Moving And Packing Tips And Tricks For An Easy Move

Moving day is scary. It’s daunting. But it’s also exciting. You’re finally moving in to your new home and starting a new chapter. It may seem inevitable that moving day will be hectic, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure moving house goes off without a hitch.

6 Tips and Tricks for Moving and Packing

1. Embrace The Opportunity To Declutter

You’re probably thinking to yourself “why would I want to pile more onto my plate right now??” – but the less there is to move, the easier moving day will be. When moving house, avoid taking things that you no longer need. Aside from taking up precious packing space, taking these items with you also means you will have more to unpack when you get to your new home. As you go through your current home to pack, take a moment to honestly consider if you need or want to keep all those things that you forgot you had. If possible, donate, and if not, walk it to the dumpster.
Finally, your agent should be someone who you can work with. This means flexibility on the agent’s part in terms of communication (if you are unable to take calls during the day, the agent should be willing to communicate with you via text or email), timely communication (at no point should you feel like you are chasing your agent or not getting answers to your questions), and a willingness to listen to your needs (your agent should not be pushing you towards homes that don’t suit the needs you’ve specified).

2. Don’t Cheap Out On Moving Boxes

Moving house is already expensive, whether you’re hiring professional movers or renting a U-Haul. If there is one thing you should not cheap out on, however, it’s moving boxes. Don’t try to snag some used ones from you local grocery store, because you can’t know what these boxes have been used for and the conditions they have been stored in. There is a high likelihood that the boxes came into contact with moisture at some point, which could significantly weaken them. The last thing you want is a box with all your expensive china to tear open just as you’re stepping into your new home. Or, even worse, they could be carrying insects from wherever they’ve travelled, leaving you to deal with a few extra roommates when you settle into your new house. Save yourself the hassle and buy quality moving boxes. When you assemble them, make sure to reinforce all seams (especially the bottom) with tape to ensure that they will survive their journey and protect their contents .

3. Get Creative With Packing

While you shouldn’t cheap out on moving boxes, you definitely can cheap out on other packing materials. No need to buy a giant roll of bubble wrap when you can simply use kitchen towels to pad your dinner plates. In general, it’s best to keep fragile items together so you can label them as such and make sure they are treated with extra care. Keep everything snug within boxes (especially fragile items) with crumpled up newspaper nestled into empty crevices. However, make sure not to overpack your boxes – keep your heaviest boxes at no more than 45-50 lbs. at most in order to avoid any injuries (and torn boxes) when moving.

4. Take Care When Packing Large Items

Keep in mind that packing larger items, such as furniture or appliances, can take some preparation ahead of time. For furniture, it’s recommended that you remove any vulnerable hardware (such as couch legs or glass table tops) and pack them separately. Once you’ve disassembled the couch legs, for example, put all the nuts and bolts in a clearly labelled plastic baggie. To keep upholstery safe from scratches, tears, and dirt, invest in shrink wrap and use it generously. To move your refrigerator, for example, you will need to empty and defrost it 24-48 hours in advance to avoid any leaking (and the awful smells that result) during the move. Before you begin packing the little things, make sure you’ve outlined for yourself what needs more care than being packed into a box. This will make moving day run much smoother, and will ensure that your valuable items arrive at your new home no worse for wear.

5. Pack A Starter Box

The last thing you want to do after a long day of moving is to start digging for your PJs. Make yourself a starter box with essentials for the evening of and day after the move, as you will not be able to immediately unpack everything. You should also pack a separate bag or suitcase that you keep with you with any changes of clothes you will need, toiletries, and a few snacks. If you take any medication make sure to pack it on your person as well, and not in any of the moving boxes. This little bit of preparation will help you get through moving day and give you an easy start to the day after so you can focus on unpacking without having to worry about what to wear or how you are going to make your morning cup of coffee.

6. Keep Organized

One of the most important things in the chaos of moving day is to try to keep things as organized as possible, both for your benefit and the benefit of the movers. As you pack up each room in the house, color code by room and number by order in which they will be moved into the house. For example, designate items from the kitchen drawers yellow and label the box with the number “1”. When packing up the kids’ toys, designate them green and label the box “1” also. The yellow and green boxes labeled “1” will be moved in first to their respective color-coded rooms. Your numbering system should be designed on the basis of what needs to go first into the house – that is, if you have to walk through the living room to get to all of the bedrooms, the bedrooms should be numbered before the living room. This will save a lot of hassle for the movers, and enable you to unpack and arrange your things more efficiently.