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It usually takes packing for a big move for people to realize how much stuff they’ve accumulated and we’re guessing that this realization, in part, is what adds to the stress of moving. Unpakt, a cost comparison site for those looking for a moving company, conducted a nationwide survey that found 72 percent of Americans would rather do any unpleasant activity than move. These activities included sitting in traffic, visiting the dentist, doing taxes, drinking expired milk…get the idea? (Huffington Post) Well…we want to make moving easier! It’s common sense to pack room-by-room and keep like items with like items but we’ve put together a few tips you might not have thought of that will help make your move that much easier! Happy Moving!
1. Start early – Make a checklist of all the rooms you need to sort and pack and then use a calendar to plan deadlines and stay on track. It always takes longer to pack than people think and even if you only pack two boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes. Start in areas where the items are not used less frequently such as the basement, attic, garage, etc.
2. Set up a moving station – Grab a basket and fill it with markers, labels, tape, screwdriver, and a notebook. Keep a large envelope or filing system close by. Use this area as “Move Central”. Keep paperwork that pertains to moving, your new residence, or where you’re moving out of in Move Central and always file it immediately. Remember to make you moving station portable so you can take it to the new house when the time comes. As more boxes get packed, it will be helpful to have all the things you’ll still need put aside and at you’re ready. That way labels and markers don’t get packed away on accident.
3. Label, label, label – Use the fattest marker you can find and label every box you pack on two opposite sides. List room and contents on the outside of the boxes. Write “Open First” on cartons containing essential items such as cooking utensils, toiletries, etc. Separate breakables and non-breakables making sure to write FRAGILE on any boxes containing breakables. It also useful to number boxes so you can unpack them in an organized order. That way you don’t unpack bookshelf trinkets before you’ve unpacked the books.
4. Furniture Tips – You know all those mateless socks floating around? They now have a purpose – simply place socks onto the legs of tables and chairs. When furniture is moved, the socks will allow it to slide across the floor instead of dragging, which can cause scuffs. When rearranging heavy pieces of furniture, fold two clean towels (dirty ones can scratch floors) and place one under each end. Then, slide the piece across the floor. No matter how careful you are, there are bound to still be some scuff marks. Use a new tennis ball to wipe them off tile, vinyl, woodwork – even painted walls. It won’t harm the surface. To make the carpet stand back up after moving a piece of furniture, place an ice cube on the spot. As it melts, the piles will go back up.
5. Unpacking – Start in the kitchen. There’s a reason a kitchen is usually the hub of a home – it’s where most things happen from meal preparation to family time. Being able to have a functioning kitchen right away might be the difference between holding it together and losing it while the rest of the house gets unpacked. And we bet a home cooked meal will taste even better in the midst of chaos. After the kitchen, use the one room rule: completely unpack one room, like the family room or den, and keep it free of boxes. Even if it isn’t fully decorate right away, make sure there is a place to put your feet up and a table to hold a book and a drink for the moments when you can’t take another second of the boxes and disorganization. Keep any boxes still needing to be unpacked out of this room. Having a room without disorder will act as a retreat until everything is fully unpacked.
Tell us…Have you moved recently? What helped make the transition go smoothly?
