Moving ca
n be stressful. Organization is the best way to minimize this stress. The following tips will help in making your move smooth and stress-free.
ORGANIZATION
- Start early – Almost everyone has more stuff than they think they do, and almost no one leaves enough time to pack it.
- Room Lists – Start by forming two room lists, one for your current place and one for your future place. This will help you manage what has to go where.
- Room Inventory – Go to each room and write down the types of things that need to be packed: furniture items, length of shelving, closets, etc.
- Calendar – Pull out a calendar and plan by day when each room will be completed.
- Delegation – If you’re moving with family members, agree with them exactly what tasks they will be doing and the date they will be finished.
FINDING MOVERS
- Only hire the best – If you choose to hire professional movers, do your research and hire good ones. Poor quality movers really can be worse than none at all.
- Referrals – Get referrals from local real estate agents and friends who have moved recently.
- Licensing – Only consider movers that are licensed, bonded and insured.
- Price – Price isn’t the only factor- extremely low bids indicate a desperate mover.
PACKING (AND UNPACKING)
- Pack a suitcase – For each member of the family moving, pack a suitcase as if you’re all going on a 3-day vacation, including changes of clothes, medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, etc. Keep the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, such as in your car, at your new workplace, etc. so you’ll have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
- Create “Open Me First” boxes – Pick one or two boxes per room as “Open Me First” boxes. Put in them the things you’ll need first at your new location. Then mark the sides of the boxes so you’ll know which ones are which.
- One at a time – Wherever possible, work on packing just one room at a time (instead of several all at once) to keep things focused and organized.
- Less is more – Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale, and/or the recycling center. Aim to eliminate 1/3 of your belongings. You’ll save time and expense.
- Save space – Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items. It will save room in your boxes.
- Stacking- Stack boxes with the heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top to prevent crushing.
- The 30-pound rule – Keep each box below 50 pounds absolute maximum and below 30 pounds wherever possible. Heavier boxes lead to injuries, are much more likely to burst their tape or seams and tend to get dropped.
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