How to Successfully Move

If that dreadful day is coming up for you, don’t sweat because it will be alright as long as you have some time to preplan. Going into any kind of move can be stressful, especially when you get a bit older and start collecting things that eventually are accumulated clutter. When you realize you have a bunch of stuff to move, you often begin to panic a bit. Most people don’t know how to successfully move, so here are a couple tips and tricks to make this process go as smoothly as possible.

It’s Never too Early

You should probably get the ball rolling if you have a move date set. You will definitely have days where you won’t want to continue packing-which is why it’s always best to get a head start to allow time for chill days. Packing takes a ton of work, so make sure to allow days off to do nothing. First thing is first, pick a date and get moving…literally.

Where to Start

When you start analyzing all the things that need to be moved, it is very typical to feel overwhelmed. Before casually throwing stuff in a box, grab a thick sharpie to ensure everything is labeled. Start in one section of your house and organize each box as best as possible. When you start with a small area, you will feel more accomplished than staring at the entire kitchen in a panic. If you have a rough idea of where everything is going to go, label the boxes with the new location instead of the old. Obviously, you want to keep office supplies in an office, so don’t overthink it too much. As you label, use things you know that work for you. Color coordinating, detailed notes, or separating boxes on a moving truck are all great ideas to keep you organized. Reflect on how you stayed organized in college and go from there.

Breakable things should go in tight, compact boxes with lots of filling around them to keep the item safe. If you are trying to be environmentally conscious during this process, use blankets and pillows from your home to not waste bubble wrap or paper towels. Bulky items should go in larger boxes or forfeit the boxes altogether if the item can be kept safe. If you live close to the new place, take solo trips in a car of bulky items just to get them out of your way. Furniture should obviously wait for the truck. Easily movable furniture should be closest to the door to speed up the moving process. This is obviously not something you should do until a few days before the move takes place.

Progression

Progress through your old home and pack up the things you want. If you have stayed in this location for an extended period of time, you will likely run into something you didn’t even know you had. If you can’t decide on the item, you want to keep at the time, toss them into an already cleared section of your home and go through them later. Sometimes making a decision can be too stressful within a move, so make sure you allow time for your mind to process what you do and do not want. Leaving these items to the end is not always the worst idea either, as long as you are not leaving them until moving day.

Meltdown

It is time to call in some reinforcements when you get to the meltdown stage and feelings of total overwhelm. If you don’t have family close by that, you can coax them into helping you try to get some friends on your side. Moving an entire home can be very difficult, so make sure you get support for yourself to make this process a bit easier. At the very least, make a friend at U-Haul and go from there. If you invite friends over to help you move, make sure to reimburse them with beer or alcohol of some type. It is totally acceptable to order a pizza during this time as your kitchen is likely in a box but make sure to thank them. Having friends close by can be very helpful to get things done and keep you sane.

Moving Day

Hopefully, at this stage, everything is already boxed up and labeled. Furniture should be close to the door where items can be loaded onto a truck. It is always good to have more people than you think you will need. Getting some bulky friends or family to help move the heavy stuff is always excellent. If they aren’t the most graceful individuals, protect the corners by taping or wrapping a sock or t-shirt over it. While it might seem funny, it will protect the walls and essential pieces of furniture you don’t want to get damaged. Try to be as organized as possible with boxes. Sometimes it is best to have the new homeowner direct people with boxes than move boxes themselves. That way, everything is in the right spot. If you feel like you are not being productive, multitask by lining cabinets, putting items away in the main room where you can still see what is coming in, and direct accordingly. Of course, thank you, guests, again with food and alcohol. It might be good to send thank you cards at the end of the move to signify how much they mean to you.

For the Damaged Items

Furniture often gets scratches and knicks on them as the moving process progresses. Grab a similarly colored pen from your local hardware store or craft store and fill those dings in. They will become a lot less apparent and noticeable, especially for those who don’t know they are there.

Before everyone leaves for the day, ensure that your bedframe is set up. After a stressful move, you will want to have a good night’s rest in your new place. Make the bed so it is comfortable for you, light an unboxed candle, and play some music. Relax in your new home!

What are your best moving tips and tricks?