Moving to a new home is no small task. Sometimes it takes a village. If you want to help your friend who is moving but don’t want to or are unable to do any hard lifting, there are many other ways to be just as helpful. Keep reading to find out how you can still be helpful on moving day.
Help Them Find a Moving Company
If you want to help a friend move into a house but you don’t want to do any heavy lifting, then offer to help them find an affordable moving company.
Trust me, your friend doesn’t want to do any heavy lifting either, no one does, but they’re probably worried about how much it will cut into their moving budget or they simply don’t have enough time to shop around and find the best deal. But if you call local moving companies and round up a few estimates to compare prices, you can probably find one that fits within your friend’s budget.
Finding an affordable moving company will also reduce some of your friend’s stress because they no longer have to worry about asking their friends and family for assistance since they have a trained team of moving professionals who know how to do it effectively.
Lend a Hand with Packing and Cooking
One of the biggest ways you can help your friend move without doing the heavy lifting is to help them pack. Packing is a huge undertaking, no matter the size of the house. You can help the packing process go faster while helping your friend stay on task and avoid procrastination. You can start small in a closet or the bathroom and focus on this area until it’s done.
A second thing you can do to help your friend is to cook and bring over a meal. It’s easy to forget to eat when you’re in the middle of packing or organizing everything, and many people don’t want to stop to cook. So, you can take some of the stress away by cooking and bringing a dish over.
Help with Packing, Decluttering, Meals, and Babysitting
Help with the packing. An extra pair of hands is always welcome in packing and unpacking since it’s the most tedious and time-consuming part of moving. You can help sort out items and identify what will need special care in packing. For example, wrap fragile items in padding or label boxes by content and destination room.
Be their donation driver. It may not be easy to bring everything to the new house, especially if there’s insufficient space. You can help by taking any unwanted items to donation centers. This will declutter the home and make moving day less stressful.
Prepare meals. Moving is exhausting, and your friend may not have time to cook. You can help by preparing meals or bringing over takeout. This way, they can have one less thing to worry about.
Be there on moving day. Your moral support will be appreciated, especially if it’s a big move or your friend feels sentimental about leaving their old home. You can help with last-minute tasks and make sure everything is in place once the furniture is moved in.
Babysit their kids or pets. On moving day, you can also keep kids and pets out of the way so everyone, including the movers, can do their job efficiently.
Pay a visit to their new place. After the move, your friend will likely be busy unpacking and settling in. You can help by dropping off a housewarming gift or visiting them. This will show that you are there for them during this transition.
Seven Ways to be Helpful on Moving Day
If your friend is moving, you can do a few things to help make the process easier. First, try to be available to help on moving day. If you can’t be there in person, offer to help with tasks like packing or organizing the move. Your friend probably has a lot on their plate, so anything you can do to lighten the load will be appreciated. You can search online for moving checklists and tips to help your friend get organized, or start helping them book a moving truck or find a storage unit if they need one. You can also gather quotes from different moving companies to help them compare prices. This way, you can ensure your friend gets the best deal possible.
If you are available to be physically present on moving day, here are some more ways you can help without having to do any hard lifting:
- Be the point person for communications. This means having your friend’s phone number on hand in case the movers need to reach them and being available to answer any questions the movers may have. Moving can be chaotic, so having someone who can act as a liaison between the movers and your friend will help keep things running smoothly.
- Be there to supervise. This doesn’t mean you have to stand over the movers and tell them what to do, but it does mean making sure they are following your friend’s instructions and not damaging any of their belongings.
- Make sure the walkways are clear. The last thing your friend needs is for the movers to trip over something and get injured. Keep an eye out for potential hazards and ensure the path from the door to the moving truck is as clear as possible.
- Help with any last-minute tasks that need to be done, like taking down pictures or disconnecting appliances.
- Keep an eye on the clock. Make sure the movers are sticking to the schedule and aren’t taking longer than necessary. Since you’ll probably be paying by the hour, this can help keep costs down.
- Be ready with snacks and drinks. Moving is exhausting, so it’s important to keep everyone hydrated and fed. You can even set up a little buffet table with some simple snacks and drinks for the movers to help themselves.
Phil Greely
Phil Greely is a licensed real estate broker for Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty.
Four Ways to be Helpful on Moving Day
1. Help prep the spaces before boxes and furniture are moved in. Wipe down the spaces, and vacuum one final time before those heavy pieces of furniture are placed. It may be the final deep clean in that area for a while!
2. Offer to use your truck or large vehicle for moving day. Even if the person moving rented a moving truck, there are always pesky items leftover that don’t fit or can’t go in the back of a box truck. Throw planted pots, special items, and miscellaneous leftovers into your car or truck.
3. Help unpack the key essentials needed for living in the new home. It’s always nice to have dishes, cookware, and a stocked fridge in the early days of a new move. Track the kitchen and bathroom boxes and set up the basics so your friend doesn’t have to live out of boxes in those rooms.
4. The best role you can fill as a friend is to supply the pizza and beer for the people who ARE doing the heavy lifting. Even if you’re not funding the meal, be the one to make sure the food is hot and ready when the workday is over. And it’s the perfect opportunity to toast to your friend’s new home.
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