With very few exceptions people are intimidated by the move day. Even people who move frequently find move day extremely stressful. But, there are ways to make it easier and reduce your tension.
Packing for a move can make or break your experience. A well-planned packing strategy is the key. Below we share some of the best packing tips to help your move go smoothly.
Pack less
This tip is about what not to pack. Well before your move date, start the process of decluttering. Moving is the perfect opportunity to donate, recycle, and if needed, toss unwanted items. It is a simple equation: Less stuff equals less stress.
If you are not sure where to take your donations, you can contact the Salvation Army to arrange a pickup.
The right box. The right material.
One size does not fit all. Be sure the size of the box, and the packing material you use, are appropriate for the items you pack.
Different items have different packing requirements. For heavy items, smaller is better; you don’t want a huge box full of books. Fragile items need room in the box for padding. Wrap China pieces individually before they are packed. Take the time to get the right boxes and materials.
If you are unsure about how to pack certain items, take a look at our packing tips page.
Label Label Label
You have probably heard that you should label every box. And you should. But, if you want to make your life easier, don’t just label, create a labeling system.
Keep in mind that labeling has two purposes. 1) Tells the movers where it goes, and 2) gives you some clue as to what is inside.
First, color code. It may be as simple as boxes with blue labels go upstairs and green labels go downstairs. The idea is that the mover just needs to see the color to know in which direction to go. Don’t make it overly complicated, but do make it useful.
Write BIG. You don’t want to have to hunt for the label. Make it obvious and put it on more than one side of the box.
If you use abbreviations, make sure they obvious as well. Is “BR” bedroom or bathroom? Better to take the time to spell it out now than waste time trying to remember it later.
Finally, label your new home. For smaller homes, this may not be a big deal. But, if you have 3, 4, or 5+ bedrooms, it will be helpful if each was uniquely labeled, with the corresponding location on the box.
Packing for the kids
Unpacking a new home can take a long time, longer than kids will wait for their games or toys. Pack a few special boxes that have the important items your kids will want during the first day or two. It may be favorite toys, coloring books, or video games. Hunting for these items while trying to get the rest of the house unpacked is not fun. Make it easy on yourself and keep these boxes handy.
The early essentials
Adults are not much different than kids. There are things we want to have available right away. Pack a couple of boxes that will have what you need to get through the first week. Changes of clothing, toiletries, books or e-readers, or even your own games. These are the boxes that, if you can get nothing else, will get you through the first week.
Moving is seldom easy. But, with the right planning and right approach to packing, it doesn’t have to be too hard. For more tips, or if you are looking for a mover, contact us for a free quote.
