Summer is the busiest moving time of the year. School ends, graduations are in the past new beginnings are on the horizon and the weather is great. Just imagine to move in winter and have to carry boxes with all those layers of clothes on you. Summer even if it is a hot one is definitely a much better option for moving.
A tip from a Real Estate pro:
Starting may you will find more available properties for rent and most probably will be able to get a good deal. Unless of course if you are looking for some very unique place and still you probably will be able to negotiate down. But the essence of this post is not about landing good deals we are here to talk about moving. Yes, that thing that comes after you signed all those papers and are ready to occupy a new place.
I don’t like to label myself and I honestly think that even the best expert always has something new to learn but I can say I have pretty big experience moving. Before I turned 18 I have already moved 7 times. Of course, those were not my decisions but I packed and moved. since then I kept moving. and as of today, I have moved already 30 times 3 of them were in between the countries and I am not done yet.
Sometimes I joke around saying I have commitment issues, but I would say it is just how life evolves and I refuse to stay in one spot.
Reasons for moving are many. Some people move to look for a better life, some move because of the job transfer, many move within the same city to get a bigger or smaller house, to get closer to school or work.
It is not a secret that there is always a little cloud of a negativity surrounding “the move” and sometimes because of that people rather settle for lesser option just not to have to go through it all.
I decided to share with you tricks that I learned from so many times I moved. I really hope it will help you to get through the whole moving thing with more ease and let you enjoy your new place sooner.
1. Delegate
If you really hate moving, hire a moving company. The one that will send you people to come and pack everything, move and then unpack everything at your new place. (sounds good right?)
Yes, that sounds just so awesome.
I always wanted to do so but those services are pricey and I always decide in a favor of some plain tickets to somewhere in the world. I highly recommend, however, to hire movers mostly if you have tons of furniture and boxes but promise me you will do your research. it doesn’t have to be expensive but seriously, look for reviews.
2. Lower your bill
Movers charge by the hour. Make their job easier and group your boxes next to the furniture in designated areas. Mark your boxes so movers know where it supposes to go in your new house. They will really apreciate and probably give you even a better service. at the end we all are humans and give back. If something is fragile write it all around the box.
Take pictures of your things before packing this way if anything breaks you can file a claim with the the company their insurance will most probably cover it. (yes, make sure the company you are going to hire has an insurance, if it doesn’t it will be hard to collect your money)
If you have something extremely valuable to you and probably delicate and fragile, you can always take care of it yourself.
3. Magic word, The organization
Let’s face it, you learn about your upcoming move sometime in advance. What you do? you ignore the subject. Of course.. why would you stress yourself so much about it if there still some time left, you probably just started looking into a new options.
Well, I did that, the result is: you get stressed, tired, without desire to move never ever again.
Here will be my first advise, don’t ignore it, treat it like studying for the test, do a little bit every day. Packing things that you are not using on a daily basis will also help you to see what is that you use every day and add it to “my every day box”
Do mark all your boxes and if you have an extra time and are very organized you maybe will want to make a list of items in every box and number every box. That is like a deep inventory list. (I personally never have had the patience to do so and I did tried) also, that practice is good if your move takes longer and maybe your things will have to be stored for some time. This way when you start unpacking you will know what is where and will be easier to locate things. Because trust me, doesn’t matter how good is your memory you will forget what is in there.
4. BOXES MATTER.
I try to pack most of my clothes in plastic bins. It did happen to me once, when we just moved and I was unpacking, a pipe broke and the house got filled with an inch of water. Of course, all cardboard boxes on the floor were wet with dirty water and we lost some of the clothing, pillows, and even some books. Also packing in a translucent plastic bin allows you to see what is in the box. And you can reuse them to store your seasonal items.
5. Declutter
That is a perfect opportunity to go over your stored items and see if there is something that you really don’t need or use. you probably will do interesting archaeological discoveries on the way.
It is a good moment to sort donations and trash
6. Use less boxes
A couple of years ago I went through all my pictures album and scanned all my pictures. I did the same thing with my documents only keeping those that need to be originals. Basically, my huge file cabinet got reduced to 2 folders of documents that I still need to have. That is easy to move and I actually check my pictures more now that I have them on the cloud.
