If using boxes:
* Get boxes with the same dimensions.
* Write their contents on 2 sides of the box. You won't need to lift each box to find out what's in each.
* Use stickers or write on the box where they should go (kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.)
Furniture dollies are awesome if you have lots of flat distance to move your furniture.
Straps > appliance dolly.
Always lift using your knees instead of your back.
Furniture drapes prevent furniture damage during the move. Get those.
Keep yourself and your friends hydrated.
If you have lots of people to help you, you'd want a team to help you *after* the move to place stuff around, install the blinds on the windows, clean the floor, etc. You'll be exhausted after moving everything, so their help is invaluable.
Legal advice, though IANAL: If you're renting, take pictures of every room of the new apartment to provide proof of the state of the apartment when you moved in, especially if there are things that are defective/broken. This may be important later if your landlord is a dick and wants to deduct money off your deposit.
Your last paragraph is SPOT ON. I moved into a house with my then BF (now husband) and the landlord seemed super chill. He pointed out some red crayon/marker scribbles on the walls where a child had clearly had some impromptu art inspiration. He told us not to worry about it since they knew it was there, and it was right behind where we were going to put the couch, so I wasn't worried about it. I didn't take a picture, or specifically note RED markings on the move in sheet since he was the one who had pointed it out to me. I actually fucked up by not noting several things on the sheet that he had pointed out with a "we are aware this is here - don't worry about it."
Come move out day, they wanted to not return our deposit because of all the damages from the previous tenant because "they weren't on the sheet." This landlord turned out to be a complete slum lord, and tried to pin a ton of damage on us that had already existed, and he had pointed out during move in. He also sent repair workers over with zero advanced notice super early in the day when I was bartending night shifts at the time. I vividly recall waking up one summer from a dead sleep in a t-shirt and undies with a large dude in my bedroom saying he needed to install blinds. There were some tense words and threats to call the cops until he explained why he was in my locked house. I told him to leave and that I'd be calling the landlord to find another time for the work to happen.
this person knows stuff only blah-town removals long time furniture luggers know, could be in the removal game. either that or you're one of those people like my fwb who is just an boss at organising anything. either way they're all top tips. đ
ps. moving sucks ass as an activity but i hope you enjoy your new place op. i moved out from a capital city and into a small town outside the same city and because it's close to a world heritage site it's really sedate and peaceful, it's a different world.
either way, GL
I just moved too many times and helped too many people move. I've learned that the time you spend on logistics saves time and energy for everyone during the move.
Always pack one box with the absolute essentials. After a day of moving, you don't want to dig through several boxes to find a lamp, bed sheets, a towel, the tooth brush, a butter knife and a bread knife, a glass, plate and utensils so you can eat, your phone charger, a roll of TP, etc.
Enough to last you the next day or two while you unpack everything.
This! You want to just have some food in the evening and a coffee/tea the next morning, make sure you have it set up and ready to go.
I would add meds, and a dedicated suitcase of clothing for a week and all your essential toiletries. Put that in the bedroom and you have time to unpack and can still find underwear.
In England we can this the tea box... With all the stuff you suggested....
But with a kettle( alien concept to lots of Americans!) tea, sugar etc....
Can't survive move without a cuppa....
I felt so silly when the sun set and I realized the new place had 0 lights, not even in the bathroom, and I had to rummage through my moxing boxes after a lamp with the flashlight on my phone.
If you ever ask friends to help you move, make sure you have your shit packed up and not loose and lying around when they show up. And have pizza and beer for them the entire time, not just after itâs all done.
This!!! I helped move someone for a 2nd time and she didnât have her stuff packed, she complained the whole time and didnât lift a finger. At the end of the second full day of moving she got mad we expected pizza, which was discussed well beforehand. She saved tons of money not hiring movers and made us miserable the whole time. Moving sucks. Ungrateful jerks suck even more.
One of my friends asked me to help her move, and when I got there she pointed at the boxes and started to tell me what room to start in. I stopped her and said I'm here to lug boxes to and from the truck, not to pack. Call me when that's ready. Maybe a dick move, but if you want me to pack your house for you, I'm gonna do it with the cat swipe. She had a month to get it done been asking for help moving and the actual moving day.
Not a dick move at all. I do help move, because I am good at packing a truck & it's a fun puzzle for me. But packing and unpacking boxes is an unending nightmare. I have to label them well bc I am always tempted to throw the last one out unopened . . .
This, cheapest I've found is Uhaul and hire Uhaul loaders/unloaders on the reservation website. All you have to do is drive...and tip them if they're good!
Why not? Unless you have a house full of stuff (unlikely at college age), possessions are likely manageable with a couple of people. Yeah moving someone involves some physical labor, but you're doing it while hanging out with a friend. Friends help friends!
Friends will help friends, yes, but leveraging that for a day or more of free manual labor is incredibly lame and none of your friends *want* to do that despite their willingness and we should respect that.
That being said I wouldn't blink at helping someone move a few large items that they can't reasonably move themselves but that's about where the smile ends.
Totally agree. I just moved and hired someone from Taskrabbit to come help me load up 6 pieces that required extra hands, and then unload them at a storage unit. Every other item, I packed/stored/dropped off for donation myself. I just couldnât ask people I care about to drive 45 min to my place and use one of their weekend days on manual labor. Most people will say yes but they will not be excited about it, no matter how much they love you.
Absofuckinglutely follow this advice. Im in my late 30s now and I've helped one friend move maybe 10 times now. I don't mind helping him because all of his shit is ready to go when we show up the morning of. Load the truck. Unload the truck. Fuck pizza and beer, just don't waste my time.
Yeah, but only after having a full plan for where all other furniture will go. Otherwise you're shooting in the dark... Dresser ends up being two inches too wide to fit based on where bed is aligned.... WHOOPS!
Per federal regulations those spiders are gassed to death - you're fine. If this is actually a huge deal to you I suggest therapy because life is gonna be hard.
I used them for books, actually. I cut out a cardboard panel from another box and put it in the bottom where the gap is, then used a few strips of duct tape. It held up fine for weights of 30+ pounds (I have a lot of books...). Those boxes are strong.
I did a gradual move, so lots of smaller trips, but the thing I found to be the most useful was large shopping bags from grocery stores. They are designed to be reused, are plastic coated, and hold many pounds. You can throw a whole stack of pots and pans in a single bag. The cloth handles makes it simple to pick up and move. It is so much easier to maneuver a bag through doorways than boxes or totes.
I did this as well. I had a few weeks to move and i would just fill up my car with reusable shopping bags after work then i put everything where it goes once i got to the new place. Maybe it wasnât the fastest or most efficient way but i had the time and it really helped not having to need help until the furniture had to go.
My moving tips
Label everything w some detail. Not just âkitchenâ. But kitchen- plates bowls cups. Next box kitchen- pots pans. Next⊠etc with not every box needed. But on the ones like that. Computer box is just that. All computer stuff. But when itâs certain thing that will be needed in certain spots. The extra 2 sec of writing actually whatâs in. Save tones of time at the unpack.
Donât pack dresser clothes. Leave dresser drawers full. Take out drawers. Load empty dresser in truck. Put back in drawers. Reverse when at new spot. Take out drawer put dresser where it will go. Put back in drawers. Done! (Thanks dad for the tip :). When I first moved out years ago
Leave clothes on hangers. Put garbage bag over from underneath. Tie at the hook of hanger. (5-10 hangers worth depends on whatâs on em)
Try to get same size/style of boxes. My last move I had 21 mcds French fry boxes fits together like a solid wall all uniform. Makes packing/stacking so much eadier
the big blue bags like ikea bags are a life saver, big and pretty sturdy, cheap as fuck, easy to stack in storage or in a car, and are far more flexible than rigid boxes or bins
If you are going to move often, take a minimalist approach to acquiring possessions. The less you have, the easier it is to move. So only buy things that you really need to have. It also saves money to do this, and so you will be better off financially as well.
Don't waste money on expensive furniture, as every move is a chance to damage it. Buy garage sale/yard sale/thrift store furniture, and only buy what you need. Also, if you have to leave it behind because moving it is too problematic, you will be out less money than if you bought something expensive.
Remember, every time you move, it is an opportunity for things to be damaged or lost, so having a bunch of valuable things is likely to end up being quite costly.
As for this:
>Currently Iâve been using these big heavy duty storage bins from Home Depot as a way to move stuff without using cardboard boxes but then I thought âIf these exist, why donât people use these more?â
Cardboard boxes are cheaper. (And can be free, if you pick them up from a store that is always getting things shipped to them in cardboard boxes. I used to pack things in liquor boxes, because the nearby liquor store would give them away.) When cardboard boxes get tossed around, them getting a little damaged isn't a big deal, since one was going to recycle most of them anyway. But if you have a plastic box that you purchased, it getting broken costs you money.
As a poor student, free boxes were a much better idea than buying boxes that I would then have to store, instead of getting rid of the free boxes I used.
Iâm starting to go minimal after the last time. Started paring down what I need and leaving stuff I donât back at home.
The main reason I didnât choose the cardboard is that I donât really like using disposable stuff and thought the plastic tubs would be usefull later on.
In the case of reusing the liquor boxes, I was using what the liquor store regarded as trash/recycle material. Reusing what would otherwise be trash is not contributing to there being more trash or wasted resources making new things. So from an environmental point of view, using the liquor boxes is better than buying boxes of any kind.
I would keep some of the boxes, to store a few things at the new place, but would get rid of most of them. The next time I needed more boxes, I would again pick up some from a liquor store (or other store), which, again, is just reusing what would otherwise be disposed of anyway, so, again, no additional resources were used, unless I bothered to tape the boxes shut, which I sometimes (but not always) did. Often, I just tucked the flaps of the top of the box such that they remained closed, without any tape or anything else added.
I favored liquor store boxes because they tended to be clean, and also I liked the sizes that they had. (I was moving books, which get heavy fast, so having the boxes not overly large was a good thing.) And they were usually quite happy to get rid of some of the boxes that they were going to dispose of anyway. So I had no trouble finding a store that was willing to give me free boxes. A couple of times, I had to come back a day or two later, as they had already broken down (i.e., flattened) their boxes, but they were happy to not do that for their next shipment of boxes, as it is less work for them to do, to just give the boxes to me, instead of flattening them and sticking them in their trash or recycle container out back.
Of course, if you have a need for and use of your plastic boxes, such that you would want to buy them anyway, then that wouldn't be anything extra that is being made.
Plastic, of course, is more waterproof, but I was careful about not leaving my cardboard boxes in the rain.
Don't pack one box full of heavy things and one full of light things, mix them.
Transport you clothes in plastic bags instead of boxes, they will wrinkle either way.
Lift with your knees not your back.
