Congratulations on your new home! Now, the “fun” part-packing up and moving. Moving is a lot of work and can be overwhelming, but no need to fret. We’ve put together a list of moving tips and tricks to help your move as seamless as possible.
Preparation Tips:
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Transfer Utilities: Make sure utilities are transferred by moving day. Keep in mind that transferring utilities could take a few days so you want to have it set up before the move.
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Collect free boxes: No need to purchase moving boxes if you don’t have to! Ask local grocery stores, large retailers, friends, neighbors, and recycling drop off points if you can pick up their used cardboard boxes.
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Declutter: Make your move easier by paring down your possessions. Now is the perfect time to sell or donate unwanted items.
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Coordinate a moving team: Whether you are hiring movers or getting family and friends together to help with the move, coordinate a team to help you on moving day.
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Moving Truck: Reserve a moving truck with a loading ramp and a dolly.
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Change your address: Change your address at least a week before you move by going online at USPS.com/move or visit a local post office and ask for a Moving Packet with a Change Address form.
Packing Tips:
Color Code Your Moving Boxes:
Use colored markers to color-code your boxes when moving. For example, with a marker, color in a quarter-size circle on the top of the box and on the side of the box. A box with a green circle contains kitchen items, a blue circle contains bedroom items and an orange circle for bathroom items; etc. Color coding your boxes is an effective way to help you and the movers know where each box belongs in your new home.
Pack dishes safely:
The most common way to pack breakable dishes is to wrap each item in newspaper or bubble wrap but we’ve gathered some additional tips to safely pack your dishes and we’ve listed those tips below.
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Packing plates: Here is an effective and inexpensive trick to pack your plates: Use foam disposable plates in between each real plate while stacking them in the box.
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Packing glassware: Use a cardboard wine case and put glassware inside each compartment. You can find wine cases from your local bars, winery, or grocery store.
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Packing silverware: If your silverware is in a tray, you can wrap the entire tray in plastic wrap. If the silverware is not in a tray, wrap in bundles for instance wrap forks together, spoons together, cutlery together, and place them inside one of the kitchen boxes.
Plastic wrap your dresser drawers:
Keep the drawers and everything inside them from falling out of the dresser by wrapping the entire dresser with plastic wrap. If you have to take the drawers out to make moving the dresser lighter, then wrap each individual dresser to keep the items in tack- this way you don’t have to remove the items from the drawer and box them up.
Wrapping Electronics:
Bubble wrap or wrap blankets around electronics that are too big for a box, such as your T.V. or computer to keep them from breaking. Before you unhook and pack away the cords to the electronics, take a picture of the back of all devices. Having these pictures will make it easier to set up your electronics when you unpack in your new home.
We know moving is a task, whether you are moving down the street or across the globe let us help you find your next home.