Pack it Up

Moves bring up so many feelings. They are often exciting, full of promise and new possibilities. But they are also full of stress, so make a packing plan to ease some of that.

Purge

Don’t waste time moving what you don’t need. Once you know a move is in the cards, set out a timeline for yourself to get your home in order and packed up. Even if you choose to have movers pack for you, you’ll want to get some prep done before they arrive. Trash cans with garbage and wet towels have been packed by overzealous movers, so organizing ahead of time is definitely worth it!

If you’ve got a good lead time, tackle areas of your house from least-used to most-used, taking care of those items you don’t need on a weekly basis first. This can be things like bookshelves, off-season clothing and sporting goods, and decor items. You’ll then work toward the more frequently used stuff the closer you get to your move date. Go through these things and set aside groups for donate, pack, sell or trash as you review them. If you end up with a large amount of donations, consider hiring a removal company – they will donate and recycle what they can and trash the rest.

Label

Where will everything go in the new space? It is tempting to only think about where things are in your current home, but thinking ahead to the new location will be much more helpful. Whether you’re expanding or downsizing, knowing where you want things to land after they come off the truck is important. It may not be the final spot for every single item, but it’ll give you the best start when unpacking begins. Once you decide where things are going, make sure to label the boxes clearly, on at least 2 sides. Make sure to include the specific contents on the label as well. That way you’ll know exactly where your dinner plates and silverware are instead of unpacking the whole kitchen only to find them in the final box. Bonus points if you can use colored tape to differentiate rooms and/or number boxes 1-3 based on opening priority.

Final Tips

  • Pack a VIP Box (or last out / first in as we sometimes call it) – This can be a small box that you’ll toss your remotes in, a few tools including a box cutter and scissors, trash bags, paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap, and other basics that you know you’ll need ASAP at the new home.
  • Floor Plans – if you have a vision for the layout of the new rooms, draw up some rough floor plans so the movers know where to put the furniture if you can’t be with them every second.

Supplies

Some packing items you’ll want on-hand are:
– Moving boxes and/or bankers boxes
– Packing tape
– Sharpies
– Box cutter & scissors
– Colored tape
– Packing Paper / Bubble Wrap
Heavy Duty Storage Bags – if you’re moving yourself, these are great for bulky but light items or anything that doesn’t require a box.
– Ziplock bags (great to stash furniture hardware and other small bits)
– Stretch wrap
– Trash bags
– Cleaning Supplies


Let’s work together to make your move as smooth as it can be. Contact us for a hand if you’d like a partner as you get moved.