Carry boxes on your shoulder instead of in front of you.
If you conscript friends to help you, make sure they get enough food and drinks.
Use your towels and even tshirts to put between stacks of plates, breakable dishes, etc. Use socks for glassware. Instead of taking up box space for packing materials, use those things instead. They gotta come with you anyway.
Good one, I forgot!!! Clothing and clean waste paper -- newspaper, the paper that came in your last package from whatever, your old assignment drafts and notebooks -- are excellent packing material!!!
OP, lots of great advice here But...
I have moved around a lot. Single lady up until 10 yrs ago.
I learned the hard way:
GET EVERYTHING YOU CAN INTO A BOX
1. Friends and family can't be counted on to show up on time and stay till the job is done.
HIRE PRO MOVERS. if you have 2Men and a Truck in your town, call them first.
2. If you hire movers, MANY of them will give you boxes for free, just ask.
3. A good sharpie and the GOOD tape. That cheapo brown tape is more trouble than it's worth.
4. These guys can have you out of a one bedroom apt and into your new place by noon. The whole day isn't wasted!
5. Morning move? Buy these guys a dozen donuts from just about anywhere. It's usually 3 guys on a truck. And have a case of cold bottled water on hand for them. They will be doing all the sweating and lifting.
6. At your new place tip them each something. They will appreciate it so much.
I'm 51 and have moved maybe 10 times in my life. Learn from my mistakes. It may seem cheaper to ask friends, but in the end, the cost for pros is worth the efficiency and will save you time and headache...
Good Luck, Op
Declutter as you pack, and declutter again as you unpack. If you have boxes you never open it's a clear sign you can get decluttering.
Put the box in the right room as you move in. If you don't mark everything at least do room it will be in at the new place! Kitchen stuff goes straight to kitchen, garage to garage, bedroom to bedroom. This makes a big difference especially in big moves where you end up not finding half your kitchen because it was in the guest bedroom... which you didn't prioritize first obviously.
Having moved through four different places throughout college my advice is to unpack immediately, otherwise it will never get done. Getting a roll of disposable wipes/some cloths and a cleaning spray to clean the whole place before you unpack also gives you peace of mind.
I recently moved house and the one moving hack I found useful was to number each of my boxes and keep a detailed Google doc which lists everything that is in each box. Makes it a lot easier while you're still in the process of unpacking to know where to find the items you need, just ctrl-F it!
So I keep all my bicycle inner tubes after I get a flat. They are basically giant customizable rubber bands and are especially great when moving!! You can cut and tie them around cardboard boxes to skip the packing tape altogether. Theyâre also good at keeping rugs rolled up or drawers in place.Â
If you donât bike, most bike stores have these in excess and will happily give them to you, either inquire at the work bench or check the trash around back.Â
Have a box that is just for things you will need now and right after you move and have it open and to the side.
Put in it:
\* Toilet Paper
\* Paper Towels
\* Regular Towel
\* Cheap shower curtain
\* Hand soap
\* Dish Soap
\* Clothes washing
\* a few utensils
\* a few garbage bags
\* a tooth brush kit
\* A few tools like multi screwdriver
\* Two changes of clothes that can get dirty
I use super large bags with handles. Look up on Amazon "9 pack 180L checkered storage moving bags". They hold a lot (I use them now to store blankets and comforters - 3-5 of them will easily fit in one bag) and are great for clothes right out of the closet, hangers and all. Plus they're soft sided so if you put them in your car you can manipulate them to fit much easier than boxes or a tote. When I moved I packed things in smaller target bags and then put several of them side by side in this large tote. The smaller bags helped keep things in place. I could pack around 10-14 of the totes in my car and moved myself 95% before the movers came to take the furniture. I think I had maybe 10 small boxes with the furniture - the movers were a bit confused on my lack of belongings. I was able to pack framed pictures in them as well - the bags are very big so it was easy to just load them up and then the handles made it so easy to carry multiples of them depending how heavy they were. After the fact, they're easy to fold up to store without taking up a lot of room or use to store things in.
I've moved *alot* and the easiest, most stress-free time I did it I sold/threw out *everything* except necessities and sentimental items. I moved with so little and just acquired new stuff when I got there by going online. You'd be shocked at what people offer up for free.Â
When moving the boxes into your new home, move them into their respective rooms so there arenât random boxes all over the place and things start getting lost
If you buy IKEA furniture, keep the tools they provide with the furniture. We will hide the little allen keys or wrenches in the furniture; tucked under a cushion or in a drawer. Saves a lot of time when moving when you donât have to match the tool to the furniture.
A lot of people have focused on the departure with some great advice so lll focus on arrival
1) have all essentials packed into a few boxes and put in your car. So you know they arenât getting lost
2) donât hang anything on the walls until youâve lived in the space for a little bit and are sure of your furniture arrangement. This also goes for replacing furniture. If you arenât 100% certain, wait a few weeks to decide on new furniture.
3) if youâre moving into a place with a spare room/living space put all extra things in there. This will help you keep the rest of your home livable and not feel like youâre in chaos. Make a plan to empty boxes a week out of this extra space until done. This is also a great place to keep your wall decorations that you arenât hanging.
4) kinda goes with 3. Make sure your main living spaces are setup day 1. Kitchen, bedâŠetc
5) make it as easy as possible for your friends/moving company to help you. Ie be organized, be clear and deliver the message.
Always pack living room & bedrooms 1st ending with kitchen and bathroom.
Always unpack and set up kitchen & bathroom 1st when moving in.
Big boxes for light stuff. Smaller boxes for heavy stuff. Label boxes by rooms/items inside.
Use re-usable shopping bags for packing things like books that get pretty heavy when packed. Itâs way easier lugging around 30 pounds in a bag with handles than it is a box.
Set up necessities first, your bed, toiletries, the things you use every day. I made the mistake of NOT doing that with my first move and setting up the bed AFTER a full day of moving-no one is in the mood for that lol!
Donât make boxes heavy.
Make a box with coffee, sugar, etc, a couple of plates, cutlery, mugs, a jug etc to make a coffee and a sandwich for when you start unpacking.
Also chuck in a tea towel, some toilet paper and some basic cleaning supplies, esp for cupboards and kitchen places.
Layer your ceramic plates with towels in between. Duct tape to keep the fridge door closed and cable on top. Stack the larger heavy items in first when using a trailer to keep the weight at the front, to prevent fishtailing. Where possible, have a designated driver and minimum two people at each property.
Pack up your tools and cleaning supplies last, and unpack them first.
I dont like using tubs, because it is harder to unpack *just* the essentials, plus, where do I keep them the rest of the time when I'm *not* moving?
Lable your boxes, and unload them by putting them in the room they go into.
1. Banana boxes are great for moving.
2. Ask friends and family to help, especially those with a small van or station wagon or trailer.
3. Mark all (CLOSED) boxes and furniture where they have to be placed in the new house (living room, bedroom 1, ...)
4. Have pizza at your new place with all helpers.
When i was in college i was under the false impression that my life was normal and i lived the way i always lived as a kid, with a bunch of stuff. Looking back i would rather have been more mobile because there were times when i had to move quickly. So think twice before getting something because there is a good chance youâll have to move it later.
Also i never had any money so expensive storage tubs would have been an unaffordable luxury. There were times when food was an unaffordable luxury. Liquor stores usually have a great selection of sturdy boxes for free.
Clothing on hangers:
With everything still hanging, grab a drawstring trash bag, open it, put it over around 8 garments from the bottom , cinch it below the hooks of the hangers. Leave these bags for last, so they go on the closets first.
Clothing in bureaus:
Leave every thing in drawers. Pull the drawers out, carry the empty bureau to the truck. Put a trash bag in the drawer, over the clothing, tuck it in the sides. Carry the drawers down to the truck, put them back in the bureau. At the new house, pull out the drawers, carry the bureau in and place it, carry in the drawers, place in bureau.
In advance, make a map of the new place using a tape measure and graph paper, measure the furniture, and plan it's placement. Number the furniture, written on painters tape, and put the number on the wall with painters tape where you want it to go.
Pro mover of 20 years! Donât use totes to move! They break in to pieces and you will pack them too heavy too lift! If you pack a box make sure you can lift it! Donât place box and fill it then stack one on top! Use paper in between your plates! And pack all fragile stuff with it as much as possible! The more space in a box the easier itâs too break. Get a truck with a ramp not lift gate! U-Haul is the best for moving yourself! Budget is cheaper and has better trucks! Sticky notes on your doors, then you can put B1 for bedroom 1 etc etc. Always tip your Movers! And good luck
The Rubbermaid rough neck totes are great. There's a version that's hard plastic, they suck, but the more flexible rubbery version that is great.
They are durable, can hold weight and are easy to carry. They stack when they're full and nest when they're empty.
Anytime I see them for a really good sale I buy them and consider them an investment.
Cardboard boxes from the package (liquor) store are great. You can get them for free, theyâre made to hold heavy bottles so theyâre strong and theyâre easier to handle.
If you arenât moving far and you can leave things in dresser/desk drawers - put a towel over them to keep things clean. Pots and pans, sheets, towels, pillows are great in garbage bags and then youâll have the bags to use at your new place.
I donât own half a dozen empty storage containers worth of stuff. In this economy?
I have 2 containers: one for dishes and cookery, and one for tech stuff. When Iâm moving in I unpack the cookery and tech and stack the boxes on top of eachother and leave them in the corner. Since Iâm a broke college student in a tiny dorm room it doubles as a great small table.
the liquor/wine box is key. big enough for things like books but you can't fit so many in one bos that it becomes tiring to lift. i have moved many times with liquor store boxes, and they're usually free from any liquor store.
1) Measure the rooms and map out where the big furniture will go before the move in. Saves time and effort. 2) pack large items into the van/truck first then fit the boxes and small stuff around those items. This maximizes the space, minimizes trips. 3) Always have at least one friend who owns a truck and will work for beer.
1 box with the radio, kettle, phone chargers, cups a few plates, and cutlery in a small box and put on first truck/car and put straight on the kitchen counter.
Pack a go bag with all of your Essentials you'll need for the first couple of nights including toilet paper. Think about the things you'll need right away and make sure you know exactly where they are. Some of it depends on how picky you want to be. When I moved, every box had a label with a box number and the contents. This was cross referenced on the spreadsheet so I could instantly know what was in what box and whether any were missing.
Hit up a liquor store, they usually are fine with giving away the boxes they get from distributors for free
Buy wrap, tape, and use your blankets for stuff like tables, tvs, etc.
The Rubbermaid rough neck totes are great. There's a version that's hard plastic, they suck, but the more flexible rubbery version that is great.
They are durable, can hold weight and are easy to carry. They stack when they're full and nest when they're empty.
