If you are moving, you are probably like most people and dread the thought of packing up your home. The stagnant economy and record numbers of lay offs and plant closings means that more people are moving on their own without the help of professional movers. Do not get me wrong, I have moved both ways and the professional movers normally earn every penny of their fee and are well worth the cost. The economy and financial worries means that most of us are cutting corners and saving money in every place that we can. This also extends to moving, and this may be one of the reasons you want to do the job yourself rather than hire someone to do it. Packing up your home does not have to mean chaos and confusion, and it is possible to organize your move and pack up your home like a professional without any help.
The first packing tip is to keep all of the items in each room grouped and packed together. This way when you arrive at the new home and start to unpack, it is simply a matter for taking things out of the boxes and arranging them in the room. Make sure to label each box with the room it goes in as well as what is in it, to prevent a lot of fruitless searching for one specific item. Mark boxes which will be needed soon after arriving at your new home with the phrase top priority. This will alert you to the fact that these boxes have important items in them and should be unpacked first. Remember also to note on the box any extra instructions or warnings. This can include the word heavy or fragile, or even the phrase this end up or place on top. Professionals use these tricks to ensure that nothing gets damaged or broken during the move.
Make sure you have the proper materials, or you risk damaging your things. Bubble wrap is often not used by amateur movers, but professional movers know the value of having the right packing material. Shredded newspapers may work as extra padding for some items, but for all of your glass dishes and decorations bubble wrap is a much safer option. With this material you can be pretty sure that nothing will get broken during the moving process, saving you a lot of frustration in the process.
Boxes are essential for any organized move. Sure college kids may move away from home with garbage bags stuffed full of clothes, but this is not a very safe, secure, or organized way to move and adults who attempt this will understand the meaning of the phrase high stress. Even heavy duty garbage bags can rip or puncture, and if it is raining or snowing during your move you could end up with wet clothing and linens.
Empty out all furniture drawers, to make these pieces much lighter and easier to move. Pack all of the items in each dresser or other item of furniture in a box that is clearly marked with the furniture on it. Take apart any furniture possible, to make these items even easier to move. Make sure to put all hardware for the furniture in a bag, which you can then tape to one of the pieces. This makes it much easier to put the furniture back together once you get to the new place. In your survival bag you should include a number of tools which will be needed to reassemble your furniture. These tools should include large and small screwdrivers, including a flat and Phillips head, a wrench or two, a hammer, some Allen wrenches, and any other tools you will need. This will allow you to quickly assemble the furniture when you arrive, so you can sleep in your own bed the very first night that you arrive.
If you are planning on moving and will not be hiring professionals to do the job for you, proper planning and organization is the key to a low stress move which proceeds smoothly. Make sure to tape any cords and other accessories to any electronic items, such as televisions, computers, game systems, and others. This will accomplish two things. The first is that there are no safety and trip hazards from cords which are hanging down, so you are safer during the packing and unpacking. The second reason is that detachable cords, like PC power cords, can not become lost during your move. This makes it much easier to hook everything back up, because it is all right there.
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