Half-packed boxes all over the place? Sticky tape everywhere? It must be moving day.
Anyone who’s moved before knows it can be stressful—especially if you’re unorganized. From not knowing where your toothbrush is to shoving plates into boxes when times run out, it can be a nightmare if you don’t do it properly.
But, there are ways you can make moving and packing much easier. It just takes a little planning, lots of labels, and some expert tricks.
Take a look at our best moving tips to make your moving day a breeze!
1) Create a Moving Checklist
As soon as you know you’re moving, it’s time to start creating a checklist. We recommend using a calendar format so you can allocate things to do to specific days. This will keep your plans running on schedule —no one wants tons of tasks bulked together as moving day nears!
On your plans, we recommend including a moving packing list. This doesn’t have to be each individual item. Group together categories like ‘kitchen utensils’ and ‘toiletries’, but write down every large item. Use this to estimate how many boxes you’ll need and sort out moving vans.
2) Find Free Moving Boxes
If you’re wondering how to pack for a move, getting boxes is the first essential task on your list. You shouldn’t have to pay for these – that’s bad for your budget and the environment!
Instead, look at your recycling drop-off points for discarded boxes. You can also find them on places like freecycle.com and Craigslist for ads. Ask local shops, too—they’ll usually have a ton leftover from deliveries.
Make sure to get boxes in all sorts of sizes for different items!
3) Have a Huge Clear Out
Chances are, you won’t need everything you own to come to your new house. This is why our moving advice is to have a huge clear out before you start packing. Get it done early and the rest of your move will be much easier!
Here are some clear out tips you can use:
- Sort your things room by room to stay organized
- Create piles of things to sell, give away, and keep
- As you sort through, think about whether you’ve used each item recently, or can see a use for it in the future. If not, it’s time to get rid of it
Clear out as much as you can. The less you have, the easier it will be to move!
4) Label Your Boxes Properly
When it comes to moving packing tips and tricks, how could we not include labeling? Get a big marker pen and write straight on the boxes. Avoid sticky notes or labels as they can fall off.
When labeling your boxes, include a detailed inventory of what’s inside. You should also write down which room it’s going in and how it’s getting to your new home. It’s a pro-tip if you want to stay organized and unpack quickly!
5) Be Careful With Fragile Items
Fragile items, such as plates or mugs, always need to be carefully looked after during moving. To keep yours safe, here are some tips to follow:
- Pack yours in boxes with clothes and bedding
- Use the soft items around the edges of the box and keep fragile items in the middle
- Wrap each individual item in paper
- Place a layer of bubble wrap between each item to prevent cracking and chipping
You should also never place fragile items at the bottom of a box. Adding more items on top of them is a one-way street to broken belongings!
6) Finish All of Your Packing Early
If you’re still packing on the day of your move, something’s gone wrong. No one wants to be taping up boxes as the moving van turns up!
Make sure you stick to your schedule and plan to finish packing a few days before your move. This gives you time to finish up if you’re a bit behind. Anything you won’t need, pack as far in advance as you can to get a head start.
7) Look For a Donation Pick-Up
Getting rid of big items or large boxes of unwanted things can be a pain. Luckily, a lot of charities will pick up donations from you, free of charge!
Call up local charities to find one that offers this service and schedule a pick-up day. Make sure to do it before your moving day to prevent stress.
8) Hire a Moving Company
A good moving company is essential. They can help you take all of your stuff from your house to your new home quickly and without hassle! They’ve done a thousand moves before, so you can trust you know what they’re doing.
Before hiring a moving company, make sure to check their reviews online. This will help you find a team you can trust.
9) Move on a Weekday
For a stress-free move, always pick a weekday. Weekends tend to have far more traffic on the road and people are always out and about. By picking a weekday, you can move whilst everyone’s at work.
10) Pack an Essentials Bag
No one wants to realize they don’t know where they’ve packed their toothbrush when they move. You want to relax after you move in, not spend hours searching through boxes!
This is why it’s so important to pack an essentials bag. In here, put everything you’ll need for the night before your move and your moving day. Include essential toiletries, a change of clothes, chargers, and bank cards.
Everyone’s essential bag is different, so if you can think of something we haven’t included then chuck it in as well!
Good Luck With Your Moving and Packing
With these moving and packing tips, heading to a new home should be a breeze. Just remember to stay organized and always plan ahead. No one wants to be panic-packing on moving day!
For more moving tips and life advice, check out more of our articles.
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