Avoid waiting until the last minute to start organizing your move. You can save yourself a lot of trouble and headaches by planning ahead!
Make sure they’ll cut off service to your old home so you don’t keep paying for it. Many utility companies will allow you to switch over easily without any interruption in service. If you’re moving to an area with a different utility provider, research and choose a company, then contact them, and schedule to have your utilities set up.
You can also generalize items to make it easier to take an inventory. For instance, you could write “books” or “kid toys. ” You may be surprised about how many things you have to move as well as how many items you don’t really need or use anymore.
If there’s an item you have fond memories of but you’re not sure if you want to get rid of it, take a picture of it so you can remember it and pass it on to someone who can use it. The more items you can get rid of, the less you have to move!
Depending on how far you have to move, a professional company can cost between $400-$1,210 to hire. Many moving companies also provide their own trucks and will unload your items at your new home.
Moving is a lot of work and a big favor to ask, so you may want to get something like pizza and drinks for your moving buddies as a thank you.
Set aside a few hours on the weekends or in the evenings to pack up some of your belongings.
You can find bubble wrap at craft supply stores and packaging stores. You could also make a post on social media asking friends if they have any old moving boxes they don’t need.
Keeping everything contained reduces the mess and clutter while you pack.
Schedule the books to be delivered on the day you arrive at your new home. It’s much easier and often much cheaper to pay to have the books shipped by mail than by movers.
You can also pack up items such as art, jewelry, and keepsakes first since you don’t use them as often.
For example, keep books with books, wires with wires, and other similar items together. Avoid putting heavier items on top of lighter items.
You can also use towels or clothes to wrap items such as dishes or glassware when you pack them into boxes.
Pack the bags of wires and electronics in a box with other items from the same room.
Trash bags are useful for soft items because they can squeeze into awkward spaces when you pack them into the moving truck. You can also put items like children’s toys or other sturdy, lightweight items in trash bags.
If the drawers slide open easily wrap the outside of the desk or dresser in plastic wrap to keep them from opening.
Write which room the box is for as well to make unloading easier. Labelling makes it much easier for you to move the boxes to the right rooms when you unload.
It can take a few days to unpack all of your belongings at your new home, but it’s helpful to have your essential items when you arrive. Put a star or a special marking on the box so you can easily identify it.
Place the screws and pieces from the furniture in a plastic bag so you don’t lose them.
If you’re loading the truck yourself, have a friend help you lift heavier boxes and items.
The layer of padding will help prevent scuffs and scrapes.
Try to keep a lane in the center of the truck open so you’re able to move more items toward the back.
Make sure the stacks are stable and won’t fall over while you’re driving.
You may want to place boxes with essential items toward the front as well so you can access them. If the items are fragile, make sure they’re wrapped well in bubble wrap.
Tying down the boxes will help prevent them from falling over.
Follow the speed limit and look out for areas with lower speed limits for trucks as well. If you’re using a moving company, follow the moving truck on the way to your new home.
For example, put the boxes with dishes in the kitchen and the ones with movies in the living room. Supervise the movers if you’re using a moving company so you can answer any questions they have while they’re unloading the truck.
