The worst part about buying a new house or signing a new lease is the sinking feeling you get when you realize you need to move all your stuff. Even though this may seem like a chore, we’ve got you covered with some essential moving tips and tricks. Here’s helpful packing advice from the experts. Build a BudgetBefore you start doing anything, take some time to build a budget for your move. There are a lot of factors to consider, so start early. You’ll need to figure out the cost of boxes and other moving supplies, the price of movers if you’re hiring them, and how much it’ll cost to rent a moving truck. If you’re driving a long distance, don’t forget to plan for food along the route, as well as overnight stays in hotels. Create a ChecklistNext, make a checklist that breaks down what you need to do and when you need to do it. Who is calling the moving truck company? When are you booking your hotels? In the checklist, ensure you include as much time as possible for packing. The reason so many of us have memories of packing nightmares is that we put it off until the last few days before the move. If the situation allows, build in enough time to pack at your leisure—ideally no more than one hour a day. When you have nothing but time, you can even plan out the order in which rooms will get packed. You may want to start with rooms you have less of a day-to-day need for. For example, save the kitchen until the end, so you don’t get frustrated searching for a pot that was packed away days ago. Decide Whether You’re Hiring ProfessionalsProfessional movers may feel like an unnecessary expenditure, but they can make or break a moving experience. If you have friends and family willing to help out in one location, that can lighten the load significantly. If not, professional movers can save the day. The last thing you want after several days of driving is to lug dozens of 40-pound boxes up a flight of stairs. Declutter Before PackingDon’t neglect this note, whatever you do! Before you start filling boxes, take a day or two to declutter your home. This will save you from making tough decisions while packing so you can focus on getting your belongings into boxes. It also helps you avoid packing more than you need to (which your back will thank you for). Get Good BoxesScoring free boxes from the grocery store may seem like a good idea, but just wait until your favorite lamp comes crashing through the bottom of a mediocre box. Quality moving boxes are inexpensive and easy to find, and the durability is more than worth the trip to your local hardware store. Make a Moving Essentials BinIt’s way too easy to forget about the essential items you need during your move and pack them away. Before you start your packing odyssey, set aside things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, and a few changes of clothes. That way, whether you drive across the country or fly to your new home and wait a few days without your stuff, you’ll have everything you need. Pack by RoomThings can get confusing when you start unpacking boxes and find items for the kitchen, living room, and bathroom all in the same carton. You can save a lot of time packing by room, so it’s easy to know where to put your boxes once you reach your new place. In this same vein, make sure to label all your moving boxes so you can see where to set down the cartons at a glance. If you want to get really efficient, create a packing system that lets you know which items are within which box. For instance, you might have your kitchen boxes labeled K1-K7 and make a spreadsheet that informs you that dishes are in boxes K3 and K4, while spices are in K6. Don’t OverpackYou may think that efficient packing requires you to fill every box to the brim with Tetris-level organization. While it’s a good idea to avoid empty space in your boxes, overpacking can lead to boxes that become too heavy to lift and safely transport. When packing heavy items like books, place some books on the bottom of the box and top the crate off with lightweight items. No box should weigh more than 50 pounds, and ideally, 40 pounds should be your maximum weight. Use Different Box SizesYou can make your life a lot easier by varying your box sizes. Clothing, for example, can get loaded into a large box since clothes don’t weigh much. Dishes, however, can really start to weigh down a box. This strategy can also help you maximize space in your moving truck—a set of large boxes can leave space on the sides and top of the truck perfect for small boxes! Leave No Empty SpaceOne of the packing materials you should plan to pick up is packing paper. Items shifting in transit is a sure way to have something arrive broken, so make sure you leave no empty spaces in your boxes. Bundle up breakables in bubble wrap or clothing and keep all your boxes tightly packed. Repurpose Household Items for PackingLaundry baskets, suitcases, and hampers take up a lot of space in a moving truck, so use them to your advantage! Fill these items with your belongings to avoid leaving any wasted space in that all-too pricey moving truck. Schedule Your UtilitiesOne of the worst feelings in the world is arriving at your new home and flipping the light switch only to discover you never set up your utilities. Avoid days of cold water and dead cell phones by scheduling your utilities to begin the day before you arrive. Now that you know these moving tips and tricks from the experts, pack your stuff like a pro and get to your destination with your goods intact. If you haven’t closed on your home yet, we can help you sell your house as-is in Chicago—just reach out!
5 Comments
1/13/2022 03:06:12 pm
I appreciate what you said about making sure you don't pack too much into a single box. I need to move to a different state next week and I can't pack up my piano by myself. I'll have to hire a moving crew to do it for me.
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1/27/2022 12:11:53 am
Packing by room was definitely an idea I could get behind. This is because my kids are usually really angry when their things go missing, so this could be a great way to prevent that. I'll keep this packing tip in mind so I can use it when I hire a residential moving company to help us out.
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2/9/2022 07:45:04 pm
I liked it when you said that it is important to have good and durable boxes for a smoother moving process. This is helpful because my partner and I will be moving to our new two-story house near the lake in March. With this, we are hoping to find expert and careful movers on Sunday who can help us pack and transport our belongings and heavy furniture safely and securely.
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3/10/2022 03:53:46 am
The very informative article you shared provides me with a plethora of ideas to help me adjust to my new surroundings. However, moving/selling a home is a difficult task. Your content gives me a practical idea for that and ensures that I can quickly investigate your suggestions. Please continue and share more.
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AuthorEric Strung and Direct Property Buyer Team Archives
January 2024
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*Members of Direct Property Buyer have real estate licenses held by Spartan Residential.
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