Moving to a new home can be exciting, but with so many details to think about, it can be incredibly stressful, too. Take the angst out of your next move by following these tips:
Prepare for the Move
They say you shouldn’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today, and that applies to moving as well. Once you know you’re going to move, start getting things done:
- Look for good deals on moving vans and get your reservation in.
- Call the water, gas, electric and phone people and set everything up to transfer to you on the day you move in.
- Start gathering moving boxes.
It always takes more moving boxes than you think to get all your stuff packed away. If you like nice, new, clean identical boxes, you can buy them from a hardware store, a moving company or a storage company. If saving money is more important than uniformity, hit up your friends, family and coworkers for any boxes they’re willing to part with.
Other good places to ask for empty boxes are:
- Clothing stores
- Furniture stores
- Liquor stores
Pack Everything Up
Before you put anything in a box, pull out your suitcase. Put into this suitcase all the clothes, medicines and toiletries you’ll need between now and the day you move. You’ll be living out of this suitcase for the time being so keep it in the trunk of your car, or some other place where it won’t get tossed into the moving truck.
Next, create well-labeled “Donate” and “Give Away” boxes, where you can toss things you would rather donate or give away than put in a box and tote to a new location.
For the rest of your stuff, follow these tips:
- Label all your boxes with the room where they will be unpacked.
- Avoid dirt, dust and damage by putting your furniture in large storage bags.
- Wrap anything liquid in at least two plastic bags that are tied or taped shut.
- Take pictures while you disassemble any furniture. Look at the pictures in reverse order to help you put things back together at the other end.
Make the Move
You won’t be able to do it all on your own, so enlist friends, family and muscular neighbors to help you pack up the moving van. Plying them with pizza, chocolate and other yummy comestibles couldn’t hurt.
Be careful, though. Don’t push yourself past your limits or let anyone else do the same. Make sure everyone stays hydrated and takes occasional breaks. Your goal is to get to your new home, not your nearby hospital.
Once you arrive at your new place, you don’t have to unpack immediately. You should still have that suitcase to live out of for a couple more days. The only things that really need to be unpacked on the first day are frozen and refrigerated foods, your bed and the toilet paper. Dig out the sheets, pillows and pillowcases and actually make your bed on that first day — you’ll appreciate it when you want to just collapse at the end of the day.