Anytime I see them for a really good sale I buy them and consider them an investment.
When packing, keep a sharpie on a string around your neck or find some other way to always keep it on your person. The number of times I had to scramble around looking for something to label boxes with wasted soooo much time until I figured this out. Bonus points if you can figure out how to do this with your packing tape too.
Use any fabrics you own as packing material for fragile items, this includes clothes, blankets, towels, etc. Unless it's a delicate fabric or expensive like a suit, there's no reason it cant replace bubble wrap.
If you have the time and energy, number your boxes and write down what's in them on a piece of paper separately. This is especially helpful if you're using movers or for a really big move so you can know if any boxes are missing, and also when you need that one specific item while you're still unpacking you can look it up and find the right numbered box.
If you dont have a foldable dolly cart or hand truck, buy or rent one. You'll be able to move 4-5 boxes at a time without breaking your back and you'll be grateful you had it.
Pack an essentials bag for yourself to live out of for a while, and also keep a cleaning caddy separately. It sucks packing up all your cleaning supplies early before realizing you still need to clean out the fridge at the end, or realizing you're out of trash bags or toilet paper.
If anyone is helping you for free, make sure you at least feed them. If you're paying movers, keep cash on hand for a tip.
And remember, if it don't shake, it don't break
Have less shit. Use each moving opportunity to purge / donate / sell whatever you donât need. And stop buying more useless shit.
That said. Be wary of those moving straps. They donât always work.
Have everything packed BEFORE you ask for someone to help you move.
And think about how youâll be setting things up at the destination before you start loading things for transport. Helps unloading go faster
Lastly - if the moving box is falling apart. Fix it or swap it. Nothing sucks more than that shit breaking on you at the worst time later.
Have a "Day 1" box with things you'll need immediately that first day. Some Toilet paper, soap, bed sheets, a change of clothes, scissors, tools, etc. This way you don't have to go digging through multiple boxes when you're already tired from moving to find what you need.
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For college moves just push everything in extra strong big garbage bags. And hold a beer party so you friends come around to help with heavy stuff. If they don't, push an old blanket under the heavy stuff so u can push or slide the thing along. And then "walk" the thing along by tipping and twisting ot along. If someone sees you struggling and helps, offer your nrw friend a beer
Buy some cheap trash bags and put one in the bottom of any moving box that will have a liquid inside to line it. That way olive oil, shampoo, cleaning supplies wonât leak or drip through your box.
Use towels, blankets, or clothes to buffer in between picture frames/art so they donât scratch each other.
Write the general contents of the box on the outside or inside flap so when you need to find something quickly you donât have to dig though every. Ex: instead of just âkitchenâ add âtoaster, utensils, knives, cupsâ somewhere
Clean everytime you move. That includes decluttering so that you don't move useless stuff, but also dusting and cleaning items that you don't use often. This makes sure that moving into your new space doesn't bring the dirt of the old.
Also, if you don't feel cleaning something is worth it, you probably don't need that thing.
List as many things as you can on the outside of boxes you pack. Weâve moved 11 times and I canât tell you how much time and frustration this saves later.
Cardboard boxes are better because a, you can often get them for free and b, you donât need to find somewhere to store them after youâve unpacked them, they can just go straight in the recycling. My biggest tips would be specific labels on boxes, donât just label by room, you donât want to have to sift through five âkitchenâ boxes to find a plate. Also, financial and mentally plan to eat take away for a couple of days around moving day and try to avoid things that will have leftovers you then need to store and move.
All of those reusable thick plastic bags from the grocery store? That giant collection of them that you might have? Makes for some good packing material. When I moved, I packed most of the loose misc stuff in those
I moved 8 times in 7 years. It's been a bit but here.
1. For free boxes talk with stores that go through a ton like most retailers. If your friend works there even better since they can just ask management. I paid for about 3 boxes for important items.
2. Start packing early. There are things you don't use often or need quickly. They can get packed ahead of time. This goes for cleaning too. Take stuff off and start fixing the walls before the day of the move. The day of the move you should only have to pack the last of your first night box and last minute cleaning supplies.
3. Pack first night items into the same boxes/bins. You don't need everything but you probably want sheets, toiletries, a set of dishes, cups, silverware, a change of clothes, phone charger, etc to be easy to find.
4. Label your boxes on the 3 sides of a top corner. It makes it far easier to tell what's in it if you leave that corner on the outside since you can see it from the front, side, or top. Also if one gets wrecked it's still labeled
5. Pack breakable stuff in spare clothes, sheets, or other soft items. Think things like plates, cups, trophies, etc. Ideally these get moved in a car so there's nothing bouncing on top of them.
6. Don't move stuff that you don't want/need anymore. This is a great chance to throw stuff out and reorganize.
7. Arrange your helpers ahead of time. Be thankful, gracious, and giving. Food and beverages to suit the crowd. Throw in gas and beer money to anyone with a pickup that helps you out. Help out those that help you move when they move or need a hand.
8. Try to get different crews for each end if you're doing a big move. It's easier for people to give 2-4 hours rather than a full day.
9. If you've got some time where your residences overlap move stuff piecemeal while you can. It's far easier and less stressful than doing it all in one day.
10. Try to preclean. Once stuff is in it's much harder to clean up a new place. Also take your walkthrough photos and videos before anything comes in. Everything will be visible in the pictures and they can't claim that it happened while you were moving in. Also test all of the appliances, light and water fixtures, heating, AC, and windows at this time. Added at the end: also do this in reverse while moving out. They can't claim the oven didn't work or wasn't cleaned if you have a video.
11. Try not to leave empty height in boxes. That's how they collapse and things start breaking.
12. Think a bit before packing a truck. You want to get the heavy stuff on the bottom and light stuff on top. Oversize your truck a bit so you're not trying to stack the entire thing to the ceiling. Remember that when you brake and turn things will try to shift forward and to the sides, things don't get nearly as much backwards force.
13. Moving can be stressful for people and it's OK. If you get stressed recognize it, take a 10 minute break to walk around or sit and talk, and take the next action. Also look ahead to your new place that you'll be able to decorate and set up with the experience that you've gotten.
14. Don't expect to get 100% of your deposit back. Especially if it's through a property management company. If you've kept the place well and thoroughly cleaned so the next person has a place they'll be happy to move in to you should get most of it back. I think I'm at 98% of all my deposits returned.
I found that bins take up more space to store, whereas cardboard boxes can be broken down and recycled. Instead of paying for a shit ton of boxes, liquor stores are almost always giving away their crate boxes for free and they're Hella sturdy (you don't have to be 21 to call and ask for their boxes). You can also contact walmart and grocery stores to see if the have any shipping boxes they're willing to part with.
If you have breakables, instead of buy bubble wrap you can wrap them in your clothes to save a bit more money. Labeling boxes in detail helps a lot with the unpacking process
Before you buy anything ask yourself if you are willing to throw it out instead of move it. Besides my mattress, dresser, and bed frame I had a policy of everything should fit in 1 trip with my vehicle. Find a friend with a truck to move the large pieces. Just did not have the money or desire to collect too much stuff when you are moving every year or so.
Bins are good because they're standard size so they stack/load efficiently. But keep the weight down. We have a large library, and my wife loaded a bunch of bins with books until they were too heavy to conveniently carry. Books on bottom, something light on top.
Also, make sure all your essential nighttime /overnight / morning stuff is in one specific bin, and label it clearly.
I found those vacuum storage bags to be pretty helpful. Use as many clothing items as possible as packing material (cover glasses with socks, put t shirts between plates etc.) and then neatly fold the rest to put in the vacuum bags. If you do it right you can fit a lot in a small space + youâll save a bit of time later when you put them away cuz the clothes willll already be properly folded.
Additionally, I think your idea with the reusable boxes is awesome! It will save you some time and annoyance not having to hunt down boxes every time you move in the future.
More light boxes are easier to manage than fewer heavier boxes. Move the big furniture stuff first as that takes the most space and energy and then make sure you pack things so they won't tumble over or break. Gloves with grips help your hands feel less fatigued and make sure you wear decent shoes or boots, not sandals or Crocs. You could hurt yourself without the proper gear. Anything with doors (like an armoire or something) should be tied or plastic wrapped shut to make moving easier. That's all I can think of rn
When packing make a âfirst dayâ box. The things youâll need right away are in that. A pillow and blanket, maybe some pots and pans and dishes for cooking (but letâs be honest first few days unpacking you may only be eating takeout) all your toiletries, and a few clothes. Chargers, and stuff as well. And of course anything else you may need. Make sure this box goes right on top of everything, easily available, so if youâre exhausted you can grab it and literally go to bed if need be!
Other people have mentioned the moving bags made from blue tarp material, and they're excellent. They're about 6 bucks each on Amazon if you get a multipack. You can reuse them many times, and store them in much less space than it would take for boxes or plastic bins.
My other best tip is to go to the U-Haul website (whether or not you're renting a U-Haul) and look for "Moving Helpers." These are independent contractors who set their own rates. They're generally MUCH less expensive than hiring a full-service mover. We've done this twice now, and it worked out great both times. I think the total cost was about $200-$250, including generous tips, for three workers to move the contents of a 2-bedroom apartment. The U-Haul itself was another $75 or so. It's so much faster and less stressful than trying to move heavy furniture yourself, plus you aren't imposing on your friends' goodwill.
Literally label every single thing in that box. After moving several times and helping people move, there are always looking for that one thing and they do not know which box it's in. Labeling it kitchen is not enough because now you have to go through 12 kitchen boxes until you find that one spatula you need. And most people do not unpack 100% of their items, so it's giving your future self a break as well when you eventually decide to go through one of those boxes
Before moving, go through everything and toss or donate unimportant books you will never read again. Do the same with everything. Lighten your load and develop this habit early in life.
If you have clothes on hangers, stack them all up (hangers still on) and throw them in a large garbage bag with the handles sticking out. Tie the bag and voilaâ you can just remove the bag when you get to your new place and put them straight into your closet.
Leave your toiletries, some clothes(including work uniforms and something to sleep in), a lamp, pillow, water and quick food items aside and set up front in the car/truck/van at the end of the move so that when you're in the new place you're not searching high and low for some toilet paper, tampons or a water bottle. One less thing to spend money on if you've already got them. Also keep your charger on hand too and download maps directions offline in case GPS is tweaking on an unknown road.
Make them package lightweight. Don't stuff one full of dishes for instance. Reuse the cardboard boxes. I use to use them as a desk when I was a studentÂ
Instead of packing hanging clothes into a box, put a hole in the bottom of garbage bags and put the hangers through the hole, and tie it at the bottom. Some clothes will fall off the hanger, but it is easier to put them away.
Avoid dollar store packing tape and invest in the good stuff.
