Relax. There is still some time to prepare for the move. See the 34 illustrated moving & packing tips that will make your life way easier:
Pack all your valuables, expensive stuff and things you will need first at the new place in a single box and carry that with you.
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You need to prepare your friends way before the moving day so they won’t be able to come up with excuses why they can’t be there. Organize as many people as possible. This is in the case that you’ve decided to move by yourself.
Download a moving app to your smartphone to make the whole organization process even easier. Track your progress and stay in control. Some mobile apps provide built in moving checklists so you don’t forget anything.
In big cities like New York and Boston it could be really hard to navigate a moving truck and even harder to find a parking spot. Having a reserved parking space makes the move a piece of cake.
Go the the local liquor store or supermarket and ask for free boxes. Save yourself a fortune. Buying new boxes might cost you as much as the move itself.
Some very expensive pieces of furniture, art collections or expansive wine collections may require custom crating to ensure safer transportation. Be prepared to pay extra for that.
Involve the whole family and especially the kids in the packing and moving process. Make it as a fun game and keep them involved into the process.
Secure your furniture with blankets and tape. This will prevent scratches during transportation. But if you own one of those expensive couches, you may want to reconsider packing by yourself and let the professionals handle the job.
Pack all glasses individually. If you have expensive china, pay extra attention. Packing the kitchen is the most time consuming thing from the whole relocation process so start early.
Make sure you label all boxes in detail. This will help you unpack and settle faster at your new place and save you the trouble of cleaning broken dishes.
Start with the things that you are not using that often. By starting early, you will leave less work to do as the moving day approaches.
If you are moving from or to an apartment building, ask the building management to reserve the elevator for the moving day (or at least for a couple of hours). Some buildings have freight elevators, but most of them will just cover one them with blankets for protection.
Protect your mattresses and box springs with plastic mattress covers. If you are using a professional movers, they might be able to sell you some on the moving day, but usually the price will be higher.
You can hire a rental truck, do the move by yourself, move with a portable storage container or hire movers. See what suits you best.
Demand for a copy of the contract (called Bill of Lading) as well as all the other paperwork several days before signing. Doing that will give you time to read it and react. Never sign blank documents.
Some movers may add hidden costs to your final bill. Research all the options before signing to avoid bad surprises.
When arriving at your new home unpack the bed first so you can get a good rest and have some sleep before doing the rest of the unpacking.
Do not buy a lot of food the week before the moving day. However, make sure you have some food and beverages for the moving day itself. The day before your move, defrost the fridge completely.
Make sure you have a hand truck and a furniture dolly on the moving day especially if you are moving by yourself. The alternative is caring everything by hand and that is no fun at all.
.. and check where important institutions and places are located – schools, post offices, supermarkets, etc. Get to know your new city before you move in. This will help you settle faster and will make your transition smoother.
Make sure you take a lot of photos and save yourself the troubles when connecting everything back again. (photo source)
The most efficient way to pack your clothes is in special wardrobe boxes, but you could also use regular plastic bags. (source)
Avoid mixing multiple items from different rooms in the same box. This will increase your unpacking time by a lot.
This is the time to give away or throw everything what you won’t need. You can also organize a garage sale a week before the move itself to cover some of the expenses.
For larger appliances make sure to check the owner’s manuals to see if there are special moving instructions.
If moving locally, leave your pets with a friend on the moving day. Animals can become frightened and confused during the move.
A written estimate where a company representative comes to your home is one of your best safeguards against overcharges and other potential issues. Verbal estimates over the phone or email are non binding estimates. (Source)
If you decide to go with a moving company, make sure you do your homework.
Use the small box size for your books, otherwise you (or your movers) won’t be able to carry them.
It’s best if you have your TV’s original box and pack in it. If not, you might want to buy a special TV box or pack it very carefully with cardboard and blankets.
When packing your stuff, mark your boxes with the name of the room into the new place to make it easy at the delivery location. Decide what piece of furniture goes where in advance to save time and in the case you are using movers – save money.
If you are moving to an older building there is a change the doors to be smaller. Some couches and big furniture pieces might not fit the doors and you should be prepared for that in advance.
Let everybody important know you are moving to a new address – contact your bank, change your ID, notify all utility companies (electricity, gas, water, etc.), change your magazines subscriptions.
If you are moving to a smaller home, make sure you rent a storage facility to store some of the excess stuff. You will need more space during the unpacking stage.
Use straps to fix your furniture to the walls to make sure nothing will fall during the trip. Put the heavier stuff on the bottom and the lighter items on top. Distribute your items in the truck so nothing falls down.
That one is pretty obvious, but we had to tell..
About 62 percent of the people in US currently live in the very state they were born.
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Love the idea and the phootos. This really helps. Thanks
Your post is great with its picture included. Thanks for sharing this.
Remember when packing the truck all of the heaviest items should be packed at the front of the truck (appliances, couch, mattress, etc.) This distributes the weight properly, and is especially important when using trailers, because if packed with heavier items in the back (towards the door) it can cause trailer sway, which is incredibly dangerous (YouTube it). Another thing, if moving across borders, remember to label EXACTLY what is in every box, and have an easily accessible list- a good portion of the time border patrol will want to know exactly what you’re moving- if you have a list, having to unpack, search boxes, and repack all your stuff is less likely to happen.
Great info! thank you…
Great info! thank you…