Over 40 million Americans (13% of the country) move each year. About 65% of these moves are within the same county, with 14% of people crossing state lines. Whether you’re moving to a new home nearby or across the country, it helps to have a plan.
Here are a few simple tips that can help you when packing for a move. Using these tips can help you remain organized and efficient.
Otherwise, you might find yourself scrambling at the last second.
Read on to learn how to pack for a move without unnecessary stress today!
Declutter
About one in four Americans have a clutter problem. In fact, the average home contains 300,000 items! If you’re planning a move, it could help to declutter first.
Otherwise, packing every single possession in your home can get overwhelming. Throughout the process, you’ll likely find items you don’t want to take with you anyway. You can simplify your move by getting rid of clutter before you start packing.
Move from room to room to identify items you either want to donate, sell, or toss. Organize these items into three designated piles.
Donations can include clothing you no longer wear to houseware items you no longer use. Check with your local nonprofits to determine if they offer a pickup service. Otherwise, find a nearby location and take the items you want to donate in yourself.
Calling ahead can save you valuable time. You won’t have to worry about taking the drive to the collection center if someone can pick everything up instead. Meanwhile, you could be eligible to receive a tax break if you keep your donation receipts.
If you have the time, consider holding a garage sale instead. Then, use the money you make to purchase moving supplies!
Gather Supplies
Try to gather the supplies you need as soon as you start planning a move. Otherwise, you might have to make multiple trips to get what you need, causing delays and making the process more costly.
Instead, save money by turning to friends, family members, or your local grocery store. Ask if they have any boxes you can use.
Make sure you’re using the right boxes before you start packing.
For example, you should use smaller boxes for heavy items like books. Pack light items like pillows and linens in bigger boxes. These moving tips could help you avoid the chances of a box breaking.
When packing, make sure to put heavier items on the bottom of the boxes, with lighter items on top. If you plan on loading the truck yourself, put the heaviest boxes in first, toward the front of the truck, to maintain balance.
Try to avoid leaving empty spaces in your boxes, too. Instead, fill in any gaps with packing paper, towels, or clothing. Otherwise, items will start moving within each box, increasing the risk of breakage.
Try to avoid mixing items from different rooms within the same box to make unpacking easier.
Create an Inventory
As you begin packing for your move, make sure to label each box with the name of the room it’s meant for. Keep an itemized list of what’s within each box, too.
Make sure to number your boxes. You can keep track of how much you packed and know what’s within each box. If you need to grab an item quickly, you won’t have to open every box looking for it.
Don’t forget to tape your moving boxes well. Use a couple of pieces of tape at the top and bottom seams. Consider wrapping the tap around the box’s top and bottom edges, too.
Pack Room by Room
In order to remain efficient and organized, consider packing items room by room.
Remember, it can help to only place items within the same room inside the same box. Try to keep these boxes together to make unpacking easier.
If you hire professional movers, they’ll also have an easier time unloading the truck and carrying boxes into each designated room.
When you start packing, begin in rooms you don’t use often (like an office or the garage). Then, move onto the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen in the weeks before the big move.
Take Apart Larger Items
Try taking apart any large items like cabinets and dressers before your move. Otherwise, they might be more difficult to carry and move on your own.
Bed frames and bookshelves are easier to move in pieces. You can also avoid unwanted scratches or marks by wrapping the pieces in blankets.
When disassembling furniture, keep any bolts, screws, or nuts in a bag. Tape the bag to a piece of the disassembled furniture before you move. Write down the nape of the item in case a bag falls off, too.
Note Essentials
Consider packing an “open first” box for each room. Inside this box, keep any essentials you might need right away. Packing an essentials box for each room can help reduce stress.
It can also make it easier for you to identify the contents of the boxes you’ll need immediately.
Keep a box of everyday essentials like toilet paper, soap, and paper towels ready as well. When it’s time to move into your new home, you’ll have easy access to these items right away.
Hire Professionals
As you begin using these moving tips, remember: you don’t have to do it all on your own. Instead, consider hiring a professional moving company. Some moving companies will even pack your items for you.
Hiring a professional team can take the stress off your shoulders. You’ll have peace of mind knowing they’ll protect your belongings, too. Find a moving company you can trust to plan a less stressful move!
Get a Move On: Simplify Packing for a Move Today
Planning a move shouldn’t feel stressful or time-consuming. Instead, use these tips for packing for a move to simplify the process. With these tips, you won’t have to worry.
Instead, you can enjoy moving to a new home without unnecessary hassle.
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