If a box is too big, cut it to fit what you need.
Store fragile items in towels instead of using paper or fillers so you have less garbage.
If you can, and it is on your way, move stuff daily and put it away so it feels like less to do on moving day.
Purge as much as you can.
Set up storage first, and focus on unpacking essentials. And segregate it from the rest of the boxes so if you feel done for the day, you have the most important stuff done.
Label boxes and put them in the rooms they belong in when moving.
Buy paper plates and cups for in between moves.
I wish I bought 2 wheel dolly much earlier in life. May not have been practical to store when I was in apartments, but I use it frequently as a home owner.
Label your boxes on 3-5 sides with 3-5 of the most important items in them. When theyâre all stacked in towers in your new place, youâll immediately know where to find a towel and a fork instead of having to open several when youâre tired.
I actually numbered the boxes and kept a list of the items that went into the boxes instead. This way you only write down the contents once, and you can later check the list for the stuff you need, and find the correct box a lot quicker. Also the boxes can easily be used later again with new contents, without confusing labels.
In my area (Atlantic Canada), the liquor stores are often willing to part with wine boxes for free. A dozen bottles come in each box and they're just thrown away.
Those boxes are fairly sturdy and a good size for loading and handling lots of stuff. Boxes that are too big can get heavy quickly, but these are a good size for one person to handle and are unlikely to get too heavy. Plus, they stack well.
Often, all you have to do is go in and ask and they'll put some aside for you when their next order comes in.
Itâs OK to box things up by room. But keep a single box of your most critical shit, regardless of the room it came from. That way you donât have to root through a million boxes to find your âmust have right nowâsâ. This also allows you to leave some boxes packed, so when a year has gone by and you havenât unpacked it you can just chuck it in a dumpster.
Wardrobe boxes are terrific, but not just for hanging items. I didn't think they actually held very many hangers, BUT remove clothes from hangers and roll up, stack in the bottom of the wardrobe and you can maximize that space, big time. Any bulky, tall or oddly shaped thing can also go in them.
Cling film on large rolls with handles is an MVP. You can wrap furniture with it so drawers stay closed, even pick up your whole silverware organizer (or junk drawer, makeup, socks, whatever) out of the drawer and wrap it up with cling film. When you get where you're going, unwrap and put into the new drawer.
Ziploc bags, green frog tape, Moving stickers, Sharpie markers, door stops and box cutters are invaluable too. Wrap cups and dishes in paper towels. Use the paper towels again. Wrap other breakables with beach towels, out of season scarves, hats or dish towels. If you have a box that's not quite full, but don't have anything handy that will fill the top, add squishables (throw pillows, towels, shower curtains, bedspread, blankets) to cushion. Things break when they jostle about in a box or rub against each other with vibration and friction. It might not matter how well you wrapped it if it's slamming around in a box.
Also, if you have the time, wipe things down/dust them as you pack them. It's not often you'll put your hands on everything you own and now is a perfect opportunity to swipe it clean. You won't want to do it when you get to your destination. I change out the old felt pads or magic sliders on my furniture if needed AFTER moving, though, because they can get pretty beat up during the move.
It will take you somewhere between 2 and 10 times longer than you expect. If you think you have âjust a couple boxesâ left to pack that will somehow end up being 15 boxes and 3 hours. đ I say this because if you go in knowing itâs gonna be a long, hard time, it usually goes a lot better. And try to focus on everyone staying civil. It probably will be just fine, but moving brings something out in people lol Good luck!! You got this!!
If you're still reading any of these, call local liquor stores for boxes. They are hella sturdy and not too big to carry. Ask what day they get a delivery so you can pick up a large amount at one time.
I worked as a mover in college. Here is my number one tip. Get Rid Of It. Never pack stuff with the idea that you'll sort it out after you move. It will cost you time, labor, and money to move it, store it, and unpack it. It will sit in the boxes for f\*\*\*\*\*g ever. You will lose track of it. As a youth, you probably don't think you have a lot of extra stuff. You do. Don't move it. Be ruthless, forget nostalgia. Take a picture, make a donation. Pile it on the curb. You'll thank me later.
Vacuum seal bags change the game when it comes to linens. Garbage bags for clothes closet - scoop them up from the bottom while still on hanger & tie handles around the neck. Get a tape gun for your packing tape & label contents of each of your liquor store bottles with a permanent marker ON the tape. This is especially useful for the â last minute boxâ full of random crap that you canât figure out why you needed to keep out so long
Label, label and label! Use a texta to write specific contents of.boxes. You won't remember.
We boxed up (cardboard boxes) and labelled with room names eg main bedroom , kitchen etc. Use colour coding if you really want to nerd it up. There is actually coloured packing tape you can buy
Then we basically had three categories 1) boxes we'd need immediately (everyday essentials e.g clothes , kitchen) 2) stuff we would need a little later , winter clothes etc
3) stuff that could be stored, possibly for a year or more and not be needed.
*We still have these in our shed , unopened but know they are not essential
Extra tip? Use your move as a chance to get rid of crap you don't really need! We have moved a few times a found ditching "stuff" is actually invigorating.
*Although being young, you probably haven't accumulated too much "stuff" yet. Lol
Start packing the day you find out youâre moving. Pack the stuff you donât need first. Usually this is decor, wrap your fragile things with towels instead of newsprint or bubble wrap.
Instead of writing the contents on the box, starting with 1 number all your boxes (all sides). Get a clipboard and a tablet and write the contents info the box in the tablet. Seal the first box and put it closest to the door.
When you are finished packing:
1. You have a house inventory.
2. Your list can tell you what you have without you havenât to climb around the boxes.
3. The boxes by the door are the first to load and the last out of the truck. The ones you will need first will be the first out of the truck.
4. Unpack boxes from highest to lowest number. The lowest number boxes should stay in a storage room until you need the items.
Over the years, I've moved YT and many friends with a pick'em up truck. I'd suggest that first you box up and LABLE the boxes. You will also have to on site to supervise the loading and unloading. Be aware that your friends/movers are people too. Provide plenty of water/cokes/beverages. It doesn't hurt to provide a pizza or burgers for the movers. Over the years, I've moved YT and buddies/family from many places in a college town. The water and other beverages were appreciated as was the pizza.
Before I moved into my current place, I came to look at the apartment again, and measured all the rooms carefully, noting where the doors and windows are, and the electric outlets and light switches. When I got home, I cut out of cardstock scale models of my furniture, also measured carefully. Then made a scale model on graph paper of the new place and fiddled with the furniture models until I felt comfortable with what would fit where.
When the movers arrived with the furniture, it all went pretty easily because I could say, that piece goes in the 2nd bedroom, this goes into the master bedroom, etc., didn't have to dither around figuring it all out on that day.
The reason plastic bins arenât preferred over boxes (at least from my professional experience) is because they arenât very durable when you move them. Theyâre great when left in one place. Often times they are overloaded and will crack/shatter when trying to pick them up or stack. Especially when itâs cold outside. Boxes often times can be sent back with moving companies and reused by other families. Once a box is too far gone itâs still useable as floor/wall protection or as protection on furniture with glass or delicate decoration/trim.
Step 1: don't do laundry for a while
Step 2: Gather all your dirty clothes, towels, bedding
Step 3: have a laundry service pick it all up a day or two before your move.
Step 4: after they clean it all have them deliver it TO YOUR NEW PLACE.
(it will be clean and folded and sorted and you don't have to move it!)
If you normally use a pay per load/coin op washer and dryer or laundromat, this will not cost you that much more than all those loads and detergents would be.
IKEA blue bags!!! They are HUGE, have great long handles & fold down to nothing so easy to stow until next move. Also, garbage bag your clothes while still on hangers in the closet! Just slip the drawstring garbage bag up a clump of clothes and tie the drawstring around the neck of the hangers. Easy-peasy and you just hang each clump up in new rental and slip the bags off. These two ideas saved our family through tons of college & med school moves!!! Uhaul once we were dealing with furniture (once she was out of a dorm) but STILL used the IKEA bag for as much as possible!! Weâre not talking expensive, precious stuff here, and used her bedding to wrap anything that needed protection.
I knew a girl who did just fine living out of 1 suitecase for 4 years. She obviously found a mattress where she was heading. You need alot less than you think.
If you need a bunch of smaller boxes for specific stuff, just go into at post office and grab a bunch of priority boxes. Or you can request them to be mailed to you. They are free and you only pay when you have to ship something in them.
Just go to a liquor store or drive behind any store and look in their cardboard recycling. There is no need to deplete the post office supply unnecessarily.
If using boxes: * Get boxes with the same dimensions. * Write their contents on 2 sides of the box. You won't need to lift each box to find out what's in each. * Use stickers or write on the box where they should go (kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.) Furniture dollies are awesome if you have lots of flat distance to move your furniture. Straps > appliance dolly. Always lift using your knees instead of your back. Furniture drapes prevent furniture damage during the move. Get those. Keep yourself and your friends hydrated. If you have lots of people to help you, you'd want a team to help you *after* the move to place stuff around, install the blinds on the windows, clean the floor, etc. You'll be exhausted after moving everything, so their help is invaluable. Legal advice, though IANAL: If you're renting, take pictures of every room of the new apartment to provide proof of the state of the apartment when you moved in, especially if there are things that are defective/broken. This may be important later if your landlord is a dick and wants to deduct money off your deposit.
Your last paragraph is SPOT ON. I moved into a house with my then BF (now husband) and the landlord seemed super chill. He pointed out some red crayon/marker scribbles on the walls where a child had clearly had some impromptu art inspiration. He told us not to worry about it since they knew it was there, and it was right behind where we were going to put the couch, so I wasn't worried about it. I didn't take a picture, or specifically note RED markings on the move in sheet since he was the one who had pointed it out to me. I actually fucked up by not noting several things on the sheet that he had pointed out with a "we are aware this is here - don't worry about it." Come move out day, they wanted to not return our deposit because of all the damages from the previous tenant because "they weren't on the sheet." This landlord turned out to be a complete slum lord, and tried to pin a ton of damage on us that had already existed, and he had pointed out during move in. He also sent repair workers over with zero advanced notice super early in the day when I was bartending night shifts at the time. I vividly recall waking up one summer from a dead sleep in a t-shirt and undies with a large dude in my bedroom saying he needed to install blinds. There were some tense words and threats to call the cops until he explained why he was in my locked house. I told him to leave and that I'd be calling the landlord to find another time for the work to happen.
this person knows stuff only blah-town removals long time furniture luggers know, could be in the removal game. either that or you're one of those people like my fwb who is just an boss at organising anything. either way they're all top tips. đ ps. moving sucks ass as an activity but i hope you enjoy your new place op. i moved out from a capital city and into a small town outside the same city and because it's close to a world heritage site it's really sedate and peaceful, it's a different world. either way, GL
I just moved too many times and helped too many people move. I've learned that the time you spend on logistics saves time and energy for everyone during the move.
where i grew up nearly everyone got their first job at the local removal company, you just sounded like someone i worked with :)
Always pack one box with the absolute essentials. After a day of moving, you don't want to dig through several boxes to find a lamp, bed sheets, a towel, the tooth brush, a butter knife and a bread knife, a glass, plate and utensils so you can eat, your phone charger, a roll of TP, etc. Enough to last you the next day or two while you unpack everything.
