Moving Tips Needed

We will be moving in about 4-5 weeks into our new home. I was wondering if you ladies wouldn't mind sharing your moving tips. I have moved several times but I never felt that I was too efficient at the process!

Thanks in advance!

If you have the time, list everything going into a box and number the box.

Then, when you're unpacking, you can identify the contents and decide what to unpack first. Very helpful when you're trying to find specific items, or just want to store some items until you're ready to put them in their place. Summer clothing can wait till later!

Also, have a few boxes that you'll unpack first - basic kitchen items, cleaning tools and supplies, light bulbs, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.

Know where your flashlight is and unpack it early. We had a power outage in the neighborhood our first week in our new home.

dont move what you dont need
label everything

Pack everything you can!!! Keith and I helped some friends move a few weeks ago and they had so much packing left to do, it was crazy. They also waited until the last minute to reserve a truck so the truck was too small and it had to make two trips. I was just throwing random stuff in my car to take up. Very inefficient.

Pack everything you can in a box, label the box so you know what room it should go in. Move everything that you can into the main level of where you are moving from if you have an upstairs. In fact, I packed by carrying things from upstairs and bring them downstairs to but in a box. That way on moving day, packing the boxes on to the truck goes very quick.

Leave one box for things you will need right away. I had shower supplies (including a shower curtain) at the ready because as soon as we were done moving all we wanted to do was jump in the shower.

Hmmm, that's all I can think of right now. Can you tell that I just recently moved???

Start packing now! You will be surprised at how much you won't need in the next few weeks.

If you haven't already started saving newspapers, and plastic grocery backs they are great for packing.

Schedule all the utilities to be disconnected/connected, and have your mail forwarded now so that you have a few last things to worry about.

Hmmm...I agree, everything that can go in a box should and have one area near the door that you can start stacking boxes.

And towards the end change over to paper and plastic plates/utensils.

I know I'm in the minority, but I love to move or help move. I think it's exciting to be picking up and changing everything.

Good luck!

wrap fragile items in newspaper and/or on clothing.

fill boxes with those styraphone peanut things. this way nothing shifts in moving.

bubble wrap rules

number and label everything. this will definatly help in what have you packed so far and where are certain things.

newspapers are cheap...but messy...you might be better off getting packing paper...then you don't have to wash everything when you move...


labelling boxes is a must...and start packing right now...you won't believe the amount of stuff you have...and purge purge purge!!!! if you haven't used it throw it out...


leave out what you need...and then when you pack it up last...you'll know that box needs to be unpacked first...

make a detailed list of every item and a running list of exactly how many boxes you have (and then a break down of how many boxes go in the kitchen, living room etc)

When the movers arrive to tag everything - make sure you follow them closely to make sure everything gets a tag (number) and make a second list when then do this to make sure it matches.

Then when the movers show up you can mark off each item off your list - You will be surprised how things get lost

My family has moved three times (not including my personal two moves) and they had a full truck each time all to themselves - but the moving companies still managed to LOSE a few boxes or items. This way if you keep itemized lists and mark them off as they leave and arrive then you will also know exactly what is missing.

hire a moving company!!

we moved ourselves (twice) & will never ever do it again!

by the way, congratulations & good luck!

The only thing I can think of not mentioned is use HUGE garbage bags as garment bags - rip a hole in the top of them for the hangers, put your clothes in there on the hangers (knot the bottom of the bag) and then you can just put them in the closet of your new home.

Good luck!!

We moved into our house on August 14, the day of that blackout so I can definitely say...know which box your candles and flashlights are in!

What I did with packing that I found really helpful was I numbered the boxes - write the # on each side of the box and the top so you can always see the # no matter how they are stacked or packed.

Then have a list where you write the contents of each box. I didnt go crazy writing every single item, just the key stuff. (Of course it would have helped to know which box those candles were in )

If you get boxes from a store, don't get them from a supermarket or food store - roaches LOVE cardboard and they can be nestled in the crevices somewhere.

If you can transport some fragile and hard to pack things (like lamps or pictures) yourself, do so and save yourself the box space/packing material.


With movers, get their license # and call the Dept of Transportation to check on them. You wont believe how many are operating without licenses or with a huge list of complaints. We found that with 3 or 4 movers we contacted, including one that's been in business for many years. When I confronted them with their lack of license and complaints, they said the needed to look into it and never called me back.

If you need a mover recommendation, FM me. We had an awesome mover who came in below their estimate and the guys were great. My Mom used them twice too and she had the same experience.

HTH

Good Luck!