Preparing for a house move can be extremely stressful even if you aren’t moving too far away from your current residence. If you do not plan your move well, it can be easy to forget many important things that need to be done to ensure a smooth and timely move. Well, fret not as we are here to help!
Given below are some useful tips by our moving experts on how to successful plan and prepare for a local move.
Start Early
Do not approach your intrastate move too casually. Thinking that you’ve got plenty of time as you’re only moving short distance can lead to unnecessary delays. Time flies by really fast, so the best time to start with your moving preparations is as soon as you know that you will be moving. However, there are some services like electricity, internet, and cable service for which you may not need early planning. That’s because most utilities need a short time to turn off the services at your old residence & reconnect them in your new house. But what you can do is schedule a day for calling all the utility companies by simply marking it on the calendar.
Declutter
A move presents you with an opportunity to go through all your belongings & see if there’s anything that you probably don’t need any more. You can have a garage sale, put your unwanted things on Craigslist, or simply donate them to the needy. There is no reason why you should be packing and moving the stuff that you haven’t used in the past five years. If you haven’t used them since this long, chances are that you wouldn’t use them in the future as well. So, do take this opportunity to declutter your house and give away the unwanted stuff.
Get Your Packing Supplies
To properly pack your belongings, you need supplies, such as:
- Moving boxes: Buy high-quality moving boxes to save yourself from the despair of getting your belongings damaged. The local moving company you would hire to help you with your move will also be able to work faster if they have sturdy boxes which can be easily stacked on top of each other in a van or truck. Besides that, do make sure that you get moving boxes in different sizes to pack all kinds of items – from the small knick-knacks to huge items like your furniture pieces, etc.
- Packing paper: You can either get professional packing paper or the unprinted newsprint for wrapping your belongings so they remain safe from damage or scratches during the move.
- Bubble wrap: The protective air pockets in the bubble wrap will provide your fragile items and breakables the cushioning they need to stay damage-free during the move.
- Tape: Get a strong packing tape to keep the moving boxes securely closed, & prevent collapse or loss of items.
- Markers: Get different colored markers for labeling the boxes according to the room they belong to and the type of items they contain.
Check If You Have the Original Boxes of Your Electronics
The best way to pack and move your electronics is in their original boxes. So, take out some time to check if you’ve stashed them somewhere – garage, attic, or elsewhere? If you do not have them, you can buy new moving boxes sturdy enough to carry the weight of your electronics. You can also consider using bubble wrap, quilted blankets, and a good-quality tape for protecting your television and other delicate electronics.
Pack From Least Important To Most Important
To ensure minimum disturbance to your everyday life, start by packing the items that you seldom use on a day-to-day basis. If you start by packing pots & pans, cooking your everyday meals wouldn’t be possible. So, what you should be packing instead are your books, DVDs, CDs, out-of-season clothing, decorations, knickknacks, collectibles, etc. As the moving day approaches, you can begin packing the cookware, bedding, toiletries, & other everyday essentials.
Set a Timer & Pack for A Few Hours Every Day as Per Your Convenience
Do not bite off more than you can chew. While packing, always break down the process into small steps. You should neither try to finish it up in one day nor leave it to the last minute. Either way, you’ll be overwhelmed with stress. The best way to approach packing is to spend an hour or more each day as per your convenience.
Color Coordinate While You Pack Your Stuff
It is a great idea to designate a color to each room in your new house, such as green for the kitchen, blue for the dining room, & so on. Now, apply colored stickers on all the moving boxes according to which room they belong to. In your new house, put a matching sticker on the door of each room. This way, the local movers in California that you hire will know where they have to put all the boxes when they reach at your new place.
Use Small Sized Boxes to Pack Heavy Items and Vice-Versa
Although it does sound obvious, if you have ever experienced the struggle of carrying a huge cardboard box filled with all sorts of heavy things, then you probably know that this advice can’t be overstated. So, when it comes to packing heavy items, you should always use small sized moving boxes; while for packing lighter items, such as decorative pillows, linens, towards, etc., you must consider using large boxes.
Do Not Overpack the Moving Boxes
Most people make the mistake to cram all their belongings into a few cardboard boxes that they already have lying in their house. As a result, most of the boxes collapse during the move, damaging their valuables. It is therefore advisable to get boxes designed especially for moving so you do not face any such issues. However, avoid overstuffing them too as they also cannot bear weight beyond a certain limit.
Ensure Additional Safety for Your Fragile Items
Remember that packing paper you had added on the list of supplies you need? Now you can put it to use for padding your fragile dishware & decorative items. You can stuff the paper inside glasses, put it between the dishes & side of your boxes, and wrap it around the fragile vases & bowls. Make sure that you wrap each of these fragile items separately so they are fully cushioned. In case you do not have the packing paper, use a quilted blanket or bubble wrap to provide your breakables with the cushioning they need to prevent damage.
Pack the Dishes Vertically
Do not ever horizontally stock the dishes in a box. What you should do instead is wrap all the plates & bowls in packing paper and place them gently in a box on their sides like records. To prevent cracking & breaking, you can fill the empty spaces with bubble wrap.
Pack a Personal Overnight Bag
Chances are that you wouldn’t be able to unpack everything the very same day you arrive at your new house. Therefore, you must pack a personal overnight bag consisting of everything you may need on your first day at your new residence, such as a change of clothes, toiletries, water bottle, your laptop, etc.
Give Yourself a Deadline to Unpack
As there is no deadline to unpacking, procrastinating may seem a bit too alluring. To make sure you do not delay it too much, schedule a housewarming party or a casual get-together after a few days of your move. This way, you’ll be able to give yourself a deadline to have all the unpacking done on time.
We hope these tips will make it easier for you to pack for your upcoming move!
If you need help, we have a team of seasoned professionals as well as the resources needed to safety pack your belongings. We offer customizable moving quotes taking into account your particular needs. We could simply help you pack or handle the entire move – the choice is up to you! At Beacon Moving & Storage, customer satisfaction is our “Number One Priority!” and we do everything we can to accommodate the needs of our dear customers. We have been in business for over thirteen years and combine thirty-five years of extensive experience in providing seamless moves – both residential and commercial.
To learn more about our services or book a Free Moving Consultation, please visit www.beaconmoving.com or call @ 888-966-8323 (toll-free)!