How to convince your friends to help you move
If you’re enlisting the help of friends or family to help you pack or transport your belongings for a move, it’s an absolute must that you pay them back somehow – it’s the right thing to do, as moving can be an exhausting day long process. A slice of pizza isn’t close to enough.
In order to be as good of a friend to your friends as they are to you, it’s important to remember these two important rules.
- Make the entire day as efficient and problem-less as possible. It doesn’t necessary need to be rife with fun, but it shouldn’t be incredibly hard or stressful, physically or emotionally.
- Make sure that you clearly express your gratitude. You don’t need to pay back in cash instantly, but you need to be grateful and let your friends know that their participation is really appreciated.
Here’s some tips to follow before, during, and after the move in order to make the process as rewarding for your friends as possible – short of writing them a check.
Pre-Move
- Label every box with the room it belongs in for an easy drop off.
- Evenly distribute your belongings to their boxes. You don’t want just a handful of large boxes full of heavy stuff to the point that it’s impossible to carry.
- Make sure to evenly tape all boxes so that they’re secure. Folding boxes is not a substitution.
- Make sure to use medium size boxes – they’re ideal for simple moves. A couple large sized boxes are good for bulky but light stuff like towels or blankets – but for the rest to be manageable, use medium sized boxes.
During the Move
- Make sure to pay for all your driver’s gas if your friends are transporting your stuff for you. We suggest buying them a gas gift card with enough to fill up their tank after they’re done.
- Make sure to equally pack your friend’s cars – don’t just cram your stuff into theirs and leave yours empty.
- Don’t promise food at the end of the day just as a motivator – make sure to provide ample snacks throughout the day to keep everybody energized and satisfied.
Post-Move
- Buy your friends cold beer, drinks, coffee, or whatever they want. Sit back and relax, and have a toast. Enjoy yourselves.
- Don’t just allow your friends to search through a cooler for some half eaten snacks and warm drinks.
- Consider taking all your friends out to a restaurant that’s casual and relaxed enough to hang out in after a long day’s work.