There are few tasks in modern life more domestically unnerving than moving. Moving a household can cause even the most serene of us to mentally unravel. But like anything challenging, moving also presents a unique opportunity: to face a potentially stressful situation with grace and preparation – not to mention, moving-day pizza.
Here are a few tips to make your next move go smoothly.
Tip number one: hire a mover. Not that all can afford this, but I’m putting it out there because really, if you can ante up to hire a mover that should be your number one priority. Sure, friends with trucks will say they’d love to help (but really they are secretly blocking your number from that moment on), you can rent a moving van and do it yourself (have you ever tried to back one up?) or, you can make hundreds of trips in your compact car. At the end of the day, if you have the money, you will wish you had just hired a mover and gone to the beach while they hauled those boxes for you.
Remember to plan for what you need far ahead of time. Booking anything, remotely close to a typical moving day, the 15th or end of the month, for example, can lead to scheduling nightmares. Movers, moving vans, storage facilities and in-out cleaners often book up, months in advance. Even friends with trucks have other things to do, so get your dibs in early.
Then start collecting boxes and packing material. In addition to boxes and wrapping, include a proper packing tape gun, some masking tape and a fat black marker, for labeling.
Some hired movers will also bring boxes, pack and unpack for you, for an extra fee (if you can afford this, feel free to have some champagne with your pizza, later). The rest of us best get busy. Smaller uniform boxes (such as wine boxes) are ideal for many household items including books, dishes and clothing. They load up fast, are relatively light and easy to carry. They also stack well in cars, vans or storage facilities. Larger, random sized boxes can be harder to pack, carry and stack. Plastic bins with lids are also ideal, as they are designed to haul and stack easily. Borrow, purchase or rent a proper hand truck or dolly for ease of delivery. You will not be sorry.
Label every box meticulously in terms of content then include a title label: the room the box belongs in, such as kitchen or bedroom. A hint when packing: go double duty and use linens and dish towels, etc. to wrap breakables to avoid heaps of newspaper or bubble wrap to recycle afterwards.
Move large items such as sofas or bedframes first, when you are strongest and in the most agreeable mood. Take special care to protect your back and shoulders by avoiding reaching out and arching your back. Instead, use your legs to lift, straddling the object and keeping it close to your body, and only after you have tested items to ensure they’re not too heavy.
Now, get moving.
