While it might be super exciting to be moving to a new home, especially if it’s the home of your dreams or perhaps a move from an apartment to your first home, no one really enjoys the actual process of moving. Whether you’re sizing up or scaling down, moving can be exhausting, stressful, and frustrating, and can even be the impetus for arguments with your spouse or family members.
What to take? What to throw away? How to pack? When to start getting organized for the move? What kind of boxes or containers to use? There are so many things to take into consideration as you face your move, especially if its your first one. So, here we’ve offered some moving advice for beginners, those new to the process of moving. We hope they’ll help your move go more smoothly.
- Make a timeline – As soon as you know you’re going to be moving, sit down and make a realistic timeline for packing and other chores that need to be accomplished. Obviously, your timeline will be determined by the amount of time you have before your move. If you have a few months, spread your tasks into small bites. If you’re a little more crunched for time, you’ll have to be a bit more ambitious. Be realistic with your goals so that you can stick to the timeline. By visually organizing your move, you won’t feel so overwhelmed. Another option is to set a timer and pack for an hour or so a day. You’ll be surprised at how efficient this method could be!
- Declutter before or as you pack – If you can identify clutter- stuff you no longer need – and where it’s located, get it out of the house before you start packing. Of course, you’re going to come across items you no longer want as you’re packing as well. Keep a pile of those items and plan to donate them or toss them, whichever seems appropriate. As a matter of fact, it’s good to make 3 piles as you’re packing: keep, donate, and throw away.
- Invest in decent boxes – Yes, you can use boxes you picked up outside the grocery store or the ones that have been in your parent’s attic for 10 years, but carefully check their condition before you start filling them. It’s often a good idea to spend part of your budget on quality boxes instead, so you can be sure that your items are safe, especially those that are fragile.
- Use the right size boxes – Think about the weight of an item before you put it in a box. While an extra large box might be great for holding 30-40 books, you won’t be able to pick it up when you’re done packing it! Plan accordingly, with light items going in the largest boxes.
- Use household items for packing – In some instances, you won’t need a traditional box with a lid for some items. For things like bedding and clothes – which can often be bulky – you can use hampers, laundry baskets, and suitcases, which would otherwise remain empty.
- Use bags for clothing – Trying to carry single items of clothing on hangars is a nightmare! They slide off and make their way to the ground, getting dirty and necessitating the need for washing or dry cleaning. Instead, put a simple green garbage bag over a group of hangars (maybe 10 shirts, blouses, or pants; fewer when the items are heavy, like coats) and carry them like that. If you have folded items that you can’t keep in your dresser drawers, put them in space bags – you know, the kind you suck the air out of to make them compact.
- Use colored labels for boxes – So that you can quickly put moving boxes into the correct room in your new home, label them with color-coded stickers or markers. (i.e., yellow for kitchen, green for master bedroom, etc.)
- Stock up on packing material beforehand – Don’t forget to save your newspapers, bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, or any other packing materials you can gather in order to use them to wrap or pad breakable items. You can also use towels for this purpose if you run out of other items.
Do it yourself or hire a moving company?
If you’re moving and have thought about doing it all yourself and/or hiring some friends to help, think again. While that seems like the most economical way to go, one wrong move and it can turn out to be a very expensive move.
Remember, you or someone else can easily get hurt during the move. That may mean you’ll wind up liable for someone else’s medical costs. In addition, if you are hurt while lifting boxes or completing some other chore associated with moving, you could be out of commission for a long time, affecting your ability to work.
Furthermore, you and your friends aren’t bonded. That means if something is broken, it’s a loss. Professional movers are bonded, so if they break something they will need to cover the cost of replacing or repairing it.
If you’re sold on hiring a mover, you might also consider having them pack for you if it’s a task you’re dreading or if you simply don’t have the time to do it. Check out our prices and consider whether it would be in your best interest to hire us to do both the packing and the moving.
Whether you’re moving around the corner or across the province, Kary Movers can help you get organized so that your first move goes smoothly. For information on all of our services, call us at 604-687-1746.