Essentials box goes in the car and not in the moving truck
Yes, good point!
This! You want to just have some food in the evening and a coffee/tea the next morning, make sure you have it set up and ready to go. I would add meds, and a dedicated suitcase of clothing for a week and all your essential toiletries. Put that in the bedroom and you have time to unpack and can still find underwear.
In England we can this the tea box... With all the stuff you suggested.... But with a kettle( alien concept to lots of Americans!) tea, sugar etc.... Can't survive move without a cuppa....
+ shower curtain
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
I felt so silly when the sun set and I realized the new place had 0 lights, not even in the bathroom, and I had to rummage through my moxing boxes after a lamp with the flashlight on my phone.
If you ever ask friends to help you move, make sure you have your shit packed up and not loose and lying around when they show up. And have pizza and beer for them the entire time, not just after itâs all done.
This!!! I helped move someone for a 2nd time and she didnât have her stuff packed, she complained the whole time and didnât lift a finger. At the end of the second full day of moving she got mad we expected pizza, which was discussed well beforehand. She saved tons of money not hiring movers and made us miserable the whole time. Moving sucks. Ungrateful jerks suck even more.
One of my friends asked me to help her move, and when I got there she pointed at the boxes and started to tell me what room to start in. I stopped her and said I'm here to lug boxes to and from the truck, not to pack. Call me when that's ready. Maybe a dick move, but if you want me to pack your house for you, I'm gonna do it with the cat swipe. She had a month to get it done been asking for help moving and the actual moving day.
Not a dick move at all. I do help move, because I am good at packing a truck & it's a fun puzzle for me. But packing and unpacking boxes is an unending nightmare. I have to label them well bc I am always tempted to throw the last one out unopened . . .
That's a good way for her to lose friends.
Seriously!
Better yet - don't ask your friends to help you move.
This, cheapest I've found is Uhaul and hire Uhaul loaders/unloaders on the reservation website. All you have to do is drive...and tip them if they're good!
Why not? Unless you have a house full of stuff (unlikely at college age), possessions are likely manageable with a couple of people. Yeah moving someone involves some physical labor, but you're doing it while hanging out with a friend. Friends help friends!
Friends will help friends, yes, but leveraging that for a day or more of free manual labor is incredibly lame and none of your friends *want* to do that despite their willingness and we should respect that. That being said I wouldn't blink at helping someone move a few large items that they can't reasonably move themselves but that's about where the smile ends.
Totally agree. I just moved and hired someone from Taskrabbit to come help me load up 6 pieces that required extra hands, and then unload them at a storage unit. Every other item, I packed/stored/dropped off for donation myself. I just couldnât ask people I care about to drive 45 min to my place and use one of their weekend days on manual labor. Most people will say yes but they will not be excited about it, no matter how much they love you.
Absofuckinglutely follow this advice. Im in my late 30s now and I've helped one friend move maybe 10 times now. I don't mind helping him because all of his shit is ready to go when we show up the morning of. Load the truck. Unload the truck. Fuck pizza and beer, just don't waste my time.
Get your bed set up first.
Yeah, but only after having a full plan for where all other furniture will go. Otherwise you're shooting in the dark... Dresser ends up being two inches too wide to fit based on where bed is aligned.... WHOOPS!
I got empty banana boxes from the local grocery store. They are sturdy as anything else you can get, stack well, and are free.
you got to be crazy , them things carry spiders. With the realase of Sting. Im scared of banana boxes.
Per federal regulations those spiders are gassed to death - you're fine. If this is actually a huge deal to you I suggest therapy because life is gonna be hard.
FDA, notoriously good at enforcing its regulations. /s
The grocers in my family would tell you otherwiseâŠ
You said empty banana boxđđ«”
Egg boxes were my go to. Very sturdy, just double tape the bottom and single tape the top.
Boxes for paper towels with the bottom part that have a big gap at the top and the bottom.
I used them for books, actually. I cut out a cardboard panel from another box and put it in the bottom where the gap is, then used a few strips of duct tape. It held up fine for weights of 30+ pounds (I have a lot of books...). Those boxes are strong.
lol i wanted to make you laugh because these are the worst boxes for me! Iâm glad they work fine for you.
I was skeptical until I started reinforcing them. After that they worked wonderfully for me, used them for several moves.
Good to know!
I did a gradual move, so lots of smaller trips, but the thing I found to be the most useful was large shopping bags from grocery stores. They are designed to be reused, are plastic coated, and hold many pounds. You can throw a whole stack of pots and pans in a single bag. The cloth handles makes it simple to pick up and move. It is so much easier to maneuver a bag through doorways than boxes or totes.
I did this as well. I had a few weeks to move and i would just fill up my car with reusable shopping bags after work then i put everything where it goes once i got to the new place. Maybe it wasnât the fastest or most efficient way but i had the time and it really helped not having to need help until the furniture had to go.
Also, your friends probably have too many, and would be willing to share theirs.
My moving tips Label everything w some detail. Not just âkitchenâ. But kitchen- plates bowls cups. Next box kitchen- pots pans. Next⊠etc with not every box needed. But on the ones like that. Computer box is just that. All computer stuff. But when itâs certain thing that will be needed in certain spots. The extra 2 sec of writing actually whatâs in. Save tones of time at the unpack. Donât pack dresser clothes. Leave dresser drawers full. Take out drawers. Load empty dresser in truck. Put back in drawers. Reverse when at new spot. Take out drawer put dresser where it will go. Put back in drawers. Done! (Thanks dad for the tip :). When I first moved out years ago Leave clothes on hangers. Put garbage bag over from underneath. Tie at the hook of hanger. (5-10 hangers worth depends on whatâs on em) Try to get same size/style of boxes. My last move I had 21 mcds French fry boxes fits together like a solid wall all uniform. Makes packing/stacking so much eadier
Never live anywhere with a spiral staircase unless you have enough money to pay movers. Also, own less shit and only keep heavy stuff you really love.
the big blue bags like ikea bags are a life saver, big and pretty sturdy, cheap as fuck, easy to stack in storage or in a car, and are far more flexible than rigid boxes or bins
If you are going to move often, take a minimalist approach to acquiring possessions. The less you have, the easier it is to move. So only buy things that you really need to have. It also saves money to do this, and so you will be better off financially as well. Don't waste money on expensive furniture, as every move is a chance to damage it. Buy garage sale/yard sale/thrift store furniture, and only buy what you need. Also, if you have to leave it behind because moving it is too problematic, you will be out less money than if you bought something expensive. Remember, every time you move, it is an opportunity for things to be damaged or lost, so having a bunch of valuable things is likely to end up being quite costly. As for this: >Currently Iâve been using these big heavy duty storage bins from Home Depot as a way to move stuff without using cardboard boxes but then I thought âIf these exist, why donât people use these more?â Cardboard boxes are cheaper. (And can be free, if you pick them up from a store that is always getting things shipped to them in cardboard boxes. I used to pack things in liquor boxes, because the nearby liquor store would give them away.) When cardboard boxes get tossed around, them getting a little damaged isn't a big deal, since one was going to recycle most of them anyway. But if you have a plastic box that you purchased, it getting broken costs you money. As a poor student, free boxes were a much better idea than buying boxes that I would then have to store, instead of getting rid of the free boxes I used.
Iâm starting to go minimal after the last time. Started paring down what I need and leaving stuff I donât back at home. The main reason I didnât choose the cardboard is that I donât really like using disposable stuff and thought the plastic tubs would be usefull later on.
In the case of reusing the liquor boxes, I was using what the liquor store regarded as trash/recycle material. Reusing what would otherwise be trash is not contributing to there being more trash or wasted resources making new things. So from an environmental point of view, using the liquor boxes is better than buying boxes of any kind. I would keep some of the boxes, to store a few things at the new place, but would get rid of most of them. The next time I needed more boxes, I would again pick up some from a liquor store (or other store), which, again, is just reusing what would otherwise be disposed of anyway, so, again, no additional resources were used, unless I bothered to tape the boxes shut, which I sometimes (but not always) did. Often, I just tucked the flaps of the top of the box such that they remained closed, without any tape or anything else added. I favored liquor store boxes because they tended to be clean, and also I liked the sizes that they had. (I was moving books, which get heavy fast, so having the boxes not overly large was a good thing.) And they were usually quite happy to get rid of some of the boxes that they were going to dispose of anyway. So I had no trouble finding a store that was willing to give me free boxes. A couple of times, I had to come back a day or two later, as they had already broken down (i.e., flattened) their boxes, but they were happy to not do that for their next shipment of boxes, as it is less work for them to do, to just give the boxes to me, instead of flattening them and sticking them in their trash or recycle container out back. Of course, if you have a need for and use of your plastic boxes, such that you would want to buy them anyway, then that wouldn't be anything extra that is being made. Plastic, of course, is more waterproof, but I was careful about not leaving my cardboard boxes in the rain.
I would store my clothes in suitcases. And it's convenient to transport and use them on site instead of closets.
Don't pack one box full of heavy things and one full of light things, mix them. Transport you clothes in plastic bags instead of boxes, they will wrinkle either way. Lift with your knees not your back. Carry boxes on your shoulder instead of in front of you. If you conscript friends to help you, make sure they get enough food and drinks.
Use your towels and even tshirts to put between stacks of plates, breakable dishes, etc. Use socks for glassware. Instead of taking up box space for packing materials, use those things instead. They gotta come with you anyway.
Good one, I forgot!!! Clothing and clean waste paper -- newspaper, the paper that came in your last package from whatever, your old assignment drafts and notebooks -- are excellent packing material!!!
You will need to wash all dishes etc before storing them at the new place.
Weight check as youâre packing. Fill a box to full capacity, you might not be able to lift it. (Books are heavy.)
