What is your most useful tip for moving?

Question

We're relocating a few states away without a moving company. Please tell me the thing you're most grateful for knowing (or what you wish you knew) when you moved.

Answer 1

PODS are a really good investment. You pack your stuff put it in the container and they come and get it and drop it off into your driveway, so you can unpack at your pace and not have boxes where you want to put something. If your taking a television or radio you can attach the remote to the television and wrap surrand wrap around it to hold it there and you will never loose them, you can also do this to stuff with doors that way you don't put tape on them and mess up your possessions.

Answer 2

First, pack ALL of your breakables. Because by the end of the day you are literally throwing everything into boxes. At the beginning of the day, you still have enough patience to wrap things carefully. Labelling all your boxes is really handy if you are willing to take the time. Sorting everything into categories, and write on the box what exactly is in it. That helps so much when you're unpacking.

For clothing hanging in the closet, gather them in chunks and twist-tie together the hangers with the clothes still on them, put a garbage bag with the opening at the top and tie around the hangers. Your clothes won't get so wrinkled that way.

Order Pizza and other finger food because you will find you've already packed your dishes and utensils. Plus you will be starving, most people I know haven't really eaten all day when they are packing, so just order in.

Find a truck you can borrow for the day because you will have straggling items you couldn't quite fit or were in use when you moved with the big van.

Pack a suitcase and a backpack. The same way you would if you were going on a trip, and put these items up front with you so you have quick access to them. That way you don't have to hunt through every box just to brush your teeth. Have a few changes of clothes, pajamas etc. in the suitcase. Have the backpack packed with all your quick-access stuff like your cell phone, ipod, keys, wallet/purse etc. and have that close to you.

To pack last: your vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies, mop, broom, etc. Cuz you hafta clean before you leave. Then those cleaning items will be the first ones out when you get to your new home, in case the previous tenants didn't clean like they were supposed to (hey it happens).

Answer 3

Make sure you label every box and know exactly what you put in it. That will save a lot of grief at unpacking time.

Have a garage sale or give away before you start packing so the new house won't be filled with stuff you wished you didn't bring with you.

Another thought is to take what you must have (essential kitchen things, can opener, some plates and tableware, baby formula, toilet paper, a few days worth of clothing, etc) and pack those in a VERY clearly labeled carton or two that are convenient to reach when you arrive.

Answer 4

Instead of wrapping breakables in newspaper, use your towels, wash cloths, hand towels, pillow cases, even clean laundry.

When loading, think of the furniture and boxes like a big tetris puzzle. The tighter everything is stacked together, the more secure it will be if you have to get on the brakes during transporting. Pack it high and tight!

Be sure to have too many boxes, lots of tape, and rope.

Don't empty out dresser drawers. Load the main unit, then put the drawers back in. Loading the whole thing at once could cause the unit to start separating.

Use couch cushions as a buffer between things like dressers or china cabinets.

Thank you for posting this question. I'm going to be moving next month and everyone else's answers have given me some great ideas. :-D Thanks everyone!

Answer 5

Hire a federally-licensed household goods mover (he should have an "MC" number and not just a DOT number). Read the federal booklet on your rights under federal law or visit the website below and look up its article on moving. Pack everything valuable yourself and make a list of every single item or box that you are moving. Consider buying extra insurance, otherwise you'll be stuck with the mover's minimum insurance coverage of 60 cents or $1 per pound (so for a broken Tiffany lamp, you would only get $5 or $6 in damages!) Get a written estimate or a fixed price. If it's not in writing, you get nothing.

Answer 6

Pack up one room's worth of stuff at a time. Do not fill your boxes too full. You don't want them to be too heavy when you carry them out to the Uhaul.

Write on the outside of the box which rooms' stuff it contains. Do this in heavy marker pens. And even what it is, if you can. Like, "Living room" and "books" or "knick knacks." That way, coming out of the Uhaul, you'll know which room to carry boxes into, and you wont have to open all the boxes to find an item you are looking for.

Be sure you look into metal coffee pots, etc, to be sure that there's no liquid in them. (Watch our for diaper pails, too. Whew!)

At you new home, unpack and put your beds together first, and get them made up. Then, unpack kitchen. It's especially helpful to young children to have their beds together right away.. Makes them feel more at home in the new place.

Answer 7

Number and label your boxes.
My parents moved recently and swear the are missing a box or two.

For example Kitchen 1 of 9, 2 of 9, etc.
Then keep a master list of how many boxes you have for each room.

This will let the movers know which room each box belongs in when you get to the new house and you can count the boxes for each room and know that they all arrived.

Good luck with your move!

Answer 8

Packing is going to take you a lot longer than you're anticipating it will. It always does...

Answer 9

pack your books in a bunch of different boxes or many smaller boxes. trying to pack them all in one box with throw your back out.