Packing up your home to move is a daunting task. Where do you start? How do you make sure nothing will break? “There has to be an easier way!” you may scream into the empty cardboard boxes surrounding you in the kitchen.
Good news, there is an easier way! With these 25 home packing tips, you will have a seamlessly easy move into your new home and unpacking will be a breeze.
1. Get Rid of Unwanted Belongings
Go through your belongings and decide what you can get rid of and what you would like to keep. This will make packing a little easier. You’ll also feel like you are starting fresh after cleansing your home of silly trinkets or unnecessary items. Do this a month or two before your move.
2. Have a Yard Sale
After going through your belongings and deciding what to keep or not, see if the items you want to get rid of are in good enough condition to sell. Host a yard sale two weeks before you move to try to make some extra money while purging your home of unwanted items.
3. Schedule a Donation Pickup
After you host your yard sale, schedule a time for a donation organization to come and pick up the items that did not sell. This may be furniture, clothing, books, or old cookware. It’s pretty simple, all you have to do is gather your donations and be home when the truck comes!
4. Research Moving Companies
You probably won’t be able to move your entire home by yourself. Research local moving companies to hire to help you out with the move. Think about what you can do yourself and what you will need help with. Call different companies to ask them for quotes on the services that you need.
5. Read the Fine Print
Always read the fine print when signing a contract with a moving company. There are some out there who will try to charge you extra if there is a piece of furniture that needs to be moved that you did not put on your list or if the moving day needs to be rescheduled due to weather.
6. Buy the Right Boxes
A lot of people think they can just go to their local grocery or liquor store and pick up boxes to move their belongings. This can be helpful, but since they have already been used, they are less sturdy and may break throughout the move. Buy some new cardboard boxes of all sizes to help keep your organized during the move.
7. Make a Schedule
A month or two before your moving day, make a schedule of what needs to be done and when. This will ensure that you don’t forget to do anything and will keep your tasks spaced out so you don’t feel so overwhelmed.
8. Make a To-Do List
On moving day, have a to-do list ready so you can make sure everything that needs to be done gets done. This may include making certain phone calls, cleaning the bathroom, packing the last few boxes, and everything else that needs to be done.
9. Buy Moving Supplies
You’ll need to buy more than just boxes to have a swift and easy move. Go to your local hardware store and pick up some newspaper, bubble wrap, boxes, packing tape, an X-Acto knife, and some plastic bags. You don’t want to be stuck without these items when it comes time to start packing.
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10. Ask for Help Ahead of Time
Make sure to ask your friends and family to help you with moving or packing in advance. Try to get them two weeks before you need their help so they can pencil you into their schedule.
11. Pack by Room
Bring all of your packing supplies into a room, shut the door, and start packing away! Start with rooms you don’t typically use, such as a dining room or living room. Don’t leave that room until it is all packed up! This will help you feel less overwhelmed and keep you organized throughout the move.
12. Label Your Boxes
Make sure to put labels on your boxes based on what room they go in. This will be super easy if you decide to pack room by room. Write it in large letters using a Sharpie. It also helps to describe some of the items in the boxes for when you start unpacking.
13. Number Your Boxes
Now that you have your boxes labeled by room, add numbers to them. If there are four boxes that go in the Master bedroom, write 1 of 4 on the first box and so on for the rest. This is another way to help you keep organized and make sure you don’t lose any boxes.
14. Start Packing What You Don’t Need
A week or two before your move, start packing things you don’t use everyday. This can include decorations, paintings, another season’s wardrobe, and guest bedrooms. It gives you a great head start on the packing process.
15. Use a Box Cutter to Create Handles
Tired of not being able to see where you are going because you’re holding a box in front of your face? Use a box cutter or X-Acto knife to cut handles on the sides of boxes for an easier move.
16. Change Your Address
A week before the move, make sure you change your address on any magazine subscriptions, bills, and bank accounts. When you move in, you will already have some mail waiting for you and you won’t have to deal with missing mail later on.
17. Use Luggage and Storage Bins
Make use of your empty luggage, storage bins, or baskets by packing items into them rather than using cardboard boxes. Not only will this save you money, but it will save you some space too.
18. Use Clothing to Wrap Fragile Items
Be efficient with your packing by using clothing, scarves, towels, and sheets to wrap up fragile items such as dishware, decorations, or pictures. This will decrease the amount of boxes you pack, meaning less trips back and forth from the truck to the house.
19. Pack Dishes Vertically
Afraid your favorite dishes will break during the move? Pack them vertically rather than horizontally in boxes. There is less of a chance that they will break.
20. Wrap a Garbage Bag on Hanging Clothing
Save time and boxes by putting clothes you have on hangers in a trash bag. Tie the trash bag at the base of the hanger to protect your clothing. When you get to your new home, you can hang up your clothes in your new closet, cut away the bag, and voila you have a full closet!
21. Use Plastic Wrap to Keep Liquids from Leaking
If you are bringing bottles of shampoo, toothpaste, or anything else that is liquid and has a cap, put plastic wrap over the opening then twist the cap back on. This will keep your liquids from leaking and ruining any belongings they are packed with.
22. Pack an Overnight Bag
Pack a separate bag of items you need the day of the move and a day or two after. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes looking for your toothbrush or sneakers the day of the move.
23. Wrap Drawers in Plastic Wrap
Use plastic wrap to keep your drawers intact. Instead of emptying out your cutlery drawer, wrap it in plastic tightly and just place it in the truck.
24. Put Small Items in a Plastic Bag
Keep some Ziploc bags handy for those small screws, wires, or anything else that may be easy to lose. Create a small box for these bags to keep everything together.
25. Use a Clear Bin for Things You Need
Buy a clear bin for items you know you will need that day and a couple of days afterwards. It will take some time for you to unpack everything, so save yourself some trouble and frustration by placing items you need in a bin you can see through.