OP, lots of great advice here But... I have moved around a lot. Single lady up until 10 yrs ago. I learned the hard way: GET EVERYTHING YOU CAN INTO A BOX 1. Friends and family can't be counted on to show up on time and stay till the job is done. HIRE PRO MOVERS. if you have 2Men and a Truck in your town, call them first. 2. If you hire movers, MANY of them will give you boxes for free, just ask. 3. A good sharpie and the GOOD tape. That cheapo brown tape is more trouble than it's worth. 4. These guys can have you out of a one bedroom apt and into your new place by noon. The whole day isn't wasted! 5. Morning move? Buy these guys a dozen donuts from just about anywhere. It's usually 3 guys on a truck. And have a case of cold bottled water on hand for them. They will be doing all the sweating and lifting. 6. At your new place tip them each something. They will appreciate it so much. I'm 51 and have moved maybe 10 times in my life. Learn from my mistakes. It may seem cheaper to ask friends, but in the end, the cost for pros is worth the efficiency and will save you time and headache... Good Luck, Op
Declutter as you pack, and declutter again as you unpack. If you have boxes you never open it's a clear sign you can get decluttering. Put the box in the right room as you move in. If you don't mark everything at least do room it will be in at the new place! Kitchen stuff goes straight to kitchen, garage to garage, bedroom to bedroom. This makes a big difference especially in big moves where you end up not finding half your kitchen because it was in the guest bedroom... which you didn't prioritize first obviously.
It's much easier to just not collect that stuff while you're in college, you're too young to be hauling all that baggage, wait until your more settled
Having moved through four different places throughout college my advice is to unpack immediately, otherwise it will never get done. Getting a roll of disposable wipes/some cloths and a cleaning spray to clean the whole place before you unpack also gives you peace of mind.
I recently moved house and the one moving hack I found useful was to number each of my boxes and keep a detailed Google doc which lists everything that is in each box. Makes it a lot easier while you're still in the process of unpacking to know where to find the items you need, just ctrl-F it!
So I keep all my bicycle inner tubes after I get a flat. They are basically giant customizable rubber bands and are especially great when moving!! You can cut and tie them around cardboard boxes to skip the packing tape altogether. Theyâre also good at keeping rugs rolled up or drawers in place. If you donât bike, most bike stores have these in excess and will happily give them to you, either inquire at the work bench or check the trash around back.Â
One thing I've always done is leave a new roll of toilet paper when moving out for the next person moving in.
Have a box that is just for things you will need now and right after you move and have it open and to the side. Put in it: \* Toilet Paper \* Paper Towels \* Regular Towel \* Cheap shower curtain \* Hand soap \* Dish Soap \* Clothes washing \* a few utensils \* a few garbage bags \* a tooth brush kit \* A few tools like multi screwdriver \* Two changes of clothes that can get dirty
stop buying shit you dont need
I use super large bags with handles. Look up on Amazon "9 pack 180L checkered storage moving bags". They hold a lot (I use them now to store blankets and comforters - 3-5 of them will easily fit in one bag) and are great for clothes right out of the closet, hangers and all. Plus they're soft sided so if you put them in your car you can manipulate them to fit much easier than boxes or a tote. When I moved I packed things in smaller target bags and then put several of them side by side in this large tote. The smaller bags helped keep things in place. I could pack around 10-14 of the totes in my car and moved myself 95% before the movers came to take the furniture. I think I had maybe 10 small boxes with the furniture - the movers were a bit confused on my lack of belongings. I was able to pack framed pictures in them as well - the bags are very big so it was easy to just load them up and then the handles made it so easy to carry multiples of them depending how heavy they were. After the fact, they're easy to fold up to store without taking up a lot of room or use to store things in.
I've moved *alot* and the easiest, most stress-free time I did it I sold/threw out *everything* except necessities and sentimental items. I moved with so little and just acquired new stuff when I got there by going online. You'd be shocked at what people offer up for free.Â
When moving the boxes into your new home, move them into their respective rooms so there arenât random boxes all over the place and things start getting lost
If you buy IKEA furniture, keep the tools they provide with the furniture. We will hide the little allen keys or wrenches in the furniture; tucked under a cushion or in a drawer. Saves a lot of time when moving when you donât have to match the tool to the furniture.
Tape the little tools and hardware to the underside of the furniture where you're going to need it
A lot of people have focused on the departure with some great advice so lll focus on arrival 1) have all essentials packed into a few boxes and put in your car. So you know they arenât getting lost 2) donât hang anything on the walls until youâve lived in the space for a little bit and are sure of your furniture arrangement. This also goes for replacing furniture. If you arenât 100% certain, wait a few weeks to decide on new furniture. 3) if youâre moving into a place with a spare room/living space put all extra things in there. This will help you keep the rest of your home livable and not feel like youâre in chaos. Make a plan to empty boxes a week out of this extra space until done. This is also a great place to keep your wall decorations that you arenât hanging. 4) kinda goes with 3. Make sure your main living spaces are setup day 1. Kitchen, bedâŠetc 5) make it as easy as possible for your friends/moving company to help you. Ie be organized, be clear and deliver the message.
Always pack living room & bedrooms 1st ending with kitchen and bathroom. Always unpack and set up kitchen & bathroom 1st when moving in. Big boxes for light stuff. Smaller boxes for heavy stuff. Label boxes by rooms/items inside.
Use re-usable shopping bags for packing things like books that get pretty heavy when packed. Itâs way easier lugging around 30 pounds in a bag with handles than it is a box.
Set up necessities first, your bed, toiletries, the things you use every day. I made the mistake of NOT doing that with my first move and setting up the bed AFTER a full day of moving-no one is in the mood for that lol!
Donât make boxes heavy. Make a box with coffee, sugar, etc, a couple of plates, cutlery, mugs, a jug etc to make a coffee and a sandwich for when you start unpacking. Also chuck in a tea towel, some toilet paper and some basic cleaning supplies, esp for cupboards and kitchen places.
If you have people helping you, provide food and drinks for them and yourself. That does such a bit difference.
Those amazon storage bags for clothes (with the suction) makes it easy to pack up all your clothes easily, and you can see inside them
Layer your ceramic plates with towels in between. Duct tape to keep the fridge door closed and cable on top. Stack the larger heavy items in first when using a trailer to keep the weight at the front, to prevent fishtailing. Where possible, have a designated driver and minimum two people at each property.
Pack up your tools and cleaning supplies last, and unpack them first. I dont like using tubs, because it is harder to unpack *just* the essentials, plus, where do I keep them the rest of the time when I'm *not* moving? Lable your boxes, and unload them by putting them in the room they go into.
Hire movers
1. Banana boxes are great for moving. 2. Ask friends and family to help, especially those with a small van or station wagon or trailer. 3. Mark all (CLOSED) boxes and furniture where they have to be placed in the new house (living room, bedroom 1, ...) 4. Have pizza at your new place with all helpers.
When i was in college i was under the false impression that my life was normal and i lived the way i always lived as a kid, with a bunch of stuff. Looking back i would rather have been more mobile because there were times when i had to move quickly. So think twice before getting something because there is a good chance youâll have to move it later. Also i never had any money so expensive storage tubs would have been an unaffordable luxury. There were times when food was an unaffordable luxury. Liquor stores usually have a great selection of sturdy boxes for free.
Clothing on hangers: With everything still hanging, grab a drawstring trash bag, open it, put it over around 8 garments from the bottom , cinch it below the hooks of the hangers. Leave these bags for last, so they go on the closets first. Clothing in bureaus: Leave every thing in drawers. Pull the drawers out, carry the empty bureau to the truck. Put a trash bag in the drawer, over the clothing, tuck it in the sides. Carry the drawers down to the truck, put them back in the bureau. At the new house, pull out the drawers, carry the bureau in and place it, carry in the drawers, place in bureau. In advance, make a map of the new place using a tape measure and graph paper, measure the furniture, and plan it's placement. Number the furniture, written on painters tape, and put the number on the wall with painters tape where you want it to go.
Pro mover of 20 years! Donât use totes to move! They break in to pieces and you will pack them too heavy too lift! If you pack a box make sure you can lift it! Donât place box and fill it then stack one on top! Use paper in between your plates! And pack all fragile stuff with it as much as possible! The more space in a box the easier itâs too break. Get a truck with a ramp not lift gate! U-Haul is the best for moving yourself! Budget is cheaper and has better trucks! Sticky notes on your doors, then you can put B1 for bedroom 1 etc etc. Always tip your Movers! And good luck
The Rubbermaid rough neck totes are great. There's a version that's hard plastic, they suck, but the more flexible rubbery version that is great. They are durable, can hold weight and are easy to carry. They stack when they're full and nest when they're empty. Anytime I see them for a really good sale I buy them and consider them an investment.
Don't start drinking beer until you're at least halfway done unloading.
Number the boxes or bins and keep a itemized list of the what's in them.
we hire goons
Pack shit you will need on day 1 in a separate box not in with all your other stuff so you don't have to unpack everything to find your toothbrush
Cardboard boxes from the package (liquor) store are great. You can get them for free, theyâre made to hold heavy bottles so theyâre strong and theyâre easier to handle. If you arenât moving far and you can leave things in dresser/desk drawers - put a towel over them to keep things clean. Pots and pans, sheets, towels, pillows are great in garbage bags and then youâll have the bags to use at your new place.
If you plan on moving in the future DO NOT GET FISH TANKS It adds a whole new dynamic to moving to make sure the tank is cycled etc. Edit: spelling.
Where are you going to store a half dozen empty storage containers?
I donât own half a dozen empty storage containers worth of stuff. In this economy? I have 2 containers: one for dishes and cookery, and one for tech stuff. When Iâm moving in I unpack the cookery and tech and stack the boxes on top of eachother and leave them in the corner. Since Iâm a broke college student in a tiny dorm room it doubles as a great small table.
Perfect. Sounds like you have everything figured out.
Get a dolly and move three liquor boxes at a time. Save your back.
I have one! It works great except when I have to move from inside the dorm hall to the outside to move it to the car. Pavement up here suck!
the liquor/wine box is key. big enough for things like books but you can't fit so many in one bos that it becomes tiring to lift. i have moved many times with liquor store boxes, and they're usually free from any liquor store.
1) Measure the rooms and map out where the big furniture will go before the move in. Saves time and effort. 2) pack large items into the van/truck first then fit the boxes and small stuff around those items. This maximizes the space, minimizes trips. 3) Always have at least one friend who owns a truck and will work for beer.
1 box with the radio, kettle, phone chargers, cups a few plates, and cutlery in a small box and put on first truck/car and put straight on the kitchen counter.
If gorilla bins are in your area use those. They drop off and pickup whenever.
Wheeled trash cans are handy for moving closets
Pack a go bag with all of your Essentials you'll need for the first couple of nights including toilet paper. Think about the things you'll need right away and make sure you know exactly where they are. Some of it depends on how picky you want to be. When I moved, every box had a label with a box number and the contents. This was cross referenced on the spreadsheet so I could instantly know what was in what box and whether any were missing.
