We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, moving is stressful. There’s a lot going on simultaneously and when you’re in the thick of it, it’s pretty much all-encompassing. We thought it’d be nice to remind you to be nice while you’re in the moving process. 

Not only will a good, positive, and courteous attitude go a long way with your neighbors (new and old), family, and professional movers, but it will do wonders for you as well. Here are some easy-to-miss, but easy-to-do courtesy tips to help:

 

Consider where you leave the moving van

It’s great if you can put the moving van in an area that won’t affect any other neighbors or drivers. However, that’s not always a possibility. If that’s the case, dedicate someone to be readily available to move the van out of the way of other cars or driveways whenever necessary. 

If your van must block your neighbors’ driveway or mailbox or walkway, etc., it’s a good idea to let that neighbor know and to tell them you’ll be happy to move whenever they need. Add some flowers or a bottle of wine to the mix and you may just make a friend.

 

Daytime loading/unloading vs. nighttime loading/unloading 

In most cases, we work during the day, that means that your neighbors may not be home during those usual 9-5 hours, but in today’s working climate, that’s hard to say for sure. Try to keep your moving to daylight hours and be as conscientious as possible. There’s only so much you can do, but keep in mind that after 5:00 pm people generally want to wind down with their family, enjoy dinner, and wrap up the day peacefully. 

If you see neighbors out and about, introduce yourself, and let them know when you’re hoping for the move to be complete. If your professional movers are assembling items or swinging the hammer, it’s best to do those things during regular working hours for the least amount of disturbance.

 

Packing and unpacking

When you’re done unloading your moving van you’ll probably be exhausted, but still excited enough to start unpacking some of those boxes, even though it’s almost midnight. Who could blame you? Just remember that hanging those pictures or listening to loud music or setting up the patio, may not be appropriate. Keeping the noise down while unpacking at night (even if it’s just after work time) is going to go a long way with your neighbors.

This goes for packing up your home, too. Nothing’s worse than a disgruntled neighbor.

 

If it’s been in your garage for over three years, if it’s been hiding in your closet and still has the tag on it, if it’s one of three pitchers you got for your wedding… consider donation. But whatever you do, do NOT leave all the stuff you don’t want just sitting at the end of your driveway or filling the entire dumpster that all of your neighbors use. Call for a pickup or bag up the goods and take them to your local donation center. 

On a side note, getting rid of unnecessary items when moving will help your moving process tremendously!

 

After you’ve emptied your boxes, break them down and keep them organized and together out of the sight of your neighbors. If you bought all of your boxes new, you may have quite a few that others could still use, give those boxes away so they’re off your plate. However, if they aren’t in good enough shape for reuse, recycling is a smart next step. 

Looking for more insight into what to do with your boxes after you move? Find out here.

 

Be gracious to those who help you

Whether you get help from your friends, family, or professional movers, be kind. Everyone’s working hard to support you and your needs at the moment. Frustration may come, take some breaths and walk it out. The more patient and polite you are, the better the response from those around you. Think about handing out some water or juices, some snacks, and giving a couple breaks here and there.

 

Say hi to the neighbors

If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, give your neighbors a quick hello, no matter where you are in the moving process. But if you’ve already introduced yourself and something challenging or unpredictable happens and it affects a neighbor, you’ve already laid down some connection work. Be honest, upfront, and do what you can not to bother the daily routines of those new potential friends.

 

The takeaway 

With so many other stressors that moving offers, don’t let a bad attitude get in the way of a new life with new neighbors. It’s not worth it. While most of us have moved at least once in our lifetime, we tend to forget how daunting it can be. Try to remember to treat all around you how you hope to be treated and you’re off to a great start at your new home!

Are you in need of residential moving specialists with a top-notch rating and the testimonials to prove it? Look no further, call Road Scholars, we can help. 

Road Scholars Moving & Storage, proudly serving the Denver Metro Area, Centennial, Littleton, Englewood, Aurora, Lone Tree, Parker, all across Colorado and beyond.