Moving is a fact of life. Most of us do it a few times throughout our lifetimes. Some of us do it more often than others. Chances are you’ll have to move your home again sometime in the next decade. The following tips are designed to help you improve your home moving experience and to make it go more smoothly.
- Pack items you’ll need at your new home immediately into a clear plastic tote – Think about what you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home. Things like box cutters, furniture assembling tools, trash bags, kitchenware for one meal, etc. Pack them first and make them easily accessible.
- Hire a sitter – If you have children and pets, hire a sitter. Otherwise, your move will take longer as you’ll have to tend to their needs while you move.
- Pack breakables with clothing – Both items need to be packed. Packing them together saves storage space and prevents breakables from breaking during the move.
- Photograph the back of electronics – Ever forget how to rewire your electronics? Photograph the backs of them so you can see how the wires should be reconnected.
- Label boxes – List the items in each box and write the room they go into on the outside of the box. Use color codes for easy identification.
- Use plastic wrap for open containers – Wrap your open bottles, such as shampoo and dish washing liquid, with plastic wrap, then put the lids back on them so they won’t spill and ruin your belongings.
- Take pictures of your living space – If you are a renter and want your deposit back, take pictures of the old home after moving out and of your new home before moving your stuff in.
- Sell valuable items well in advance – Be sure to sell valuable items you aren’t giving away at least two months in advance. Things may not sell right away.
- Use sandwich bags – Drop nails, screws, and other small items into sandwich bags. Group them and tape them to the items they go with so they won’t get lost.
- Change your address a couple of weeks before you move – It will take some time for your mail to catch up with you if you don’t.
- Have charity organizations pick up your donations – Call them a couple of weeks before you move.
