Helpful packing tips for moving, checklists and ideas will make your experience run smooth. Take it from someone who has moved often, getting the small stuff squared away will leave you free to deal with big issues that come up.
Planning is an important step in any move. Ask yourself important questions such as: Who is going to be able to help you move? Will you rent a truck or ask people to bring vehicles? Do you need to ship your boxes if you're moving a long distance?
Walking yourself through the move, in your mind, beforehand can save you time and energy. It also helps you notice small details that can make a big difference. Planning ahead by finding out all the details is always a good idea. When I rented a truck for my last move, I contacted the company and found out that they charged extra for returning the truck late. I knew it would take longer than one day to pack the truck and move to a new city, so I arranged to pick up the truck the night before and return it the following night. This allowed me to pack the truck the day before moving, and gave me a full day to travel and unpack, at no extra cost.
Packing Tips for Moving: Get Those Boxes Filled!
Decide how you want to unpack in your new home. Once you know what you want on the other end, packing your boxes is a lot easier. If your new home is similar in layout to the one you're moving from, then packing according to room is simplest. However, if you are going to be moving into a bigger or smaller home, then you need to pack accordingly.
One idea is to label your boxes before you pack them. Writing room names on a box can help you stay on track to only pack items you want in that room of your new home. Another idea is to pack things according to theme. For example, packing all your decorative items together, no matter which rooms they are from, gives you quick access to them once you move. You may decide to redistribute them in your new home, and this makes it easy.
Weight is an important factor in packing boxes. Sure, it seems like a good idea to pack all your hardcover books together, until you try to lift the box! However, you don't want to mix things up too much in your boxes and cause problems when you unpack. Use something light but also something that will be unpacked at a similar time. Books and DVDs, for instance.
Always have a "first in, first out" box. This will include things that are important for your first night in your new home such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, laptops, pajamas and coffee. Label it well, and make sure it doesn`t get stacked under a mountain of other boxes when you unpack the truck. It is best to handle this box yourself.
Moving Day: Don't Be Afraid to Ask For Help
The big day arrives! If you are moving in city and have asked friends to come help you move, you need to make sure you`re all ready for them. Generally, when people volunteer to help you move they expect all your items to be packed in boxes and ready for transport. If you need help packing items, make arrangements before the moving day to have friends or family come help you with that. Don`t wait until the truck arrives to start packing clothing and books into boxes.
Set up the times beforehand for helpers on both sides of the move. It is much easier to tell people to arrive at noon, than to tell them you`ll call them when you arrive at your new home. Having to contact a dozen people once your truck arrives is no fun, and adds time to your move. If you`re not sure exactly when you will arrive, estimate a later time. If you arrive early that just means you have time to figure out where you want the boxes to be stacked in your new home, or grab a box of donuts for your volunteers.
Find out from your landlord if there is a specific place you can park the moving truck, or unload your boxes, that will be close enough to be valuable. Street parking is not always available, but some apartment buildings have reserved spaces for such occasions.
Decide what to do about your pets beforehand. If you are moving in city, letting them visit a friend for a few days during the move and unpacking might be better for their health. If you have to bring them with you while you`re unpacking boxes, have a safe place to keep them such as a travel case or crate so they don`t get underfoot, hurt or lost. Locking them in a bedroom or bathroom for the duration of the unloading of boxes is also an option.
One more quick tip: Borrow or rent a dolly, it will save you a lot of time and back pain. The only time a dolly is not useful, is if you are on the bottom floor and the ground leading up the your home is rocky or uneven. Otherwise, it will make moving easier and all of your volunteers will thank you.
Unpacking All Those Boxes
Have a plan for your empty boxes. Talk to your landlord when you get your key if needed, to find out where you can stack your boxes for recycling. Having a house filled with moving boxes is hard enough, but adding a bunch of empty boxes kicking around, and it will quickly overwhelm you. If you can, get the boxes out of the living areas. Flattening them and stacking them on a patio or in a garage is ideal.
Another tip is to go for the important rooms first. Kitchen and bathroom top that list. Having a working kitchen makes the rest of the unpacking process much easier. Everyone is happier when you don`t have to get take-out three nights in a row.
Most of all, have fun unpacking! Designing your new space is the best part of moving, and taking your time to get it right will be rewarding in the end.
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