moving tips?

[Sara Noel]

Any tips for people moving? Things to remember, ways to organize?

[Nantahala]

I moved home after 10 years in the midwest going to college and then graduate school last March. These are a few things I found helpful:

- declutter; do not take anything you don't need. These items take up valuable space that is a premium when moving.

- I used the large roughneck Rubbermaid containers for heavy but fragile items like kitchen items to better protect them and to make sure the bottom did not fall through. I got them all on clearance after Xmas.

- We used Upack (upack.com) to move 3/4 of our stuff; we used one of their cubes and it was quick, easy and cheap compared to the alternatives.

- We saved, saved, saved before the move. We had three months living expenses saved up.

- We kept a "moving notebook" full of numbers, addresses, names, directions, copies of bills and agreements for both our old life in OH and what we were starting in NC. It was incredibly helpful to have the electric company number right in front of me when I needed it.

- Spacebags! I thought these were a huge hoax but someone I trusted swore by them so I bought 5 of the XXL ones and they really worked! We packed all of our clothes and linens in them and they took up a fraction of the space.

I hope these can help someone; I chronicled our move in a lot more detail in my blog under the tag "the move."

[missyali]

We rented a pod so that we could keep our old house decluttered. We unloaded the garage, off-season stuff and overflowing closets into the pod. They picked up and then delivered it to our new house. I loved it!

[HandyMom]

I'd pack a suitcase for each person in the family with everything you need for a week and would normally take on a trip. Pack a box for the pet(s) too. This should go to the new house along with you and that way, everything else can be packed up without essentials accidentally misplaced.

It's easier to number boxes and keep a notebook of what is contained in boxes. Example - kitchen = k1, k2, k3, etc.
master bedroom = mb1,mb2.. and so on.

Try asking on your local freecycle for packing boxes, packing peanuts, etc instead of buying them.

I used kitchen washcloths, tea towels and pot holders as padding for kitchen glassware. Bath towels and washcloths would also work.

[justpeachy92]

With kids it is generally easier to pack their stuff last and to unpack it first.

[dcompton]

I agree. Take the absolute must-haves with you -- some clothing, medicines, etc.

It is a good idea to identify boxes, as someone suggested.

In addition, I would pack "critical boxes." Of the kitchen stuff, pack one with a miscellany of a couple of pans, a few non perishable food items, a few plates and glasses (or disposables), can opener, etc. -- and mark it clearly so that it can be easily spotted in a pile -- tape a sheet of red construction paper on each side or something similar. That way, you can quickly find the minimum necessities for functioning as soon as you arrive. Kitchen, linens, bathroom.... anything that will jump start living in the new place. Then unpacking won't have to be a frantic scramble to find the box with the shower curtain or the pillows or a cup for your coffee.

[monkeymia]

I have heard to use towels, linen and clothes to cushion breakables as you are packing them and you use less newspaper.