Moving Tips

[larabelle]

Well, I have finally tenured at my job after three long years. I am therefore thinking of moving closer to my job as I am currently 22 miles away from work and there are much closer places to live. I was thinking of a suburb only 10 miles from work. I would save on gas, wear and tear on my car etc. The new place costs the same as my current dwelling. So, I am requesting tips on moving. I can not take my moving expenses off my taxes as I am not moving far enough away and I will not be in compliance with the distance requirement.

[PrairieRose]

Pack one room at a time, clearly marking each box (I love milk boxes free from the gro. store) what room, closet, dresser, pots and pans, etc... . Then load boxes together and unload them into the room marked on the box. Unload the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen in that order. Start packing early, doing the nonessentials first (extra bathroom and bedroom for example). Hire movers. Omg, we've done that the last few times we've moved our kids and I have to say it's well worth the money
Oh and watch freecycle and craigslist for moving boxes for free (those closet wardrobe boxes are WONderful!).

[stinkbug]

Purge as much as you can before you move! And, I absolutely agree about hiring movers. We did not do this...I wish we had. When dd1 moved, she hired day movers and they were fantastic and very reasonable. Even if you only have them move the big stuff, like furniture and larger boxes, it's a huge help.

[stinkbug]

I can't edit, so I'll add....check your local liquer store for boxes. Ours always has them available and they are very sturdy with the tops intact. (they cut around the top and leave them hinged)

[ilovechocolate]

Have a yard sale before you move to get rid of stuff you don't want to move and to make some $$$$.

[AmyBoz]

Declutter as much as you can before you move.

Move as much of your stuff on your own as you can - get help from friends and coworkers. We did two moves on our own by renting a U-Haul. It was SO much cheaper.

Label all of your boxes so that you can just deposit them directly in the rooms where they go.

Once moved, don't stop unpacking until every box has been opened, sorted, and put away. We've been in our house for 4 years...just the other day, I finally tossed 2 boxes that had been in the basement since we moved. I figured, if I hadn't used that sutff in 4 years, I probably wouldn't. (Should have probably tossed that stuff first!)

[wanderlusting]

Declutter as much as possible-you don't want to be moving or paying someone to move stuff you don't want!

-as you're packing things up, label which room the box belongs to.

-keep important info in designated box.

[lwlynch]

I agree declutter.. declutter.. I am trying in baby steps to do my house

[larabelle]

DECLUTTER IS A DIRTY WORD IN MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh you all that is going to be sooooooooooo hard. I am such a pack rat!!! I love to collect things and I have knick knacks amd dust catchers all from the thrift stores all over my house!!! I am laughing and I do agree with you all it is just that it is soooooooooooo hard. OK I am over my whining is just that I love to collect stuff ....and I really do have over 100 decorative bird houses which frame my walls and ceilings....maybe this moving stuff is not such a good idea....it might put me cause me to have to go into therapy.

[StartingOver]

Designate a box for stuff that you will need to use first thing in the morning. Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, towels etc...so you can put that stuff in the bathroom right away.

So hwn you get up the next morning you can get dressed and showered first thing iand not have to hunt all over for your stuff.

I also agree w/hiring movers if you can afford to. It sure saves on all the heavy lifting on your back. Of course we are older now (which makes all our friends older...and no one is real eager to help move anymore)

[Critter]

We have moved 6 or 7 times in about 3 years for dh job so I am a pro at this.

1. you need to do this room by room once you start a room finish it if you find something that goes in another room set it outside the door don't take it to that room as you may get distracted.

2. This is a great time to declutter and do it why pack and move things you will not use or have to store (I learned this from my 1st move we had to have a storage unit not pretty that is for sure)

3. Get sturdy boxes and see if your local newpaper will sell you the ends of the rolls of newpaper with no print better for packing things up and also on your hands. Sometimes they might even just give them to you.

4. Make sure you mark all boxes clearly and know where they go and what is in them nothing worse then move and be looking for something and can't find it.

5. Pack up a open 1st box for things you will need in your first night works so much better then having to look for your toothbrush in all those boxes.

6. Use up your pantry and fridge items and only buy whta you need right now.

Good luck with your move and have fun!!

[shoiji]

After you declutter, any really important papers put together in one container. Mark appropriately. When moving this is one item you take with you not the movers!

[karone]

if u know someone with a baby then ask for the boxes the diapers come in. around here those come in handy for storage.

[leezza]

I agree with everyone about DECLUTTER, (when I went thru my kitchen I got rid of everything that I hadn't used in a year).

