My lessons learned from 20+ moves:
Before Moving Day:
1. Go through all of your stuff well in advance of the move, and get rid of the things you don’t want in the new place. Why move it if you will just get rid of it at the other end?
2. Decide what you will move yourself. What vehicles and space are available? Estimate the space required to fit the items in the vehicles. Plan to leave about 25% of the available space empty to allow for extra things you will remember at the last minute.
3. Suggested things NOT to send with the movers:
• Important papers, checkbooks, jewelry
• Medical records, medicines
• Other valuables
• Anything you think is very important, and can squeeze into your vehicles
• Cleaning supplies, vacuum, broom, etc
• Tools. Some can be sent with movers, but you will likely need at least a few basic tools with you as you move and unpack.
• Paint supplies if you will paint before the movers deliver your stuff
• A small number of pots, plates, flatware, glasses, etc., so you will be able to cook and eat simple meals until you unpack the kitchen stuff. Or, use paper/plastic items. You won’t want to eat every meal in a restaurant.
• One telephone. One radio.
On Moving Day:
1. Put everything the movers won’t be packing into a separate closet. Hang a sign on the closet to remind the movers (and you!) not to pack the contents of the closet.
2. Put items together in one location if you want them packed together.
3. The movers will give you an inventory list, but it is nearly useless when you need to find something, or when you want to know what was in the box that got lost. When you are unpacking, you will at times be looking for specific items, and you need to be able to find them. This will allow you to unpack in an organized manner, and greatly reduce the stress. Plus save the time you would waste searching for things.
Create your own inventory list as follows:
• Find out in advance how many packers will be boxing your stuff.
• Have one adult follow each packer. Get a friend to help if necessary.
• As the packers load each box, keep a detailed inventory of the contents. This is critical to finding things at the other end!!!! The more detail, the better. Don’t just write things like “desk drawer items”. You won’t know in advance everything you will want to find, so plan ahead!
• As each box is sealed, put a serial number on the box with a permanent marker. Write the number in 3 places: top, and 2 opposite sides. Then you won’t ever have to turn the box more than 90 degrees to find the number.
• Also put the same serial number on the inventory list next to the contents of the box. Now, you know exactly what is in each box.
• For key items, list them right on the outside of the box so you can find them easier.
• DO NOT list valuable items like jewelry on the outside of the box. That’s an invitation to be stolen. Not usually a problem unless the boxes will go into storage before they are delivered at the new place.
• If you know which room the box will go to at the new place, write that on the box as well.
• When the movers put their inventory stickers on the boxes, add that number to your inventory list. You will be checking each box off on the movers’ list as they come off the truck, and you will usually miss a few. This cross reference will help you find them in the ocean of cardboard.
• Each person keeping an inventory should use serial numbers starting with a different digit. For example: Wife uses numbers in the 100’s, husband in the 200’s, etc. This will help ID which room it came from as well as prevent duplicates.
4. Suggested items to be sure get put on the inventory are:
• Pots, plates, glasses, flatware, etc
• Bedding, towels
• Lamps and bulbs
• Any cleaning supplies that get packed
• Toilet paper, paper towels, rags
• Extension cords, telephones and phone cords
• Anything you think you will need in the first few days after the movers deliver your stuff.
• Clothes by type (underwear, socks, pants, etc. Identify the owner Hers/his, which kid)
• Toiletry items
• Hardware such as picture hangers, nails, screws
• Any tools that you send with the movers
• Records, CDs, TV’s and stereo equipment. You will want tunes while you unpack!
• Computer stuff.
5. Don’t let the packers put containers and lids made of glass, ceramic, or other fragile material together without separating them with packing material. The direct contact will allow rubbing, which will probably cause breakage.
6. The movers will usually only place a piece of furniture once. Plan ahead where you want each item to go.
A little planning ahead will make the move go much smoother, at the old place and the new place. It will always be a pain, but being organized helps a lot. Good luck!
