In our previous blogs about moves, we’ve given you a lot of great tips and tricks to make things simple. But lo and behold, the internet has come through again with this amazing list of extra brilliant tips for a seamless move. Take the tips or leave them, it’s up to you. Just don’t forget to take your things with you when you move.
- Pack an overnight bag containing all the essentials
- Pack the items you will need FIRST in a clear plastic bin for easy access
- Wrap your breakables (dishes, glasses, etc.) in clothing to save on bubble wrap
- For extra padding, pack your glasses and stemware in clean socks
- In addition to labeling what’s in your boxes, add what room they’ll be going into as well
- If you can, show up to your new home before the move and pre-clean the bathroom and kitchen
- Place an extra cotton pad or ball into your powder cosmetics to keep them from breaking
- Cover the openings of your toiletries with plastic wrap and then put the tops back on to prevent leaks
- Pack plates vertically, like records, so they are less likely to break during the move. (Still be sure to use plenty of padding in the boxes though!)
- Keep drawers intact by covering them with Glad Press’n Seal wrap
- Glad Press’n Seal wrap is also great for keeping jewelry displays intact during transfer
- Buy a roll of stretch wrap – it works like Glad Press’n Seal wrap but on a bigger scale. This is great for grouping things together and it will protect your furniture from getting scuffed or scratched.
- Keep sandwich bags handy for holding any small parts of things you have to take apart, like curtain rods or mountain flat-screen TVs
- Boxes with handles (like beer, drink or diaper boxes) are best for books because they have handles on the sides
- Take a photo of how your electronics are connected so you can remember how and where all the wires go
- Cut down on boxes by making all of your baskets, laundry bins, hampers, and suitcases work for you
- The fastest way to pack a closet is to insert all of your hanging clothes into a large kitchen plastic bag and then unhook the hangars from the closet rod…no need to remove the clothes from the hangars and so easy to set up when you get to your new space!
- Vacuum seal your out-of-season clothing
- Along with food and alcohol, give your friends who help you move first dibs on anything you originally planned to sell or donate
- Make sure everything is completely packed before your friends show up to help you move
- Enlist the color coding system with colored tape or markers or stickers on your boxes…color code the doors of the rooms with the corresponding color of boxes to go in there when unpacking
- It doesn’t hurt to number your boxes and keep a running list of what is in each
- If you have a lot of fragile valuables, hiring movers as opposed to asking friends can end up paying for itself. Many movers come with insurance, so if something accidentally breaks, they have to compensate you. However, weigh the pros and cons as most movers won’t be responsible for reimbursing broken items that they didn’t pack themselves in the original boxes and if they do end up packing the boxes themselves, it may have a substantial pricetag.
- If you’re hiring movers, be sure to read the fine print and find out if they have any weird rules.
- If you’re renting, take photos of your cleaned-out old home and your new home before moving in
- If you’re doing a cross-country move and you don’t need your stuff immediately, consider shipping via a Greyhound bus.
- Change your address at least two weeks prior to moving
- If you own items that you want to get rid of but are too valuable to just give away, start selling on eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist at least six weeks before moving
- Arrange for a charity organization to come pick up the items you don’t want at least a week or two before moving
- Make your last grocery trip well before you move to ensure you use up as much of the items in your fridge, freezers, and pantry….no need to move food twice!
- For same city moves, hire a sitter for the children and pets
- Remember to defrost your refrigerator at least a day before moving and wipe up any liquid
There you have it folks! A few more things to think about in regards to moving! We hope this is helpful and we are sending lots of extra awesome magic moving dust your way during this time of transition! Big thanks to the author of this list, Peggy Wang at Buzzfeed – so many great ideas and it was great to work through them! Check out her original post with great visual aid photos at https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/brilliant-moving-tips