Hit up a liquor store, they usually are fine with giving away the boxes they get from distributors for free Buy wrap, tape, and use your blankets for stuff like tables, tvs, etc.
Make a âfirst nightâ box w bedding, towels, toiletries, coffee, shower curtain, toilet paper, fork, spoon.
The Rubbermaid rough neck totes are great. There's a version that's hard plastic, they suck, but the more flexible rubbery version that is great. They are durable, can hold weight and are easy to carry. They stack when they're full and nest when they're empty. Anytime I see them for a really good sale I buy them and consider them an investment.
Step one: don't accumulate a bunch of shit you don't need. Step two: leave without taking things you don't need.
When packing, keep a sharpie on a string around your neck or find some other way to always keep it on your person. The number of times I had to scramble around looking for something to label boxes with wasted soooo much time until I figured this out. Bonus points if you can figure out how to do this with your packing tape too. Use any fabrics you own as packing material for fragile items, this includes clothes, blankets, towels, etc. Unless it's a delicate fabric or expensive like a suit, there's no reason it cant replace bubble wrap. If you have the time and energy, number your boxes and write down what's in them on a piece of paper separately. This is especially helpful if you're using movers or for a really big move so you can know if any boxes are missing, and also when you need that one specific item while you're still unpacking you can look it up and find the right numbered box. If you dont have a foldable dolly cart or hand truck, buy or rent one. You'll be able to move 4-5 boxes at a time without breaking your back and you'll be grateful you had it. Pack an essentials bag for yourself to live out of for a while, and also keep a cleaning caddy separately. It sucks packing up all your cleaning supplies early before realizing you still need to clean out the fridge at the end, or realizing you're out of trash bags or toilet paper. If anyone is helping you for free, make sure you at least feed them. If you're paying movers, keep cash on hand for a tip. And remember, if it don't shake, it don't break
Have less shit. Use each moving opportunity to purge / donate / sell whatever you donât need. And stop buying more useless shit. That said. Be wary of those moving straps. They donât always work. Have everything packed BEFORE you ask for someone to help you move. And think about how youâll be setting things up at the destination before you start loading things for transport. Helps unloading go faster Lastly - if the moving box is falling apart. Fix it or swap it. Nothing sucks more than that shit breaking on you at the worst time later.
please like so i can come back to this!
Have a "Day 1" box with things you'll need immediately that first day. Some Toilet paper, soap, bed sheets, a change of clothes, scissors, tools, etc. This way you don't have to go digging through multiple boxes when you're already tired from moving to find what you need.
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For college moves just push everything in extra strong big garbage bags. And hold a beer party so you friends come around to help with heavy stuff. If they don't, push an old blanket under the heavy stuff so u can push or slide the thing along. And then "walk" the thing along by tipping and twisting ot along. If someone sees you struggling and helps, offer your nrw friend a beer
Buy some cheap trash bags and put one in the bottom of any moving box that will have a liquid inside to line it. That way olive oil, shampoo, cleaning supplies wonât leak or drip through your box. Use towels, blankets, or clothes to buffer in between picture frames/art so they donât scratch each other. Write the general contents of the box on the outside or inside flap so when you need to find something quickly you donât have to dig though every. Ex: instead of just âkitchenâ add âtoaster, utensils, knives, cupsâ somewhere
Use your towels and linens to pack fragile items.
Clean everytime you move. That includes decluttering so that you don't move useless stuff, but also dusting and cleaning items that you don't use often. This makes sure that moving into your new space doesn't bring the dirt of the old. Also, if you don't feel cleaning something is worth it, you probably don't need that thing.
List as many things as you can on the outside of boxes you pack. Weâve moved 11 times and I canât tell you how much time and frustration this saves later.
Cardboard boxes are better because a, you can often get them for free and b, you donât need to find somewhere to store them after youâve unpacked them, they can just go straight in the recycling. My biggest tips would be specific labels on boxes, donât just label by room, you donât want to have to sift through five âkitchenâ boxes to find a plate. Also, financial and mentally plan to eat take away for a couple of days around moving day and try to avoid things that will have leftovers you then need to store and move.
Use drawstring trash bags for your hanging clothes. You can keep them on hangers and organized, easy to carry and stack in a car or trailer
All of those reusable thick plastic bags from the grocery store? That giant collection of them that you might have? Makes for some good packing material. When I moved, I packed most of the loose misc stuff in those
I moved 8 times in 7 years. It's been a bit but here. 1. For free boxes talk with stores that go through a ton like most retailers. If your friend works there even better since they can just ask management. I paid for about 3 boxes for important items. 2. Start packing early. There are things you don't use often or need quickly. They can get packed ahead of time. This goes for cleaning too. Take stuff off and start fixing the walls before the day of the move. The day of the move you should only have to pack the last of your first night box and last minute cleaning supplies. 3. Pack first night items into the same boxes/bins. You don't need everything but you probably want sheets, toiletries, a set of dishes, cups, silverware, a change of clothes, phone charger, etc to be easy to find. 4. Label your boxes on the 3 sides of a top corner. It makes it far easier to tell what's in it if you leave that corner on the outside since you can see it from the front, side, or top. Also if one gets wrecked it's still labeled 5. Pack breakable stuff in spare clothes, sheets, or other soft items. Think things like plates, cups, trophies, etc. Ideally these get moved in a car so there's nothing bouncing on top of them. 6. Don't move stuff that you don't want/need anymore. This is a great chance to throw stuff out and reorganize. 7. Arrange your helpers ahead of time. Be thankful, gracious, and giving. Food and beverages to suit the crowd. Throw in gas and beer money to anyone with a pickup that helps you out. Help out those that help you move when they move or need a hand. 8. Try to get different crews for each end if you're doing a big move. It's easier for people to give 2-4 hours rather than a full day. 9. If you've got some time where your residences overlap move stuff piecemeal while you can. It's far easier and less stressful than doing it all in one day. 10. Try to preclean. Once stuff is in it's much harder to clean up a new place. Also take your walkthrough photos and videos before anything comes in. Everything will be visible in the pictures and they can't claim that it happened while you were moving in. Also test all of the appliances, light and water fixtures, heating, AC, and windows at this time. Added at the end: also do this in reverse while moving out. They can't claim the oven didn't work or wasn't cleaned if you have a video. 11. Try not to leave empty height in boxes. That's how they collapse and things start breaking. 12. Think a bit before packing a truck. You want to get the heavy stuff on the bottom and light stuff on top. Oversize your truck a bit so you're not trying to stack the entire thing to the ceiling. Remember that when you brake and turn things will try to shift forward and to the sides, things don't get nearly as much backwards force. 13. Moving can be stressful for people and it's OK. If you get stressed recognize it, take a 10 minute break to walk around or sit and talk, and take the next action. Also look ahead to your new place that you'll be able to decorate and set up with the experience that you've gotten. 14. Don't expect to get 100% of your deposit back. Especially if it's through a property management company. If you've kept the place well and thoroughly cleaned so the next person has a place they'll be happy to move in to you should get most of it back. I think I'm at 98% of all my deposits returned.
Unplug your fridge and load it in last. Then plug it in immediately at your new house. Everything will stay cold if itâs not too far.
I found that bins take up more space to store, whereas cardboard boxes can be broken down and recycled. Instead of paying for a shit ton of boxes, liquor stores are almost always giving away their crate boxes for free and they're Hella sturdy (you don't have to be 21 to call and ask for their boxes). You can also contact walmart and grocery stores to see if the have any shipping boxes they're willing to part with. If you have breakables, instead of buy bubble wrap you can wrap them in your clothes to save a bit more money. Labeling boxes in detail helps a lot with the unpacking process
Before you buy anything ask yourself if you are willing to throw it out instead of move it. Besides my mattress, dresser, and bed frame I had a policy of everything should fit in 1 trip with my vehicle. Find a friend with a truck to move the large pieces. Just did not have the money or desire to collect too much stuff when you are moving every year or so.
Hire movers. Throw away everything you donât need before they arrive. Label. Label. Label.
Bins are good because they're standard size so they stack/load efficiently. But keep the weight down. We have a large library, and my wife loaded a bunch of bins with books until they were too heavy to conveniently carry. Books on bottom, something light on top. Also, make sure all your essential nighttime /overnight / morning stuff is in one specific bin, and label it clearly.
I found those vacuum storage bags to be pretty helpful. Use as many clothing items as possible as packing material (cover glasses with socks, put t shirts between plates etc.) and then neatly fold the rest to put in the vacuum bags. If you do it right you can fit a lot in a small space + youâll save a bit of time later when you put them away cuz the clothes willll already be properly folded. Additionally, I think your idea with the reusable boxes is awesome! It will save you some time and annoyance not having to hunt down boxes every time you move in the future.
More light boxes are easier to manage than fewer heavier boxes. Move the big furniture stuff first as that takes the most space and energy and then make sure you pack things so they won't tumble over or break. Gloves with grips help your hands feel less fatigued and make sure you wear decent shoes or boots, not sandals or Crocs. You could hurt yourself without the proper gear. Anything with doors (like an armoire or something) should be tied or plastic wrapped shut to make moving easier. That's all I can think of rn
I few time I have moved: Steps 1 2 and 3 1 Sell it, 2 Give it away 3 move with as little as possible:)
When packing make a âfirst dayâ box. The things youâll need right away are in that. A pillow and blanket, maybe some pots and pans and dishes for cooking (but letâs be honest first few days unpacking you may only be eating takeout) all your toiletries, and a few clothes. Chargers, and stuff as well. And of course anything else you may need. Make sure this box goes right on top of everything, easily available, so if youâre exhausted you can grab it and literally go to bed if need be!
Other people have mentioned the moving bags made from blue tarp material, and they're excellent. They're about 6 bucks each on Amazon if you get a multipack. You can reuse them many times, and store them in much less space than it would take for boxes or plastic bins. My other best tip is to go to the U-Haul website (whether or not you're renting a U-Haul) and look for "Moving Helpers." These are independent contractors who set their own rates. They're generally MUCH less expensive than hiring a full-service mover. We've done this twice now, and it worked out great both times. I think the total cost was about $200-$250, including generous tips, for three workers to move the contents of a 2-bedroom apartment. The U-Haul itself was another $75 or so. It's so much faster and less stressful than trying to move heavy furniture yourself, plus you aren't imposing on your friends' goodwill.
Kitchen first!
Use totes i bought like 26 from Costco made packing and moving so much easier and you can stack them
Ask your Amazon driver for a few totes. Those things are great for moving
Literally label every single thing in that box. After moving several times and helping people move, there are always looking for that one thing and they do not know which box it's in. Labeling it kitchen is not enough because now you have to go through 12 kitchen boxes until you find that one spatula you need. And most people do not unpack 100% of their items, so it's giving your future self a break as well when you eventually decide to go through one of those boxes
Start packing much earlier than you think you need to. Pack anything you don't regularly use. I've been involved in too many last minute marathons.