I also agree about movers, it might cost you some but in the long run it would be worth it, (when we moved we packed everything ourselves, the the guys came and packed it all in the truck, unpacked it at our destination......so all you are left with is packing and unpacking).

You will also want to have all of your things transfered:
1. Change of Address, (make sure to do this for all bills, and your bank)
2. Electricity
3. Gas
4. Water/Trash
5. Cable

The more things you do in advance the smoother the whole process goes.

Good Luck,
leezza

[AmeliaM]

The last few times I moved(my ex is AF so I've moved more times than I want to count)...and I'm possibly moving in a few months. I started 2-3 months in advance. Each day I would pack stuff not needed...like spare bedroom and bath like someone else mentioned...also kitchen appliances and such not needed. I would get my kitchen down to just what I needed at bare minimum and do real basic recipes and such. I labeled each box clearly(use a thick marker) on at least 2 sides-sometimes w one side having a few things listed on the outside what was on the inside. I got those smiley face stickers that come in like 6 colors and labeled each room a different color. I knew at a glance when we were unloading boxes that green was kitchen,purple was master bed,pink was bathroom etc...whatever works for you-if you have kids helping( my friends and I try to have someone sit all the kids while everyone else is helping-at least w the main move of the furniture and boxes)they will be eager to help with this.

It's better to have to many boxes,but if you pack as you go along then you will be pretty much done by the time you move. Have plenty of packing tape....though where I work we have boxes w lids but we sometimes reinforced the bottoms at time.Though I know you hate to mix. Wrap breakables such as dishes w napkins,towels,washcloths...etc...If you have anything large use sheets or blankets. This even worked for an across state lines move. This is the best time to declutter for sure.

Last box out of house/apt should have tp,soap,towels,cleaning supplies. It goes w you. Last stuff you need at old place...first stuff that you will put in new place.

Go online and reserve w a credit card(have a friend or relative help if need be) and reserve your truck-I find that Budget has the best deals here and the trucks size meets my needs. I get the one for a house and load everything in one load-one trip and we are done. When you get to the actual rental place though(don't forget to print out reservation and call a week ahead of time to verify-though I have never had an issue w Budget the 3 times I've used them.My friends had terrible times w Uhaul and ended up going to Budget anyway-but the best deals are online and in advance...even just a month is better than just walking in)you only need a valid cc for reservations. You can pay cash when you get there-I always have. I put the $300 down and as long as you follow their rules-return on time,gas tank full-w gas receipt maybe,swept out truck-I've always gotten money back. You walk in the next day if you dropped it off that night.I've gotten it for sats or sun before and had to have it back I think around 6 or 7 in the morning and I picked the pick up time.

We usually order pizza w coupons to think our friends for helping us move. Though I have made chili before and had it sitting in crockpot(s) in the kitchen the night before we moved.

In a local move I leave my dog at the old place w her stuff and after we unpacked the truck I come back for her. She knows it's time when I start packing her stuff in a box and grab her food bin. My cats haven't gone through this yet. Should be interesting. It keeps them out of the way. The dog goes into a bathroom then a bedroom while we pack the rest of the place up. I let her out hugging her and telling her I'll be right back-she's 8 1/2 years old so she understands this by now.

With kids moving and afraid of losing their toys-have them help pack and say we have to get them all packed(but maybe the few they can't live w/o that fits in their backpack) so they won't get lost...and they helped so they knew it was all coming.This helped alot for one of my friends....their 3 year old was panicking that her toys would be lost....or left behind. They also packed the stuff she couldn't fit or was 'baby' stuff including toys to give to someone who would need it more. She got a little fussy but when they asked her if she was a baby she said no...she's a 'big girl' she stopped fussing so much.

And if this is a local move I like to have a week or two between the move into the new place from the old place to give you time to clean,paint,vacuum etc...the old place. There is usually no issue w having your electric stay on that long. They overlap a bit ,but it's better than not be done and have your old landlord charge you if you use the electricity that got turned over to them. If you get done earlier than you thought-you can always call and have it shut off quicker. I've actually had the keys a few days before moving up to a week-started moving in bathroom stuff and kitchen stuff and had some basic stuff set up before the big move. Had a day to do the big move that coming weekend-we did it in like 6 hours because I had 99% of my stuff packed. And then of course there was furniture,washer,dryer etc...That was for loading and unloading.Make good use of a dolly-we were stacking boxes and we set up crews. Certain people were setting up boxes to stack on dolly,took turns on hauling the dolly,loading in the truck. I try to have a good number of friends and family. There was 8 or so of us that day. My friends said that is the quickest they have ever moved someone. I of course had the fun task of unpacking over the next week or so.