Moving house can feel overwhelming if you let everything pile up. A move takes a certain amount of logistics: you have to budget money, time and paperwork, schedule services and much more.
That’s why we suggest planning your move in advance and avoiding last-minute packing. Get organized! Set aside a few hours to pack everything slowly. Put on your favorite music, take your time and do your best to actually enjoy the process.
See the move as a chance to declutter
A move is a great opportunity to clear out of your home whatever you no longer like or that no longer fits your stage in life. Take advantage of it to give things away, donate or toss them out. Only take to your new place what you truly want to have with you.
Check the permitted moving hours
Avoid surprises! Check in advance, both with your building community and at the new property you’re moving into, which days and hours are allowed for moving.
Keep in mind that there are often specific time slots when moves are permitted, so plan ahead and double-check this detail.
Choose the right transport
What if, on moving day, your belongings don’t all fit? Or you’ve booked a trip and need more space? To avoid surprises, it’s essential to choose the transport that best fits the size of your home and the amount of stuff you have.
Take photos to remember
A photo session during a move? Absolutely: photos come in very handy when you later need to remember how to connect or find something, or how a space was set up.
Take cables, for example. If you want to remember the right way to connect them, snap a photo. When you have to set up a space again or install a device, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Label your boxes by name and color
Get organized to save time! You’ll thank yourself later for having marked the boxes with their contents and the room they belong in.
This labeling means the moving crew can unload each box right where it belongs.
Using colored tape is also very effective so you don’t have to write the same word on dozens of boxes. Each room can have its own color to make unpacking much simpler: the kitchen with red tape, for example.
And if you’re a very organized person, you can note the contents of each box and its color in a file or notebook.
Use bags for packing
Bags make inventory a little trickier, but garbage bags work great for soft items. For example, bedspreads, blankets and plush toys.
It’s also a good idea to put plant pots in plastic bags: if the soil spills, you avoid a big mess.
Make the most of your suitcases
Use every suitcase you have; they’re perfect for heavy items. For example, pack all the books you have at home in them.
Heads up! Filling a box with only books isn’t a good idea, as it’ll break under the weight.
Pack delicate items individually
Delicate items should be packed one by one so they don’t rub against each other, preventing breakage. For example, it’s common to stack plates together in a box, but you should separate them. To do this, slip a coffee filter between each one.
As for glasses, you can tuck them inside socks. You can also use clothes or T-shirts to wrap items, saving packing material and using less plastic.
Save space when packing clothes
Clothing can be one of the most time-consuming things to pack. The key is to save as much space as possible so you don’t take up most of the moving transport with it.
A great trick to save space when packing clothes is to roll your garments instead of folding them.
Pack an “Open Me First” box
What do you pack last? The essentials. If exhaustion or lack of time keeps you from organizing everything right away at the new place, this tip will save the day!
Set aside the things you need to get through your first night in your new home. Include hygiene items like your toothbrush, toilet paper, sheets, your glasses, toiletries and medications.
If you’re about to move, tell us your biggest question or worry. And we’d love to hear it: what’s your best moving story? Share your experiences below in the comments.
