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August 17, 2017 | by admin
You’ve found your new home and you couldn’t be more thrilled to move in! Moving into a new home is a very exciting time, but it can also be very stressful. With so much to pack up and a deadline to meet, it is very easy to get completely overwhelmed. Clothing, valuables, furniture, and breakables can create a logistical nightmare when you’re figuring out how to pack in the most effective, safe, and space-conscious way possible. Luckily, with careful planning and prioritization, you can save a lot of time, have a lot of fun, and settle in to your new home with ease.
The Plan
Before the packing even begins, some planning needs to be done to simplify the process. Typically, it is ideal to begin planning your move at least six weeks out from the big day. This gives you time to determine what’s coming, what’s staying, the order you are packing your items, who is going to be helping you, and what it is likely going to cost. Planning well in advance also allows you to get a head start on organizing possessions into the categories you plan to pack them in, and getting rid of some of the items you no longer need. Don’t skip this part! A good plan will save you time packing and unpacking your possessions.
The People
A key aspect of the moving plan is determining who is going to help you with this large undertaking. The two most common options here are finding a group of friends to assist you, or hiring a moving company. Both options present their share of pros and cons, and both options aren’t necessarily right for everyone.
Having a group of friends there to help you with your move is the ideal option for most people. Getting help from friends will save you a lot of money, and makes the moving process a lot more fun! Getting your moving party together is easy as long as you know the right people to ask and have a way to incentivize your friends. Typically, inviting your friends to your moving party with the promise of a meal like pizza and alcoholic or non-alcoholic refreshments will do the trick! Just make sure they are friends you can trust, and friends who will take good care of your possessions. Remember, they’re moving your stuff! If they’re clumsy, you’ll be paying the price. Lastly, make sure to be respectful of your moving team’s time. They are taking time out of their schedule to help you make this big move. Try your best to have everything pre-planned to make the move quick and easy. This way, you’ll get more time afterwards to enjoy being with your friends and relax after all the hard work!
The second option of hiring a moving company is easier to plan, but presents its own set of challenges. For a lot of people, hiring a moving company is sometimes a last resort as it often isn’t economically feasible for many. If you have a lot to move, moving companies can quickly become very expensive. It is critical to do a lot of research before selecting a moving company to hire. Asking friends and family, and looking up business reviews is a great way to get an idea of what moving company may be right for you. Be very careful with the company you select as they are in charge of moving your entire life to a new home! If you hire the first company you see, there is no guarantee you won’t arrive at your new home to a bunch of crushed boxes and broken plates. If you choose to hire a moving company, make sure to select a company early in the planning process as most good moving companies have a waiting list for their services.
Once the planning is done and you have found some people to help, you can look forward to one of the more challenging aspects of your move: the purge.
The Purge
When it comes to moving, getting rid of some of your possessions is one of the most challenging things to do. Everyone has some items that, even though they’re never used, they seem to stick around. Unfortunately, all of that added clutter creates more stress and presents more moving challenges. To make your move easier, you need to really consider what possessions have value in your life, and what items you can go without. By purging unnecessary items, you can save a lot of money on your move as fewer items have to go. Items that you decide won’t be making the trip can still be useful for someone else. Before throwing anything in the garbage, it is a great idea to have a yard sale, or donate your old possessions to a Goodwill store. This way, you simplify your move, and help others!
Once you’ve decided what’s coming with you to your new home, it’s time to start preparing for moving day.
The Preparation
Congratulations! The stressful part of your move is over! You have the master plan, and you’ve decided what’s being packed while getting rid of the rest. Now, it’s time to make sure you have all of the materials and resources you need for the move. Before you can officially be move-ready, you need to make sure you have boxes, packing tape, plastic wrap, packing foam, a marker, and of course, muscle power.
Before moving day, estimate exactly how many boxes you will need, and then add a few more to that number. It’s always better to be over prepared than it is to not have enough supplies. When looking for boxes, try to avoid buying them. Ask your friends and family if they have any extra boxes, go to any local shops or stores that might have some spares hanging around, or even go to the nearest storage facility as there are often some leftover boxes you could take. The preparation phase of moving can get somewhat expensive if you don’t check to see what is already available.
Once you’re fully prepared, it’s time to let your excitement take over and get packing!
The Packing
You’ve taken the time to make the perfect moving plan, and now it’s time to show that hard work off! Packing day has arrived and you’ve gotten a great moving team together to get the job done. The first things to pack are the non-essentials. These are the things that you can go without until you are totally unpacked and settled in to your new home. The logic is that the first things packed are typically the last things unpacked. If you’re moving in the summer, pack your winter possessions first. Other non-essentials could include collectibles, souvenirs, and tools.
As you are packing, make sure to label everything clearly and with detail. Label the top and sides of every box with the contents, as well as what room that box is destined for in your new home. This will make it easier for your moving team to put the boxes in the correct room. By having a detailed list of the boxes contents, you don’t have to rummage through 6 different boxes to find a cup for your coffee. Make sure other important details such as “fragile” or “urgent” are clearly labeled on those particular boxes so that your moving team takes extra care when handling them.
When packing fragile items, make sure that they are well protected inside the boxes with padding that will help your possessions arrive intact (for example, packing peanuts). If you need a little extra protection for anything, it is a great idea to put the item in a sock, or wrap it in a sweater. All the items are being moved anyways - why not provide your fragile items a little extra protection?
Try and avoid putting heavy items together in a single box. For the box to stay in one piece, it should weigh less than about 40-50 pounds. Ideally, you should be able to put one heavy item in a box with multiple light items. By doing this, boxes are less likely to break, and your moving team will thank you for not putting them under too much physical strain. With large items such as furniture or appliances, make sure you wrap the corners or legs in plastic to avoid scratching any walls during the move.
Lastly, try to fill each box as full as you can. The fewer boxes there are, the faster and less-expensive your move will be. Using fewer boxes often results in a faster unpacking process, while also helping you keep track of the number of boxes you have, and where everything is.
Without a plan, packing and moving to a new home can be so chaotic, that it takes the excitement out of this big transition in your life. There is so much to consider, it is easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out if you don’t give yourself enough time to plan, purge, prepare and pack. If you follow your packing plan to perfection and pack smart, you’re guaranteed to have far less stress throughout the moving process. Once the trucks are loaded, it’s time to move on to the next chapter of your life in your new home!
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