Moving to another home is a stressful event – even if you’re just moving a block or two away – but following our packing tips can save you a lot of time and money, and make the whole process much easier.
7 Great Packing Tips For Moving
1. Move During an Off-Peak Time
If you plan your move in advance and aren’t super pressed for time, you should be able to schedule your move for an off-peak time, such as the middle of the week or the middle of the month.
This can help you save some cash, as most moving companies will charge less for moves at an off-peak time (just like most other things.)
2. Have a Plan (& Stick to it)
Thinking up a plan from the very beginning and sticking to it helps you make important considerations about your move, address any potential issues with plenty of time to spare, and stay on course.
The plan doesn’t need to be very specific, but it’s important to set a timeline and be strategic about how you go about packing your belongings.
3. Pack Your Suitcases
Most households have a couple of empty suitcases lying around, so instead of just moving them to your new home without anything in them, it’s a good idea to pack them to save space. Furthermore, most suitcases offer better protection than cardboard boxes, though you should still use bubble wrap for certain fragile items.
4. Be Smart About Bringing Your Food
If you’re planning your move weeks in advance, it’s a good idea to try to make meals using ingredients you already have at home rather than purchasing new ones. This way, you can significantly reduce the amount of food and groceries you will need to take with you.
This point is especially important when it comes to frozen and refrigerated foods, as they may spoil during the move (especially if you’re moving to another city or state).
5. Label Your Boxes
This may sound like a very obvious packing tip, but some people actually don’t bother to label their boxes when moving. This then makes it difficult to know where anything is packed and can be a complete nightmare when you’re trying to unpack.
You don’t need to be super specific when labeling your boxes, but be sure to provide enough detail to allow you to figure out where everything is.
6. Strategically Group Your Belongings Together
In addition to labeling your boxes, you should try to be as strategic as possible when deciding what to pack in each box. It’s a good idea to pack similar items together, and to have a few boxes just for things you’ll need immediately after moving in to your new home.
This way, it’ll be very easy and convenient to find and access the things you need when you’re unpacking and getting set up in your new place.
7. Declutter
Most of us have a bunch of things we don’t use or need occupying space in our home. Moving to a new place gives you an opportunity to finally declutter – and it’s strongly advisable to do so as you don’t want to be unnecessarily transporting extra belongings with you.
Thinking About Moving?
If you’re a Baby Boomer and are thinking about moving but are still undecided, you should be sure to check out our guide just for you. In it, we discuss the benefits of moving and provide an outline of some of the most important things you should consider and do when selling your house. We also look at the benefits of downsizing, such as lower expenses and lower maintenance.
If you have finally decided to move, here are some excellent providers of moving supplies that can help organize and protect your stuff, and ease your moving process.
uBoxes is your one-stop shop for moving boxes, moving kits, containers, and storage solutions. They offer kits that are designed for different sizes of homes. uBoxes offers 1-room to 10+-room kits. You can find specialty boxes for TVs and monitors, glassware, dishes, lamps, pictures, and large mirror boxes. They also offer bubble rolls, blanket pads, and packing tape.
uBoxes gives you the supplies you need to pack like a professional. They offer fast, free shipping, and you can have your supplies in a few days. This option is a little more on the pricey side, but you are getting the same supplies professional movers use. This is an excellent company for making sure your heirloom dishes are safe.
Used Cardboard Boxes is an excellent solution for green and recycled moving supplies. The company specializes in earth-friendly moving boxes and other supplies. All of their boxes are in like-new condition. Its used cardboard boxes have been used once, have misprinted labels, or are a factory overrun. They have excellent pricing, but they do not have the large selection that other companies offer.
This company offers everything you need, like packing tape, boxes, mattress pads, stretch wrap rolls, lifting straps, and large-volume packing peanuts. Used Cardboard Boxes allows you to get individual boxes or moving kits for the whole house. They offer free shipping, and you can have your supplies in only a few days. It is an affordable solution, and you are helping keep moving boxes from ending up in the landfills.
Miller Supply sets itself apart when it comes to specialty moving supply needs. They offer a limited choice in fiberboard boxes, but they have a wide range of heavy plastic containers. It offers many items that you cannot find elsewhere, such as dissolvable hotel laundry bags, personal safety equipment, jewelry boxes, and heat-sealing equipment.
Their pricing might be a little more expensive than other suppliers, but they specialize in industrial supply. You can get things like shipping cold gel packs, tape guns, and special wine bottle shipping containers. If you have items to move that are an odd size, shape, or need special care, you might be able to find a suitable solution at Miller Supply.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that moving can be a stressful, time consuming and expensive endeavor, but following our packing tips should hopefully help you make your move a successful and hassle-free one.
If you’re scheduled to move in the next few days and are very behind on your plan, you should consider delaying your move instead of rushing through with it and putting yourself in a tricky situation when it comes to unpacking.
A Quick Summary
- Most people are fazed by the idea of moving, as it’s a time-consuming and stressful task.
- Following our top packing tips will help you save time, money and stay on top of everything.
- Some of our packing tips include having a plan from the very beginning, labeling your boxes, and strategically grouping your belongings together.
- It’s also a good idea to try to move at an off-peak time (as you can save money by doing so) and to pack your suitcases to save space.
- If you’re thinking about selling your home and moving elsewhere, be sure to read our Baby Boomers’ guide to moving.