Declutter before your move if you want to make things simpler: donate clothes that no longer fit, sell books at a used book store, or give them away to friends and family members.
Below are 10 things you can do to make your house moving process easier:
1. Pack a Week Ahead
If you plan to relocate, begin packing at least a week early in order to have enough time for all the details and details like changing your address with the post office and giving notice (if required) or hiring professional moving company services.
Begin by reviewing areas that you rarely use, like your attic, basement and garage. This will give you a good idea of what donations or discards you can donate or dispose of.
Pack all breakable items carefully when packing boxes – using paper shreds, old blankets or plastic grocery bags can provide ample padding that will prevent their being crushed during transport – as well as save on packing supplies!
2. Make a Moving Essentials Tote
Moving day can be stressful no matter where it takes place; between saying your last goodbyes to those close to you and packing your things yourself, as well as accompanying children and pets, people coming and going is likely.
Make moving day easier by creating a first-day survival bag. This could take the form of a backpack, carry-on size suitcase or duffel bag and should contain essential items like wallet, keys and medications.
Mallets can be invaluable during a move, particularly for repairing holes left by hanging pictures or furniture that can’t be disassembled. Our recommended ones come equipped with an easy to use handle and come complete with their own storage case for convenient use when not in use. They can even protect items from being damaged during transport – making it one of our essential home improvement essentials!
3. Pack a First-Day Survival Kit
Before beginning packing, go through each room and give away or sell items that won’t fit into your new house – this will make the move less cluttered and cheaper.
Create a checklist of items that will be essential on moving day and during the first few days in your new home. This will ensure that necessary items aren’t left behind in misplaced boxes during transport. Taking this step can save you time and the hassle of searching for essential belongings!
Include clothes for everyone in the family, snacks and beverages for you and the movers as well as medications you might require during transition. It is also advisable to include toys and games for kids during the move – this will help ease their stress level! Pack several bottles of water for both family members and movers.
4. Make a Moving Checklist
As soon as your move approaches, take an inventory of every room in your home. Create a list of everything you want to take with you including furniture and large items, before considering having a garage sale or selling items on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace for extra money. Donate any items that won’t make the journey.
Order moving supplies one month in advance, including sturdy boxes of various sizes, bubble wrap and packing tape. Also consider checking room dimensions to ensure larger pieces will fit.
Confirm that any friends or movers you’ve asked to help are available and have cleared their schedules. Keep a few dollars aside so you can thank them at the end of your move; also be sure to inform doctors, dentists and utility companies of your new address.
5. Label Your Boxes
Labeling boxes is one of the key steps in packing for a house move, helping increase efficiency and making life less stressful for all involved.
Label the box immediately once it has been packed and sealed; that way, you won’t forget its contents or destination room.
Color coding your boxes by room can also make unpacking simpler and safer for your items, and will assist movers with knowing which boxes belong in which rooms. Be sure to add special handling instructions like “Fragile” or “This Side Up”, making unpacking faster and safer for them. Furthermore, consider creating an inventory checklist so that you can stay on track of each box’s contents.
6. Label Your Furniture
To make the process of moving furniture easier, labelling each piece will help movers understand which ones need to be packed together and which can remain unpacked at their destination. Labelling also makes setting up furniture easier when arriving at your new house.
Make your labels stand out with colored markers! Choose waterproof permanent markers so they won’t bleed during your move, and consider purchasing waterproof permanent marker sets from your moving company or searching online for printable moving box labels to download or print out for use during storage and transportation. Alternatively, check with local movers if they offer such services themselves.
Alternative solution: Color code your boxes according to each room in your house and show your movers what belongs in each one before loading begins. Just be sure to tell them which rooms each one relates to as they begin their task of loading your possessions!
7. Pack Your Electronics
Moving can be a complicated, expensive and daunting process; but, with proper knowledge and planning you can make it as smooth and straightforward as possible. Here are a few helpful tips to get your started on the path toward moving smoothly and easily.
Before beginning packing, go through your items and dispose of or sell, donate, or recycle what is no longer useful to you. Not only will this save money and time on moving day, but it will also make unpacking simpler as there will be less stuff to pack up and unpack each time!
As part of a move, packing electronics safely is one of the most essential steps you can take to prepare. This is especially crucial when packing delicate devices such as TV’s, stereo systems, computers and laptops. Also be sure to label cords and wires, which will assist when reconnecting them in your new home.
8. Shrink Wrap Your Dresser
Professional movers often offer to shrink wrap furniture and other items for an additional charge, however you can easily do this yourself for far less expense.
Before moving day arrives, take steps to lighten your dresser by emptying its drawers of any small items such as pens and scissors into boxes and checking its weight – remove clothing if necessary to lighten its load if it becomes weighed down.
Plastic moving film from your local hardware store or construction supply company is both economical and straightforward to use. Just unroll it and press it against any flat surface of your furniture item – such as legs or chairs.
If the wrapping paper is too long, reroll it around your item before using zip ties or bungee cords to secure it and prevent drawers from opening during transit.
9. Pack Your Clothes First
Many of us have plenty of hanging clothes in their closet, from dresses and pants to blouses and collared shirts. Luckily, there are several effective solutions available to easily transport and store these hanging pieces during a move.
Beginning by packing off-season clothing will make moving day simpler; less in-season attire means fewer challenges on moving day!
Once you’ve gone through your off-season clothing and found something worthy, don’t forget to donate it! Not only will this help declutter your home but you will be giving something back to those in need.
10. Hire a Moving Company
Millions of moves occur annually across the US, and most are successful without incident. Unfortunately, however, scams and poor practices do occur – it’s essential that you choose a moving company you can rely on when selecting one for yourself.
Reach out to friends and family who have used moving companies previously, or look online for reviews of different firms.
Be sure to book your move early, especially when it comes to moving cars; waiting could lead to higher prices or being unable to secure moving services for your vehicle at all, particularly during peak seasons.
If you’re doing the moving yourself, start by selling or donating any unnecessary items that won’t be used again – this will lighten the load and make the task of moving much simpler for all involved. Also be sure to reach out early enough so utility providers can schedule service for your new home.
