Tricks to make moving easier
Five Tips to Make Your Move Easier
Over the last five years I have moved more than my share of times and I have learned a few tricks that have made the moves a bit easier. They might seem time consuming, but they are very handy when all is said and done.
1. Boxes.
Well we are all familiar with boxes and how useful they can be in a move, but sometimes the many varieties of boxes can create problems especially if you are fitting everything into a tight space, like a moving truck.
I've learned that it is best to obtain boxes that are the same size and shape. This makes things much more helpful when stacking and the sturdier the better.
Great places to find boxes are grocery stores, factories, and even Walmart. Grocery stores have these amazing boxes that they receive their cereal in and they are usually the same size. You can also go to companies like Malt o Meal or Pepperidge Farms and get boxes and those are almost always the same size.
I know we can't have all our boxes be the same size, but the more that are the better.
2. Bigger is NOT better.
I know we all think that if I can just cram more junk into this one box I will have less to worry about. It's great thinking right up until you have to actually lift and carry the box. Bigger is not better. Look for medium sized boxes. You might get a little less in them in the end and you might have to use a few more, but you'll save your back, legs and arms from a lot of pain and discomfort. I personally like the banker boxes you can get from Walmart or Target. They are the perfect size and even when filled with books they aren't too heavy to lug around.
3. Organize, organize, organize
I can't even begin to emphasize how important it is to organize your stuff. Sometimes we get to the point that we are just throwing things in any open box. If you have your belongings organized by room it will make things that much easier when you have to find that stuff later.
4. Labels
I've gotten my labeling system down to an art and my best friend has honed it for me. I used to just write what was in the box on the box, but then I decided that I didn't want to advertise to anyone who might be walking by while I'm loading boxes just what was in them.
So I started labeling them with my first initial M and then a number. ex. M 10. This is great except now when I get to my destination I had to open every box to figure out what was inside them. I improved my system by buying these awesome rolls of tape that are color coded with BATHROOM * DINING ROOM * KITCHEN * BEDROOM on them. I've moved three or four times since I bought the rolls of tape and I'm still using the same rolls. You can get those from the Uhaul store or other moving stores. I haven't looked for them at Walmart or Target because I'm still using the same rolls.
Well this system was better, but my friend got it even better. Now I label everything with the letter and number M 10, but then I make a spread sheet in my laptop and I write down everything that is in the box. It comes in really handy when I am unpacking and I really need a specific book or special hat or the blender. I can consult the spreadsheet and voila... it tells me which box to look in. That mixed with the nifty room stickers and I'm set to find the needed item.
This system comes in especially handy if you are moving from a larger to a smaller place and can't necessarily unpack everything at once. There have been a few times that I simply had to keep things packed until I needed them and this system has saved me a lot of box opening and searching.
5. Invest in tools
Finally if you only plan to move once or if you are a constant mover like me I highly suggest investing in tools that will make things easier. I own a piano and so one of the first things I purchased was a piano dolly. It is this beautiful, flat little four wheeled dolly that can also be used to transport couches, dressers, shelves and other items across hard surfaces from your home to the moving truck. That little dolly has save my aching muscles a lot of grief.
The other tool I suggest is a regular dolly. You can usually rent them from the moving store, but they aren't always the best. Home Depot or Lowes have great dollies that are tougher and when you are done moving they can always be used for other things.
So those are my five tricks to make your move easier. Happy packing and unpacking.