Real estate agents are generally known as friendly people who provide trusted advice to their clients, many of whom become lifelong friends. Yet part of your job contributes to one of life's most stressful moments: moving. In a 2020 survey conducted by OnePoll, among 1,000 Americans who had moved in the previous three years, moving ranked as the number one most stressful experience — even above divorce, getting married, and having kids.

While no one blames their real estate agent for the stress of moving, you can ease your client’s pain by offering wise advice to your buyers and sellers about how to schedule a move, pack and unpack. And, since you know more people who have moved recently than anyone else in your profession, you should have some good recommendations of reliable moving companies at your fingertips. Sellers or buyers who are downsizing or leaving a home they've lived in for decades may also benefit from the services of a professional organizer or move manager.

Moving tips to share with your buyers and sellers

Helping your clients pick the right mover and prep for moving day can be a great way to make sure they remember your stellar service forever. Here are some tips to share for an easier move:

1. The great surge to purge: Declutter, donate and dump. The best way to expedite the moving process is to have fewer belongings to move. So long before moving day, it pays to sort through every item of clothing, accessories, household goods and decorations to decide whether to keep, sell, donate or trash them.
2. Start with good supplies: Packing requires plenty of boxes, packing tape, label markers, bubble wrap and packing paper. Get everything you need before your major packing begins so you don't lose momentum looking for supplies. You can use your linens, towels and clothes to cushion breakable items, but be sure to label those boxes as fragile.
3. Prep by pre-packing over time: The sooner you start packing, the better. Pack up your slow cooker, seasonal decorations, photo albums and other items if you won’t need them anytime soon. Likewise, you can pack off-season clothes and shoes in a suitcase.
4. Be strategic with your timing: Know when moving services are more available and the advantages — and potential savings — of booking off-peak times well in advance. Some 40 million Americans move each year, and in most areas, the peak moving season is April through October, according to industry research. However, even if you need to move in those months, you can save money by moving midweek — weekend moves cost 20% to 30% more than weekday moves. And booking in the middle of the month can save money, too, according to the site, which recommends booking a move at least two weeks in advance.
5. Pack and label one room at a time: To make it easier on the other end of your move, pack everything that belongs in each room in one or more boxes — and label them as you go. That will be a huge time saver and easier on your movers.
6. Pack smart: Pack your boxes like a grocery bag with heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Make sure your boxes are Goldilocks-style — not too heavy, not too light, but just right!
7. Take extra care of your kitchen: Packing books and clothes can be pretty straightforward, but kitchen items vary greatly by type, size, safety and fragility. So pack your kitchen differently than any other room.
8. Keep essential items with you: On moving day, make sure you have a change of clothes, a toothbrush, medications and your paperwork with you just in case the truck gets lost. If you have kids, you may want to keep their essential stuffed animal, too.

Careful packing means your clients will find fewer items likely to be damaged. Finally, make sure when your clients move into their next home, it’s covered by a Cinch home warranty. Learn more at cinchrealestate.com.