Stress-Free Moving Tips

Stress-Free Moving Tips

Are you moving into a new home? Moving can be one of life’s most stressful events. Between the deadlines, coordination, and overall workload of packing, moving can take quite a toll on your mental state of well-being. Whether you are packing fragile items, finding moving necessities, or just trying to determine where to begin, here are some stress-free moving tips to help you stay organized and sane during your next move:

Create Lists – If you will be driving, make a list of the vehicles you will have available to make the move, such as trucks, moving vans, and trailers. Then make a list of the larger items that you are going to move (furniture & appliances). This will help you determine if you need to rent/borrow more vehicles or how many trips you’ll have to make. It will also help you determine which furniture and appliances to bring and which to replace. While you are analyzing your belongings, take an inventory. This is also helpful for insurance purposes. You can also help your older belongings find a new home with a yard sale or consider donating them to a charity. If you’re still house hunting, it can help to use a House Hunting Checklist to keep track of all the homes you view and rate all of the features of each home.

Free Packing Materials – The cost of boxes, bubble wrap, and other moving necessities can add up quickly. Checkout these 7 best types of moving boxes. Many stores have a myriad of cardboard boxes from shipments that they are happy to give to people moving. Just make sure you call a at least a few days in advance so someone will save them for you. Grocery stores are a great source. Ask the produce department to save apple and banana boxes for you. Both banana and apple boxes have lids and tend to work very well for small to medium-sized items.

Create a Moving Schedule – Instead of leaving all of the packing until the end, try packing one room per day (or per week depending upon the size and amount of contents). Begin by packing china, stemware, decorations and any other items that are only used on special occasions. Keep one set of linens on the beds and pack away the rest. Pack anything that won’t be used before moving day. If you are selling your existing home or buying your new home, then you may want to include all the dates associated with the sale/purchase on your moving schedule. You could include appointments such as walk-throughs, inspections, meetings with your Realtor or lender, vendors (such as carpet cleaners), the closing appointment, and your actual moving day. You may also want to include reminders to contact the utility companies and to notify the post office of your move. This will help you keep track of all the various commitments in one place. You may also want to include when the movers are coming, or who is available to help you pack and unpack on each day.

Color-Coded Boxes – Writing room names on boxes with a marker works well if you have a completely blank surface. However, most boxes already have many markings on them, making them hard to read. Instead try using a color-coded sticker system! Make a list of the rooms in your new home. Select one color for each room and record this on a Color-Coded Moving Legend. This will be your Key.

Tag each box with the appropriate color when closing it. Place a long strip of the appropriately colored tape on the door frame of each room according to the Key. This makes it simple for everyone unpacking to quickly know where each box belongs. Not only does this reduce the number of questions everyone will ask you on moving day, but it will also speed up the unpacking process because less time will be wasted.

Protect Your Valuables – There are many great substitutes you can use for bubble wrap that you probably already have. These include towels, pillows, old clothes, blankets, and sheets. These can be wedged in or wrapped around fragile valuables and electronics for extra padding during the move.

Loading the Truck – Properly loading your vehicle can be challenging. Start with the largest, heaviest, and bulkiest items first. These items should be on the bottom of any stacks. Remember to optimize vertical space by stacking smaller items on top of all of the flat surfaces of larger furniture and boxes. For example, when loading a couch into a truck, it may be tempting to lay it on its side so it is easier to load. However you may not be able to stack items on top of it as easily and they items may not be stable. Turning it on its end so it juts straight up to the ceiling is a better use of vertical space. Think of loading your vehicle like a game of Tetris. Try to turn all flat surfaces into “shelves”, using up as much vertical space as possible, while not leaving any gaps in between.

Prepare a Moving Day Kit – Moving day will be hectic. But there are a few things you can keep with you to make sure your move is organized and efficient. When you arrive at your new home, you will need to do a lot of assembling. Pack a tool bag with the tools you will need for these first few days. Be sure to include work gloves and box cutters in addition to other basic tools.  Keep all your financial, legal, insurance, and medical documents and vital records such as birth certificates and passports with you during the move to ensure they are not lost. Keep any medicines you need in your moving kit. You may want to pack your cell phone chargers to ensure you can stay connected if your battery loses its charge. A few first aid items are always useful, such as bandages and antibacterial ointment, in case anyone gets cut on sharp edges. Also be prepared to have food and water (or sports drinks with electrolytes) ready for yourself and anyone who helps you on moving day.

It’s a fact: moving is dreadful. However, with a little advanced preparation, your next organized move can be less stressful. I hope you’ve enjoyed these stress-free moving tips!