Whether you are moving to a home 5 miles away or 500, there is a certain overwhelming dread that usually comes along with the thought of packing and unpacking an entire household. I was surprised recently when I realized that I have moved 13 times in the past 10 years- a figure that I dare say may be deemed remarkable by even the most transient military family. So, I thought I’d share some of the hard-learned lessons I’ve learned along the way.
#1- Clean out shop- I must admit I used to be a pack rat. Well, after ‘Move #6' things began to change in that department of my life. The random ‘things’ I was holding onto became just added weight during a move and needed extra storage once I got to where I was going. Before starting to pack, do a thorough cleaning out of things you no longer need to keep or hold onto. Can’t decide what goes and what stays? My rule of thumb follows the old William Morris saying , “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. Everything else- get rid of it. Hold a yard sale to make a few dollars or donate to a local donation center (don’t forget your receipt for tax purposes).
#2-Don’t underestimate the value of a small box- This is probably common sense to a seasoned mover but newbies listen up: While big boxes hold more, they are much more difficult to move. Save the big boxes for lightweight items like linens and pillows. Scout out some small sized boxes for items that are particularly heavy or fragile. You (and your back) will be thankful for this on moving day.
#3- Pack a “Last Minute” box of household items- Keep a box handy of things you will need quick access to throughout the move. Some of these things might be a few forks, drinking cups, toilet paper, a note pad and other essential items you don’t want to be rummaging through sealed boxes for. This should be the last box you grab before locking up the house for the final time- and the first one you bring into your new home.
#4- Pack the truck with a plan- Keep in mind that whatever you load into the moving truck first, will be coming out of the truck last when you get to your new home. When it comes to unpacking in a new place, I have always found it easier to get the furniture in first so you aren’t maneuvering your sofa, for example, around lots of boxes. So in this case, you’d want to make sure you pack your furniture in the truck last so that it’s the first thing off.
#5- Double check utilities ahead of time- Trust me when I say that you don’t want to move into a new house, in the middle of a snow storm, and realize you have no heat or electricity. Call ahead of time to verify with your utility companies that everything is turned on at the house so you don’t run into any surprises. Also, to prevent lost mail and late payments be sure to provide your new address to those companies that send you important mail including your credit card statements, car insurance bill, bank statements, etc.
#6- Bribe your friends to help- That’s right, good old fashioned bribery often works best in this scenario. It’s worth the few boxes of pizza and IOUs to have help moving all of this stuff. The more people you can enlist, the sooner it will all be over. Just remember to return the favor someday.
#7- Don’t try to unpack in a day- While you may be anxious to get everything set up in your new place, don’t make the mistake of tearing open every box right away. Start by getting the big stuff in place in each room. Then work on setting up electronics and organizing cabinets and closets. Leave the little details like home decor, artwork and mirrors for very last.
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