Maybe you’re moving away for college, or maybe this is your first move on your own. Whatever reason you have to mo
ve, make it a happy process, even though it is hard to understand how packing an entire house and then unpacking it can be a happy process. Still, we’ve compiled a list with tips on how to make moving less exhausting and somewhat pleasant.
- Start with a pre-pack photoshoot. Just walk around your house and take photos of all your stuff as is positioned in its perfect place. This will help you greatly when unpacking as you’ll have a very clear idea of how you used to store your items before the move. Plus, your short-term memory will thank you.
- Make your own moving toolbox. Get a box and fill it with packing tape, labeling marker, box cutter, and whatever other packing supplies you use. Simply carry it around the house as you pack, with all your supplies handy.
- It’s not easy to buy all the bubble wrap you need for the big move day. But you know what? You don’t need it. You can use some of your belongings to protect your other belongings—oven mittens, pot holders, towels, pillows, blankets—they all work great at replacing the good ol’ bubble wrap. Minus the bubble bursting.
- Coordinate by color. In other words, designate a color for each room in your new home (think yellow for the kitchen, blue for the living room, green for the bathroom, etc.) Apply colored stickers on each box. Once in the new home, apply the correct color label to each room’s door. They will love the simplicity and you will love not having to move boxes from the kitchen to the bathroom.
- Keep your items together. Keep your books with the bookends, light bulbs with lamps, extension cords with appliances. Small parts can be attached to the item they belong to with tape or placed in small envelopes. Also, create a ‘parts box’ and keep it on your kitchen counter during packing—place in it all those small items you know you’ll need but aren’t sure about how to label them. Keep the box close or mark it well so that it can be easily located on move-in day.
- Clothes—go ahead and ask the moving company to provide you with some wardrobe boxes, but leave your drawers intact. Turn your drawer into a box by simply wrapping the entire container in plastic wrap. Use the same technique for other container-type items such as utensil organizers, shoe racks, etc. If you don’t want to pay for those wardrobe boxes, get your clothes on hangers and cluster them in groups, then pull new plastic garbage bags up from the bottom and tie them at the top. Once you move in, all you have to do is remove the plastic bag and hang them up.
- Use your luggage. You have it, why not use it? Put in it preferably items that weigh more (those tiny wheels will help you move them without difficulty). Not to mention how easy it will be to spot your burgundy suitcase holding your favorite sweaters.
- Valued items. If you own valuable possessions such as silverware or antiques, it’s a good idea to keep them close. If you have no room in your car to carry them yourself to the new place, place the items in a box labeled something other than “valuables.” You should check your homeowner’s/renter’s insurance and see how you are covered during the move and if you need additional coverage from the mover. Know what documentation (receipts, appraisals, photos) you might need to file a claim in case of loss.
- Important papers. These include birth certificates, passports, school records, and more. Don’t leave them with the mover, instead keep them with you.
