Stress-Free Packing When You Move
Moving is a life-changing event. You are anticipating a new and better life, one that you’ve planned for and now are about to embark on. The planning and physical part of the moving process are the last steps in that journey. You just have to get past the tedious and sometimes stressful preparations for the actual move: packing and transporting of your possessions from one place to another.
In this second of a 2-part series, find part 1 here, we’ll turn our attention to packing. Here are some tips to help you efficiently pack your possessions for transport so they arrive in one piece and in an organized manner.
Get Lots of Packing Materials
As many boxes as you think you’ll need, you’ll always need more. Buy a mixture of large, medium and small boxes. You’ll probably want more small and medium boxes for things like books, knick-knacks, kitchen gadgets and glassware. Prices at big box hardware stores are less expensive than at moving supply stores. You’ll also be able to load up on bubble wrap, wrapping paper sheets and other padding, tape guns and tape, wardrobe and dish packs there too. Some moving companies will recycle boxes so you might want to call around.
Packing Made Easy
Label boxes by room and by contents. Color coding the boxes by room greatly helps the movers put them in the correct places.
Take pictures or a video of how your electronics are connected on your TVs, monitors, and other intricately wired electronic devices. Then pack the wires, connectors, and small hardware pieces in small plastic zippered bags and tape them to the back of the electronic items they belong to.
Likewise, pack other items together that belong together (bookends with books, light bulbs with lamps, extension cords with appliances, picture hooks with pictures, shelf brackets with a bookcase, a special wrench and bolts with a wall unit. Small, loose parts can be attached to the item they belong to with tape or placed in small envelopes and labeled.
Don’t put valuables like jewelry or important items like personal records or other irreplaceable items you treasure on the moving truck. Keep important items with you. Also, keep a first-night essentials bag with you: toilet paper, a change of clothes, markers, scissors, tape, box cutters, a few pieces of silverware, cups, and snacks are some ideas.
If you’re taking your refrigerator, defrost it the day before moving and empty any water that’s collected from the bottom tray or clean any that appears on the floor.
Moving Furniture and Other Large Items
Draw up a simple schematic (graph paper and construction paper cutouts or colored markers work great) and give a copy to the movers as they are bringing furniture, large appliances, and other large unpackable items into your new home, saving time by showings movers exactly where each piece goes and in which room. This also saves you from having to rearrange heavy pieces of furniture and beds later, on your own.
Movers should help you hook up wash and dryer connections, if they are not already there, bed frames, and build desks that had to be partially dismantled for moving.
Other Handy Packing Tips
- Keep small items in zipped baggies and label them.
- Use baskets, trash bags, luggage, duffle bags, grocery bags, and tote bags to hold small items, consolidating them for boxes or as stand-alone moving items.
- Leave the cleaning supplies for last so you can clean up the old house. Then pack them. You’ll need them for the new house before you start unpacking.
Communicate
Keep in communication with your movers, getting updates on their progress and estimated time of arrival. You’ll want to coordinate schedules so you can all be there for the unloading process.
Be Rested
Moving requires logistics and a clear head. Get a good night sleep the night before the move. On moving day and during the moving and travel process, stay calm, alert and know that you’ll be home – your beautiful new home – soon.
Tip-if you decide to sell or give anything away, the person receiving it is responsible for moving it. Example- if you give your garage refrigerator to your brother, he is responsible for moving it because moving day is hectic and you do not need anything additional to worry about. Don’t in a weak moment tell him you will get the movers to drop it off. This will cost you more than the refrigerator with worth.
Key Takeaways
- Get as many boxes as you can. You’ll use them and probably more.
- Organize your packing with coded boxes and pack items together that belong together.
- Keep a first-night essentials bag with you filled with things you’ll need that night and the
next morning. - Give movers a schematic of which room each piece of furniture, appliance, and other
large unpacked items go. - Coordinate schedules with movers so you can all be there for the unloading.
