10 Ways to Simplify a Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

While everyone enjoys the novelty of moving into a new home, nobody enjoys moving.  Moving is stressful.  First, there’s the packing, which can prove a difficult task.  Not only do you have to gather and sort all your possessions, and those of your family…but you have to pack them in a way that will ensure they arrive in one piece.  If you have kids and/or pets, packing for them can prove even more of a challenge.  By the time the big day arrives, you may find yourself worn to a frazzle, which is not the frame of mind you want to be in before you begin the laborious task of unpacking.

To help you keep peace with your family, not to mention peace of mind, I have prepared a list of 10 things that can help you organize and simplify the task of moving.

      1.      Get a jump on moving by starting early – All too many people wait until the last second to start packing their belongings.  This is a recipe for disaster.  The best time to start packing is one month ahead of the big day. Begin by packing items that are used infrequently, or have been sitting in the closet or garage for quite some time.  Then as the moving day draws nearer, you will be able to pack the remainder of your household without being completely overwhelmed. 

  

Scott's Discount Movers

      2.      Pack the breakables with care – Being a mover, the last thing I want to hear is the clink, clink, clink of glassware inside a box labeled “Fragile.” If you want your  glassware to arrive in one piece, make sure they are wrapped in newspaper or bubble wrap and packed rim down.  You can get a 12-inch by 175- foot roll of bubble wrap for around $20. That’s .a small price to pay to keep your valuables safe.  Another low-cost solution is to put glassware inside clean socks and to slip plates inside tee-shirts.  The trick is to provide a buffer zone between items.  Another way to make dishes much less likely to break is to store them standing up as opposed to lying flat. 

      3.      Should you buy or rent boxes? – Moving is expensive.  Not only is there the expense of hiring movers, it can mean laying out a hundred dollars or more for cardboard boxes and packing tape.  It also previously meant adding all that cardboard to the local landfill once the move was done.  The reason I wrote “previously,” is because there is a greener way to go when it comes to boxes, since you can now rent them.  There are a number of companies that will rent moving boxes, as well as delivering them to your door and picking them up when the move is done. Sporting names like Bungo Box and Rent a Green Box, these firms take some of the stress and waste out of the packing process.

      4.      Pack in Layers – When most people pack their boxes, they tend to do so without any rhyme or reason.  That can result in breakage.  A better solution is to pack all your boxes with the heaviest items on the bottom and the lightest ones on top.  Pack them as full as possible, since the less items jostle during the move, the more likely they are to survive the move.  Also, make sure you line the bottom of each box with either bubble wrap or crushed newspaper.

Scott's Discount Movers

      5.      Unpacking is just as important as packing – Since it could take days or even weeks to unpack all your belongings following a move, the last items you pack will most likely be the first items you unpack.  If you want to keep from experiencing the hassle of rooting through a mountain of boxes searching for the salt and pepper shaker, or any other “first use” item, it is vital that you designate these boxes by marking them prominently.  Make sure you label every box by destination as well, so you will know what goes in the kitchen and which boxes belong in the bedroom.  It’s also a good idea to number all your boxes so you will immediately know if any are missing.

      6.      How to make moving child and pet friendly – It’s difficult enough dealing with the move.  The last thing you want to have to contend with are kids and pets underfoot while you and your moving crew are trying to get everything from one home to another.  A better idea is to have a friend, neighbor or relative look after the kids and pets until the move is complete.  This will not only alleviate additional stress, but it will also keep both kids and pets out of harm’s way. 

      7.      Vacuum seal your clothing – Want to save space and avoid picking up any unpleasant odors or stains when you pack clothing and bedding?  Consider vacuum-seal garment bags.  By eliminating the air, you will save space, making it possible to store more of your clothes, bedding, drapes in less space.  Both air and water-tight, these bags are reusable and are guaranteed to eliminate mold, mildew and bacteria. A package of 8 retails for less than $20, including the hand pump.

Scott's Discount Movers

      8.      Save on hardware hassles – When you remove pictures and curtain rods from the walls, save the hardware in Ziploc bags so you won’t have to buy new ones when you get where you’re going.  It’s also a good idea to take photos of the back of electronic components such as TVs and PCs so you won’t drive yourself craze trying to remember which plugs go where.

      9.      Pack an overnight bag with your personal essentials – By the time you finish moving, you’re not going to be in any shape to start hunting for your toiletries and change of clothing.  So, pack an overnight bag with everything you need to hit the ground running the next day.  Also, make sure you pack any important papers or documents in a large envelope that also should be slipped into your overnight bag. 

      10.  Have a garage sale prior to your move – I don’t know anybody who has made a move that doesn’t relegate some of their belongings to the curb come moving day.  A better idea is to hold a garage sale a couple of weeks before the move.  This way you can recoup some of the expense of moving, while giving your neighbors a chance to pick up some items on the cheap.  If you find you still haven’t gotten rid of everything after the sale, call a local charity.  They will not only help you finish clearing out your house, they’ll even give you a receipt that will provide you with a write off come tax time.

Last but not least, if you want any advice on how to make your move less of a hassle, feel free to ask a professional mover.  We’ll be more than happy to share our experience as well as our helping hands when it comes to simplifying your next move.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers  has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.