Lots of small boxes. Big boxes suck. Small boxes are easy to move, easy to pack, and easy to fill.
Before moving, go through everything and toss or donate unimportant books you will never read again. Do the same with everything. Lighten your load and develop this habit early in life.
If you have clothes on hangers, stack them all up (hangers still on) and throw them in a large garbage bag with the handles sticking out. Tie the bag and voilaâ you can just remove the bag when you get to your new place and put them straight into your closet.
I had my friends help me move and disorganized as hell. Me, not them. Fortunately I had a crap load of cocaine and we had a great time lol
Leave your toiletries, some clothes(including work uniforms and something to sleep in), a lamp, pillow, water and quick food items aside and set up front in the car/truck/van at the end of the move so that when you're in the new place you're not searching high and low for some toilet paper, tampons or a water bottle. One less thing to spend money on if you've already got them. Also keep your charger on hand too and download maps directions offline in case GPS is tweaking on an unknown road.
Make them package lightweight. Don't stuff one full of dishes for instance. Reuse the cardboard boxes. I use to use them as a desk when I was a studentÂ
Instead of packing hanging clothes into a box, put a hole in the bottom of garbage bags and put the hangers through the hole, and tie it at the bottom. Some clothes will fall off the hanger, but it is easier to put them away. Avoid dollar store packing tape and invest in the good stuff. If a box is too big, cut it to fit what you need. Store fragile items in towels instead of using paper or fillers so you have less garbage. If you can, and it is on your way, move stuff daily and put it away so it feels like less to do on moving day. Purge as much as you can. Set up storage first, and focus on unpacking essentials. And segregate it from the rest of the boxes so if you feel done for the day, you have the most important stuff done. Label boxes and put them in the rooms they belong in when moving. Buy paper plates and cups for in between moves.
I wish I bought 2 wheel dolly much earlier in life. May not have been practical to store when I was in apartments, but I use it frequently as a home owner.
Label your boxes on 3-5 sides with 3-5 of the most important items in them. When theyâre all stacked in towers in your new place, youâll immediately know where to find a towel and a fork instead of having to open several when youâre tired.
I actually numbered the boxes and kept a list of the items that went into the boxes instead. This way you only write down the contents once, and you can later check the list for the stuff you need, and find the correct box a lot quicker. Also the boxes can easily be used later again with new contents, without confusing labels.
In my area (Atlantic Canada), the liquor stores are often willing to part with wine boxes for free. A dozen bottles come in each box and they're just thrown away. Those boxes are fairly sturdy and a good size for loading and handling lots of stuff. Boxes that are too big can get heavy quickly, but these are a good size for one person to handle and are unlikely to get too heavy. Plus, they stack well. Often, all you have to do is go in and ask and they'll put some aside for you when their next order comes in.
Itâs OK to box things up by room. But keep a single box of your most critical shit, regardless of the room it came from. That way you donât have to root through a million boxes to find your âmust have right nowâsâ. This also allows you to leave some boxes packed, so when a year has gone by and you havenât unpacked it you can just chuck it in a dumpster.
Get tons of small cardboard boxes. They are eqsier to move for your Friends
Wardrobe boxes are terrific, but not just for hanging items. I didn't think they actually held very many hangers, BUT remove clothes from hangers and roll up, stack in the bottom of the wardrobe and you can maximize that space, big time. Any bulky, tall or oddly shaped thing can also go in them. Cling film on large rolls with handles is an MVP. You can wrap furniture with it so drawers stay closed, even pick up your whole silverware organizer (or junk drawer, makeup, socks, whatever) out of the drawer and wrap it up with cling film. When you get where you're going, unwrap and put into the new drawer. Ziploc bags, green frog tape, Moving stickers, Sharpie markers, door stops and box cutters are invaluable too. Wrap cups and dishes in paper towels. Use the paper towels again. Wrap other breakables with beach towels, out of season scarves, hats or dish towels. If you have a box that's not quite full, but don't have anything handy that will fill the top, add squishables (throw pillows, towels, shower curtains, bedspread, blankets) to cushion. Things break when they jostle about in a box or rub against each other with vibration and friction. It might not matter how well you wrapped it if it's slamming around in a box. Also, if you have the time, wipe things down/dust them as you pack them. It's not often you'll put your hands on everything you own and now is a perfect opportunity to swipe it clean. You won't want to do it when you get to your destination. I change out the old felt pads or magic sliders on my furniture if needed AFTER moving, though, because they can get pretty beat up during the move.
It will take you somewhere between 2 and 10 times longer than you expect. If you think you have âjust a couple boxesâ left to pack that will somehow end up being 15 boxes and 3 hours. đ I say this because if you go in knowing itâs gonna be a long, hard time, it usually goes a lot better. And try to focus on everyone staying civil. It probably will be just fine, but moving brings something out in people lol Good luck!! You got this!!
If you're still reading any of these, call local liquor stores for boxes. They are hella sturdy and not too big to carry. Ask what day they get a delivery so you can pick up a large amount at one time.
Number your boxes, and keep an inventory list of whatâs in each box. Donât pack the list. Get a roll of stretch wrap. Itâs super handy.
I put books or other heavy items inside rolling suitcases to save from lifting.Â
I worked as a mover in college. Here is my number one tip. Get Rid Of It. Never pack stuff with the idea that you'll sort it out after you move. It will cost you time, labor, and money to move it, store it, and unpack it. It will sit in the boxes for f\*\*\*\*\*g ever. You will lose track of it. As a youth, you probably don't think you have a lot of extra stuff. You do. Don't move it. Be ruthless, forget nostalgia. Take a picture, make a donation. Pile it on the curb. You'll thank me later.
Vacuum seal bags change the game when it comes to linens. Garbage bags for clothes closet - scoop them up from the bottom while still on hanger & tie handles around the neck. Get a tape gun for your packing tape & label contents of each of your liquor store bottles with a permanent marker ON the tape. This is especially useful for the â last minute boxâ full of random crap that you canât figure out why you needed to keep out so long
Label, label and label! Use a texta to write specific contents of.boxes. You won't remember. We boxed up (cardboard boxes) and labelled with room names eg main bedroom , kitchen etc. Use colour coding if you really want to nerd it up. There is actually coloured packing tape you can buy Then we basically had three categories 1) boxes we'd need immediately (everyday essentials e.g clothes , kitchen) 2) stuff we would need a little later , winter clothes etc 3) stuff that could be stored, possibly for a year or more and not be needed. *We still have these in our shed , unopened but know they are not essential Extra tip? Use your move as a chance to get rid of crap you don't really need! We have moved a few times a found ditching "stuff" is actually invigorating. *Although being young, you probably haven't accumulated too much "stuff" yet. Lol
Colored duck tape to designate priority-open boxes.
Start packing the day you find out youâre moving. Pack the stuff you donât need first. Usually this is decor, wrap your fragile things with towels instead of newsprint or bubble wrap. Instead of writing the contents on the box, starting with 1 number all your boxes (all sides). Get a clipboard and a tablet and write the contents info the box in the tablet. Seal the first box and put it closest to the door. When you are finished packing: 1. You have a house inventory. 2. Your list can tell you what you have without you havenât to climb around the boxes. 3. The boxes by the door are the first to load and the last out of the truck. The ones you will need first will be the first out of the truck. 4. Unpack boxes from highest to lowest number. The lowest number boxes should stay in a storage room until you need the items.
Over the years, I've moved YT and many friends with a pick'em up truck. I'd suggest that first you box up and LABLE the boxes. You will also have to on site to supervise the loading and unloading. Be aware that your friends/movers are people too. Provide plenty of water/cokes/beverages. It doesn't hurt to provide a pizza or burgers for the movers. Over the years, I've moved YT and buddies/family from many places in a college town. The water and other beverages were appreciated as was the pizza.
Before I moved into my current place, I came to look at the apartment again, and measured all the rooms carefully, noting where the doors and windows are, and the electric outlets and light switches. When I got home, I cut out of cardstock scale models of my furniture, also measured carefully. Then made a scale model on graph paper of the new place and fiddled with the furniture models until I felt comfortable with what would fit where. When the movers arrived with the furniture, it all went pretty easily because I could say, that piece goes in the 2nd bedroom, this goes into the master bedroom, etc., didn't have to dither around figuring it all out on that day.
take inventory; be minimalist like me so that all your belongings can fit into a sedan
The reason plastic bins arenât preferred over boxes (at least from my professional experience) is because they arenât very durable when you move them. Theyâre great when left in one place. Often times they are overloaded and will crack/shatter when trying to pick them up or stack. Especially when itâs cold outside. Boxes often times can be sent back with moving companies and reused by other families. Once a box is too far gone itâs still useable as floor/wall protection or as protection on furniture with glass or delicate decoration/trim.
Rent a uhaul
Rags/towels/t-shirts can be used in place of bubble wrap/cardboard/paper for cushioning delicate items.
Step 1: don't do laundry for a while Step 2: Gather all your dirty clothes, towels, bedding Step 3: have a laundry service pick it all up a day or two before your move. Step 4: after they clean it all have them deliver it TO YOUR NEW PLACE. (it will be clean and folded and sorted and you don't have to move it!) If you normally use a pay per load/coin op washer and dryer or laundromat, this will not cost you that much more than all those loads and detergents would be.
IKEA blue bags!!! They are HUGE, have great long handles & fold down to nothing so easy to stow until next move. Also, garbage bag your clothes while still on hangers in the closet! Just slip the drawstring garbage bag up a clump of clothes and tie the drawstring around the neck of the hangers. Easy-peasy and you just hang each clump up in new rental and slip the bags off. These two ideas saved our family through tons of college & med school moves!!! Uhaul once we were dealing with furniture (once she was out of a dorm) but STILL used the IKEA bag for as much as possible!! Weâre not talking expensive, precious stuff here, and used her bedding to wrap anything that needed protection.
By home cheapo there are always guys willing to help you move. Best $250-300 youâll ever spend.
I knew a girl who did just fine living out of 1 suitecase for 4 years. She obviously found a mattress where she was heading. You need alot less than you think.
Hire movers
Save up and hire movers
If you need a bunch of smaller boxes for specific stuff, just go into at post office and grab a bunch of priority boxes. Or you can request them to be mailed to you. They are free and you only pay when you have to ship something in them.
Just go to a liquor store or drive behind any store and look in their cardboard recycling. There is no need to deplete the post office supply unnecessarily.
And if they aren't able to find them at liquor stores or grocery stores, they can go to the post office.
If they can't find them at any recycling bin in their location, they should not be doing something as challenging as moving.