How To Make Moving Day Stress Free for You and Your Pet

This is a guest blog from the pet friendly editors at Relocation.com, a one-stop shop for moving services and news.

Moving day is stressful for you, so just imagine how stressful it is for that little bundle of fur that ducks under your La-Z-Boy at the sight of the postman.

While there are many ways to keep your pet calm during the move, probably the biggest way to ease their stress has to do with you: the calmer you are, the easier it will be on your pet (though, of course, if you can get someone to watch them during the move, that's probably your best bet).

We've thrown together some of the more common things that can make pet moving day stressful, and given you ways to avoid them.

Remember: Happy owner = happy pet (and fewer, um, messes to clean up).

1 Give yourself a big buffer for things that might delay the loading of your goods.

Things can and do go wrong - the driver of the moving truck gets lost, movers get delayed in traffic - so don't schedule a flight, or plan to have the new homeowners move in, a few hours after the moving company should be finished loading up your goods. 

2 Before moving day, be in touch with your moving company, and verify when you can expect the movers to arrive - and re-verify.

While you usually get a pretty conclusive date and time for when your moving company will pick up your stuff, you might not have the same assurance about delivery. In fact, you might have a pretty wide window, so make sure you plan for it by bringing enough stuff to live on until your stuff arrives (including enough vittles for the kittie).

3 Make sure there's adequate parking for the moving van. And if you live in an apartment building, make sure you have a move-out date scheduled.

4 Understand the paperwork you'll be dealing with. On moving day after everything's loaded up, the mover will give you the horribly-named "Bill of Lading" - this includes all information about your move, including your moving quotes and delivery dates, and is simply an acknowledgement that you're turning over your goods to the moving company for moving.

Read it carefully and make sure the dates, services requested, valuation insurance, and dollar amounts are identical to those contained on your original estimate. Keep it with you while your items are in transit.

5 Check the mover's inventory carefully -- it represents the mover's opinion of the condition of your furniture. If you don't agree with it, ask questions before signing.

6 Get everything packed. I know, I know, seems obvious, but a common complaint by people who have moved is not having everything ready for the movers, because the movers will pack those items and charge you prettily for their labor. So do yourself a favor: get a packing plan and stick to it.

And when you're done packing, check cabinets and closets to make sure you got everything. It's pretty easy to overlook Grandma's dishware set in that cabinet you haven't opened since '82. Doublecheck, triplecheck, quadruplecheck (I'd go on if I know what was next).

7 Before the movers head to the new place, get their cell phone numbers, and give them yours, so you can stay in touch. Having the movers go MIA is pretty stressful.

8 Know how your moving company wants to be paid. It's generally after the move is completed, and many companies take credit cards. However, be sure to ask if they levy a surcharge for using one -- I hear many reports about moving companies that do.

9 Take care of utilities before you get to your new place, NOT on your moving day. You can often do this over the Internet.

So there you have it. Some ways to stay calm, cool and collected. Good for you, good for your pet.