Getting Ready for a Move

[barbszy]

Summertime is one of the most common times for people to move.

What are your best tips for organizing in advance of a move?

[barbszy]

When I moved, I made sure to label EVERY side of EVERY box. It made it really easy to know what room the box belonged in.

I also gave each box a number and wrote it on every side. Then I had an index card with that number on it. The index card also had a list of what was in the box. Not necessarily a specific list, might have said
KITCHEN #3 Pots & pans.

I also have a packing tip. We used our sheets and towels to wrap around breakable items like lamps. This way the items were cushioned and we didn't need separate boxes for sheets, towels & blankets.

[Lee]

Barb,
Thanks for starting this thread, I sure could use any tips anyone may have!
Love the wrapping in sheets and towels!

Leighann

[ajrsmom]

We wrapped in towels and blankets too.

We used a lot of plastic tubs w/ lids instead of boxes and labeled all by writing on masking tape and labeling each tub. I use the extra tubs to store Winter clothes, laundry baskets, toy tubs......the ways to use them are endless.


The dumpsters at Malls are a good place to find free, heavy cardboard boxes!

If you can afford it, rent your truck for an extra day so that you can pack everything one day and leave refreshed the next day when you get around to leaving.

Make up a box with items that you will use as soon as you move in: towels, soap, clean clothes, new toys to keep the kids busy.

I also made a box with utensils and food that we could eat. I packed paper plates, bowls for cereal, spoons and forks, paper towels.......etc. We went to a nearby store in the morning and grabbed cereal, milk, makings for sandwiches and snacks and drinks.


I also packed a cooler with drinks and snacks for the car ( which I drove) and the truck ( for my DH and DS).


Organize and map out your drive way ahead of time!! We bought walkie-talkies to keep in touch with each other---priceless!!!!

[RobertaD]

It is real helpful to mark the box so you know what room it need to be put in when coming off the box. If you dont' want to write Kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, kids room 1, kids room 2, etc on them you can use a code for which room each box goes to.


You can also contact Avon Representatives in your town to get their extra lidded storage boxes for free. The boxes are similar to the boxes that copy paper come in.

Roberta

[barbszy]

Here's a pantry tip.
Start eating any food you have stored in the pantry. You want to move as LITTLE food as possible. Don't buy any food you can't eat up in the 2 months before the move. Instead, save a few dollars each week in an envelope so you can restock that pantry when you get to the new place.
Plan out your meals now....or you'll end up with some WEIRD combinations at the end

[Cam1952]

Barbzy...thanks sooo much for starting this thread, as I will be moving by the end of this week, and need all the help I can get...lol. Also, thanks to RobertaD for the tip on getting boxes...I never would have thought of that (even though I used to sell Avon, myself about 4 years ago)...thanks again to all...you girls are the best!

[Cam1952]

...forgot to thank Ajrsmom...really liked the tip about wrapping things in towels and sheets

[crystalk33]

I moved last summer after 8 years in our old home. The biggest tip I can say is sort well! I had boxes lined up against the wall and sorted into those. Everything had to be sorted first! I had a yard sale two weeks before we moved and on the day after the yard sale I put all the left over stuff at the curb with a BIG FREE sign! It was gone in hours. I learned to downsize everything. You really do not need to keep clothing that has not been worn in over a year. I even had my kids sort their toys. They laid them all out and I picked a few that they had to keep (first stuffed toy etc. ) then they picked one to keep, one to give away. Good Luck!

[lbd]

FlyLady has a moving checklist that I found helpful when I moved.
FlyLady.net: Moving Tips