Ah, summer. Long days, daiquiris, pool parties and moving trucks? Yup, that’s right. Over half of residential moves take place between May 1 and September 1. With that in mind, we’ve thought of 11 useful packing tips in advance of your big summer move.
- Start packing early, so you don’t get overwhelmed the day before the movers show up. Start at least a month in advance, by sorting out seasonal decorations, winter gear and clothing, kitchenware and dinnerware that seldom gets used
- After you’ve packed away everything you won’t be using in the following 5 weeks or so, start going room by room, marking all the boxes by which room they go in. This way you know exactly where to look for your bathrobe, without having to go through your grandmother’s antique silverware and your ski gloves.
- Don’t forget to clearly and visibly mark boxes with fragile contents
- Mercilessly sort through your possessions when packing. Maybe it’s time to give away that fondue set since it’s never left the box. And those PC games you haven’t played since 2007? Donate them. It’s easy to get attached to thin
gs, but every item you don’t need or use is another item you’re not only paying to have shipped, but your also wasting time on packing and unpacking. So have a yard sale, gift and donate every item that you don’t need, use or like. Recycle or throw away unsalvageable clothing and broken things. - While you’re decluttering, keep an up to date list of things. Cross reference that with you renters insurance policy. Remove from it items you’re tossing and add things you’ve accumulated since you’ve last updated the policy. And don’t forget to notify your renters insurance provider of your move so you stay protected.
- When packing take into account the possible climate differences between your current home and your future location as well as freak weather patterns. Nobody wants weeks of pouring rain in July, but it can happen. Pack accordingly.
- Throw out cleaning products and open containers of food.
- Stop buying groceries a few weeks ahead. Stop buying fresh produce a wekk ahead of your move. Eat only the things you already have in your pantry and fridge to minimize waste. Besides, it’s not like you’ll move your frozen peas, right?
- Even if your move takes only a day, pack a suitcase with about a week’s worth of clothes, toiletries and various necessities.
- If you own pets, keep their medication on hand as well if they’re taking any. Keep plenty of food and snacks, as well as their favorite toy and blankie on hand for the move. Moving can be even more stressful to animals, than to people with all the sounds, movement and new people and foreign surroundings. Do everything you can to make them feel safe and keep their stress levels down.
