. That electric fondue pot that always burns the cheese, for example, is a good thing to pitch. If you don’t use it, lose it! This, of course, doesn’t apply to things that have sentimental value. There’s just no replacing that tattered teddy bear from days past and saying goodbye isn’t an option. Special bears always fit in moving trucks anyway

As you pack, it’s a really good idea to take care to be organized. This is the tough one for most of us, but it really does pay off. If you have items for you kitchen, pack them in boxes together, clearly marked “Kitchen.” This will make it a whole lot easier on you at the end of the move when you’re trying to find a spatula among your boxes to whip up some breakfast. There’s nothing fun about sifting through 50 boxes to find “the one!”

While you’re packing, it’s also very helpful to set aside those items you will need to have your hands on in a hurry. Important documents and valuable smaller items should go in a special box and be carried where you can find them quickly and keep an eye on them during the move. This includes birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage licenses and the such, even insurance papers and maybe that bear, too. If these are sorted out before you move, there will be less guesswork later when you need them.

Moving can be a lot of fun and it’s always an adventure. The act of moving, however, is a completely different animal. If you take a little time and carefully plan your trek, some of the headaches can be avoided.

One last thing, don’t forget to double check on that moving truck if you’re doing it yourself. There’s nothing worse than having people lined up, the boxes packed and ready to go and then finding out you have nothing to put them in!