Moving into a new home is an exciting time, but somehow the positive energy of the day is always overshadowed by the looming cloud that is the actual moving process. Let’s face it - moving sucks. No one likes it. It is always more work than you think it’s going to be, and no matter the amount of alcohol, free dinners, or “IOUs” you offer your friends, it still seems like a significant favour to call in. For these reasons, we put together this list of moving tips to help make the process a little smoother so you can feel more excited about your new place:
- Don’t wait until the day you have to be out to start moving (or packing) - This should go without saying, but you would be surprised how often it happens. Do your best to move as much as you can before the day you have to be out, or at the very least, have everything packed up and ready to go. Moving takes a lot longer than most people plan, so starting ahead of time is the number one way to reduce stress.
- Take the opportunity to purge - Moving is the perfect opportunity to de-clutter and get rid of things that no longer serve you. There is no sense in moving it if you don’t need it in the new place. Save yourself energy and precious cargo space by purging/donating as you pack and before you move. Check out Declutter & Donate Calgary Edition!
- Pack things in things - Since you have to move them anyway, items like suitcases, laundry baskets, waste bins, and even reusable shopping bags (those giant IKEA ones are the jackpot) make terrific moving boxes.
- Wrap dishes and breakables in towels and other things you are moving anyway - This is another excellent way to kill two birds with one stone and reduce waste by skipping things like bubble wrap or tissue paper. Wrapping kitchenware in clean dishtowels, clothes and aprons helps keep things organized, too.
- Move full drawers - Sometimes, this can be easier than emptying and re-packing in boxes, especially when it comes to clothes. Generally, dressers are too heavy to move with the drawers in them anyways, so take the drawers out but treat them as their own pre-packed boxes - just shrink wrap them to keep things in place.
- Keep clothes on the hangers - This is the easiest way to move clothes. True, you may have to re-hang a few items when you get to your new closet, but you will still save a TON of time by not removing every piece of clothing and re-hanging upon move-in. You also won’t have to deal with packing the hangers, which aren’t built to pack efficiently, no matter how long you spend trying to jigsaw them into a box.
- Organize as you pack - It seems simple, but organizing usually takes a back seat by the fifth hour of packing. Avoid the urge to throw everything in the box to get it packed, and be methodical. It might take a few extra minutes while packing up, but it will save you when it comes time to unpack. Keep similar items together, or go by room. Label the boxes (on multiple sides!), so you know where to take things when you get to the new place.
- Pre-clean the new place - If you can get into your new home ahead of time, you will save time by pre-cleaning. That way, you only have to deal with unpacking on move-in day!
- Use clear/reusable bins - If possible, using clear plastic bins can also help you stay organized (because you can see what’s in them) and help reduce waste. It is also wise to keep things you need most often near the top so that you don’t have to unpack the whole box to get that one item you need at the bottom.
- Don’t forget to change your address - Check out this blog post for a good place to start!
