Moving Tips

Pack Early, Pack Smart

Pack boxes of off season or rarely used items far ahead of time to reduce the amount of work just before your move.  I find it helpful to create a staging area in my home to keep packed boxes so the entire house doesn’t look cluttered for weeks (in the case of our current move, that is my office.)  Also pack by zones-don’t throw your blender in with your hair dryer-keep items stored in the same room/area grouped together in boxes for easier unpacking.

Be sure to label boxes not only with their contents but also what room they belong in so that you can easily unload them at your new home and place the label on the SIDE of the box, not the top so you can see the contents when boxes are stacked. I actually use two labels per box on opposite sides so I don’t have to play ring around the boxes to find the label when unloading.

Think Ahead

Take down pictures and other wall decor about a month before the move to allow ample time for patching holes and touch up painting.

In addition to those tasks think about scheduling your carpets to be cleaned after your belongings are loaded in your moving truck as well as general home cleaning, yard maintenance, and any other tasks that may be necessary.  The days before and after your move will be hectic so planning ahead for tasks like these takes some of the pressure off the final preparations!

Eat The Fridge and Other Random Moving Tips

Minimizing waste during your move can help offset the added expense moving normally brings.  Here are a few more helpful tips

• 
  About a month before your move start “eating the freezer.” Plan meals using things you have in your freezer and won’t be able to take with you to your new home, this helps reduce the amount of food that gets wasted one you move.
• Pack your pantry items using gallon storage bags to store items that may leaks (like opened baking mixes) or smaller items like spices.
• When packing liquids like cleaners or toiletries take the top off, cover with cling wrap, then replace the top-this helps reduce the chance of spills.
• Wrap plastic drawers with cling wrap to save tape and time.
• Don’t pack boxes too heavy! While it’s tempting to fill large boxes to the max it’s often better to pack smaller boxes so they are easier to lift and carry during the move.
• Overestimate how many boxes you need-they are used very quickly.  Many large moving supply companies have box “buy back” policies where unused boxes can be returned for a refund.
• To reduce the need for bubble wrap, I use linens to wrap fragile items-I always wash and refold them once I get to my new home so why not have them pull double duty?