You’ve signed the papers, you’ve told your friends and family, and your dream home is just waiting for you to move in. But now, you actually have to MOVE in. Moving day can be as stressful as it is exciting, but a bit of preparation and organization can go a long way for your big day. Check out some of our tried-and-true packing/moving tips, and congratulations on your exciting new adventure!
ONE
You will ALWAYS need more boxes than you think. Pop into your local grocery store, liquor store, or produce stand (apple bushel boxes are worth their weight in gold) and they will most likely jump at the chance to unload some of their boxes on you.
TWO
Also, posting a quick request on your town’s local Facebook group will generally result in dozens of people offering up their old moving boxes to you, free of charge.
THREE
Label, label, label. Keep that sharpie handy, and make sure everyone who is helping you pack has one. Feeling particularly ambitious? Buy colored duct tape and color-code the boxes to their corresponding room. You will be grateful that you did, and so will everyone who is helping you bring boxes into your new home.
FOUR
Double the amount of time you think it will take to pack and unpack. Even if you are moving out of a small home or apartment, you most likely have way more belongings than you realize. And no one is immune to taking a stroll down memory lane as they sort through and pack up their keepsakes. Leave yourself time to enjoy the journey and take breaks.
FIVE
Use your linens as eco-friendly packing material for your dishware and dining sets to keep them protected and separated. Just make sure to properly label the box and write “Fragile” on it so whoever unpacks it knows the pillowcases have plates in them!
SIX
Keep Ziploc bags and small jars handy to hold screws from shelving, large electronics, and anything else you have to disassemble. Label the bag/jar and store it in the same box with the product it came from to make reassembly a breeze.
SEVEN
Moving day is exhausting and having to root through dozens of boxes the next day to find an outfit, medication, a phone charger, etc will get really old, really fast. Pack a bag ahead of time, like you are going away for the weekend, with all the essentials you will need for a few days.
EIGHT
“Where did we put Sadie’s vet records?” “Where is the car title?” Save yourself some stress by taking this opportunity to organize and label all of your important documents and store them safely in the same space.
NINE
Throw together a small cleaning basket with paper towels, dish soap, sponges, windex, and any other cleaning products you use on a daily basis. Place it somewhere easily accessible so you can take care of any last-minute messes while moving in or out.
TEN
Finally getting rid of that couch in the basement, or the dresser that doesn’t go with your new bedroom set? Contact your local thrift store and see if they make house calls. Most thrift stores have access to moving trucks and will happily swing by and pick up your large donation.
ELEVEN
If you are renting a moving truck/box truck for your move, keep in mind that most truck rental companies offer a lower rate on weekdays, especially in the middle of the month. A lot of people choose the first or last weekend of the month to move, so having some flexibility in your schedule can mean big savings, and less traffic!
TWELVE
Go to USPS.com/move to change your address online, and have your mail forwarded to your new home. This process can take 7-10 business days, so make sure you factor this time in, especially if you will be unable to retrieve anything from your old address after your move. For added ease, sign up for Informed Delivery on their website to see pictures of your mail and packages before they arrive!
Are you moving into a Schell Brothers community? Find and follow your new community on Facebook to connect with other homeowners and see upcoming events!