There are plenty of storage services around. have Dropbox, iCloud, Google files, among them. Even if you don’t trust those you can get a hard drive and store it there (in that case I suggest you get 2 copies.
7. Clothes, my precious..
Packing my wardrobe is totally different thing. I only know 2 ways to pack clothes. In those boxes that have a bar inside and you just hang your stuff there, this way your clothes will be preserved hanging or in a regular box thrown in. In my experience with hanging boxes still doesn’t work at perfection. The box might tilt in the truck and clothes might fall from the bar also it doesn’t fit that many so I just opt for a regular box.
I box all my clothes with their hangers this way when I unpack I just take them out and hang them. I have to confess in my earlier years I used to take every piece of my wardrobe off the hanger, fold it to later arrive at my destination and unfold and hang them. well, it took so much time!!!! so now hanger stays.
Of course laying them in the box versus hanging them in the box is totally up to you. I dont like ironing and most of my clothes dont require ironing and whatever needs a little touch up will get out with a steamer.
Steamers are the best!
8. first necessity Items
We all have things that we use daily and sometimes even several times a day. It is hard for us to imagine life without them. I do pack a suitcase like the one I pack when I am going on a week trip.
Pack your shampoo, your hairdryer, plan outfits for next 7 days in case you have to start working right next day. Do it couple of weeks before the actual moving day.
Knowing that I am a very disorganized person I knew I needed organization (sounds funny, I know) so lists saved me. Start to create your list about a month in advance. Write down every item you are using on a daily/weekly basis this way when you start packing you will not miss anything. When you are done go through the list and see if you didn’t miss anything.
Don’t forget your bedsheets and towels. Unless you will be staying in the hotel the very first nights, you will definitely need them.
9. COMFORT FIRST
If you are like me and love your tv series, set an installation of your cable and internet (if not included) for couple of days earlier. I am assuming you are not reading this post day before your actual move and you still have plenty of time.
If you are moving within the same city it will not be hard but if it is not possible try to schedule it for the very next day after your move. Why? Well, I used to be that obsessive person who will not sit down or even have a decent meal before everything is perfectly unpacked and arranged. I would end up tired and often stressed. So last times I decided to try to be more relaxed and don’t stress about making everything perfect on a first day. I listened to music and news and even made a break to watch a movie. At the end of the day, I realized I accomplished much more and was not feeling tired at all but spent a great time.
10. DO YOU HAVE TOOLS?
of course you do! (I am not asking men, tools are part of their essence) every girl with some self respect owns a hammer and if you are in a mayor league you will even have a drill and maybe a tool box with some scrue drivers and some alien keys left from IKEA furniture assambling. If you dont have any you have tu stop by hardwood store ASAP because we all need to fix something in a new home.
I am not talking about mayor plomber renovations but we all have some art or some shelves to hang and sooner you do it, sonner it starts feeling like home so pack your tools close by this way you can have an easy access to them and finish with this tasks in no time.
11. Make a clean move
Wash your dishes, pots and clothes and don’t move broken or cracked or chipped things.
Moving can be a good opportunity to declutter. Check if that dress is good and when was the last time you wore it? Do you really think you will wear it soon? maybe it is best to make a donation pile. Make a trash pile too, we get to store so many things that are not really functional anymore and we keep them expecting to fix someday. So put it in a pile and get over it. Your move will be easier and remember you are starting a new chapter so start it fresh don’t drag broken past with you.
12. get some food
With all available services around, there is no excuse. Of course, you can have your pizza and even have it cold for breakfast next day but trust me nothing will make you feel better, relaxed and energized for the day of unpacking then a good hot breakfast, you even can schedule the order for the next day. Think of it like a room service. get your groceries delivered right to your door without actually going in the supermarket. Check Instacart, Uber Eats, Amazon Fresh. and get yourself some snacks (healthy of course) some fruits will go long way.
Bonus:
shopping is the best part of moving
If you are moving across the country it is probably will be cheaper to buy some new stuff then move old ones. and the best part FREE SHIPPING TO YOUR DOOR!
So hey, get your new sheets, a new duvet, new towels, maybe even the whole new bathroom set shower caddy, and of course new pillows. add some candles and don’t forget a bottle of wine or even champaign to relax after a long day.
And to end the day, dont forget your wine.
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