Moving Tips

By

catfifty

I will take a few of the suggestions already posted, embellish on them, and add my own personal twist. I am 55 and still rent; I have moved within a building (the worst move ever), and within a complex (next worst), cross-town, other states. Your move changes with the type of move. I'll pretend that you're moving within 50 miles.

First, clean out. Think of the room or location you hate the most, wherever you "dump". That's the one you start with. You get so burned out on cutesy stuff that with the first location you become very particular about what's worth moving and unpacking.

Second, label, label, label. The boxes are rooms - but your rooms are going to change. Cross-over stuff goes in "Miscellaneous". Label What is in the box and number the box. Make 5 copies of each of the sheets. Number goes directly on the box. This way you can do more than one box at a time.

Next, allow for change. Do not tape any boxes closed. This is your big chance to start out organized. This is where you do it. Even if you can't keep up with it, one room is better than none. You will find things that belong somewhere else. If the box is opened, you can stick it in there or start a new box (1 and 1a - keep your rooms the same number, but count each box using the alphabet as above).

I name my rooms, rather than color-code - when movers are dumping boxes, be they friends or professionals, they're not looking for little tabbies to tell them where the boxes go. Big is the name of the game for both Box ID and Room ID.

On the other side. Think about your new home. How to get to different rooms from whichever door your movers will entering from. Create big signs - 8.5x11 is fine - with dark markers. Wherever the first turn is, have 2 (or more) pieces of paper with a list of which rooms go which way - and label the rooms exactly the same way you have labeled your boxes; room or number or both. Don't forget Miscellaneous - you can buddy it up; just make sure you always buddy it up.

Some follow-up. You need 5 copies of the box labels to put one on each side and one on the top; leaving one for you. Movers don't jockey anything around so that they can see where it's going. At the end of all this fun and merriment - If you have time and you may not. Have one main list that just lists your various box names and how many boxes are with each. Staple your "Move Sanity" together in one packet. Do not ever part company with it.
If you are over 35, Do not use friends and family to help you move. Seriously, it can cost you far more than hiring a company. Enjoy! It's an opportunity!

By

skinnyjinny

Pack a bag or box for moving day with tea/coffee, milk, sugar, kettle, biscuits/sandwiches. Keep it with you so you can have a cuppa without having to hunt around;-))
Put labels, with the contents listed, on your boxes as you won't unpack everything at once. This saves you having to hunt through boxes later.

By

wolfbytez

Go to the liquor stores around you and grab some of the boxes that have had bottles in them and already have the cardboard separators in them. You can pack glasses, bottles, bottles from fridge, knick knacks, etc in them and it sure helps save time when packing and unpacking.

You can also use socks for small knick knacks, just slide them in & fold over.

Try packing your favorite clothes as outfits, in each box put everything you would wear in a day together, jeans, t shirt, socks, undies, whatever! That way you won't have to unpack everything in a hurry just to find an outfit for one day. {you can include a bar of soap, towel, washcloth, powder, deodorant, etc and mark it with something like Day 1 and put that box in the bathroom so you won't be searching for it}

By

AnnmacC

Color code your boxes - either use different colored markers or buy some colored stickers and put the color or more than 1 side of the box. In your new home color code the doorways. Then when the boxes are being unloaded the "blue boxes" go in the "blue room" etc. Just number the boxes 1, 2, 3, etc. and keep a master list of the contents (it's a good idea to make a copy), so "Blue 1" is baby's toys,"Blue 2" is baby's bedding etc. Don't use red as a color for a room. Any box with red (along with the room color) has breakables in it and make this very clear to whoever is doing the moving. If using garbage bags for clothing, bedding etc. The stickers can be applied in several places. Hope this helps and good luck with the move.

By

dollyslaffn

Pack all your dishes in towels and wash cloths and dish cloths. Pack all your what nots in soft clothing. Reduces bulk, the dishes are protected, and when you are unpacking, it is like unpacking two boxes at once.

By

OliveOyl

Go through your belongings and get rid of as much stuff as possible before you pack or move. For moving clothes on hangers, I like to use wardrobe boxes. You can order them online. Keep them to reuse. They are wonderful.

By

Patty Lynn

Start packing all the things you don't use on a daily basis as early as possible, and be sure to write on each box, in marker, the contents of the box and what room it goes in. Pack everything so that on moving day, the only things you have left to pack are your breakfast dishes and your bedding. Do not pack your hanging clothes; instead group your hangers together and tie them with string so that you can just take them out of your closet, lay them in the back seat of a car, and then just rehang them in the closet of your new home. Round up as much help as you can, you're going to need it, and make sure you have some help unpacking your dishes, towels, toiletries and other necessities.

By

kffrmw88

If you hire a moving truck be sure to get one large enough to move everything in one trip. No new companies, they are too slow, good luck.

Tips to help you save time and money when moving. Post your ideas.