For those of you who have been following me for a while now, you know I’ve moved A LOT over the last two years. First I moved from Georgia, back home to Rhode Island, then from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania, then from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and recently, from North Carolina to New York. I’ve seen way too many cardboard boxes, broken copious amounts of plates, and built some pretty strong arm muscles in this time.
If you're getting ready to move, here are the tips I would offer:
1. Start packing way earlier than you think you need to.
The closer it gets to the actual moving date the more stressful it gets, save yourself last minute stress by packing early. If you have everything (including dishes, food, etc) packed up before it’s time to move out, treat yourself to dinner out! It’s much more relaxing than keeping those things unpacked so you can eat at home and then having to throw them in boxes at the last minute.
2. Don’t throw out old sheets or blankets you don’t want to bring.
Instead, use them for covering furniture, wrapping up large picture frames. The cost of bubble wrap, sheet foam, and packing paper adds up really fast and one way to save money is using things you already have.
Instead, use them for covering furniture, wrapping up large picture frames. The cost of bubble wrap, sheet foam, and packing paper adds up really fast and one way to save money is using things you already have.
3. Cover Hanging Clothes in Trash Bags.
There are boxes you can get to put hanging clothes in, but I always find them cumbersome to move, hard to assemble and space consuming. Personally I’ve found that the best way to pack hanging clothes is taking a regular black trash bag, poking a hole in the top, threading the hangers through the hole, and then sealing the bottom with duct tape.
There are boxes you can get to put hanging clothes in, but I always find them cumbersome to move, hard to assemble and space consuming. Personally I’ve found that the best way to pack hanging clothes is taking a regular black trash bag, poking a hole in the top, threading the hangers through the hole, and then sealing the bottom with duct tape.
4. Hire help
If you have a budget for moving, I would highly recommend hiring help. Whether it be just to load things, or for the whole process of packing to unpacking, even just having help for one of those steps can be a HUGE help. If you’re in the North Carolina area I’d recommend College Dudes Help U Move. They have a variety of moving services. They can help college students move into their dorms and apartments, they can assist with senior moving, they can help with furniture disassembly and assembly and even can help with moving large items like pianos and hot tubs, since they are Charlotte Hot Tub Movers.
If you have a budget for moving, I would highly recommend hiring help. Whether it be just to load things, or for the whole process of packing to unpacking, even just having help for one of those steps can be a HUGE help. If you’re in the North Carolina area I’d recommend College Dudes Help U Move. They have a variety of moving services. They can help college students move into their dorms and apartments, they can assist with senior moving, they can help with furniture disassembly and assembly and even can help with moving large items like pianos and hot tubs, since they are Charlotte Hot Tub Movers.
5. Put Things You Want Unpacked First In Specially Marked Boxes.
Use different colored tape, you can usually buy patterned packing tape online and it makes it so much easier to find the things you find most important. Also, pack them last so that they are the closest to the doors. I usually put things like bedsheets, a set of dishes, a family photo (having one out as soon as we move in makes it feel like home so much quicker!), a comfy blanket, a coffee mug, the keurig, and a wine glass. This way even if it takes me a long time to unpack and organize everything I still have these little comforts!
Use different colored tape, you can usually buy patterned packing tape online and it makes it so much easier to find the things you find most important. Also, pack them last so that they are the closest to the doors. I usually put things like bedsheets, a set of dishes, a family photo (having one out as soon as we move in makes it feel like home so much quicker!), a comfy blanket, a coffee mug, the keurig, and a wine glass. This way even if it takes me a long time to unpack and organize everything I still have these little comforts!