In preparing for our move last week, we realized that we've done this quite a few times in the last twelve years and seemed to have picked up a moving style, so to speak. We definitely follow some of Laure's best moving tips and thoughts on feeling at home plus we have a few more. Check out some of our additional moving tips after the jump.
7 Helpful Tips To Manage A Smooth Move
More Moving Tips From Apartment Therapy
1) Create a 1-page daily schedule (in a real calendar format) of the days leading up to moving day. On the sheet, include phone numbers to the movers, the power company, the gas company, the cable company, basically any vendor that you will need to contact on or during the moving process.
2) On that note, book your vendors - your movers, the cable guy, etc. It's never too late to put these services on hold.
3) Prioritize what things you need to get right away and what can wait for. For our new place, we needed to get a fridge. (It's common for some LA rentals not to come with one.) So that was #1 on our list. While we love that we have a 2nd bedroom now, we don't need to run out and buy a sofa bed - it can wait.
4) Plan your packing days. Dedicate 1 or 2 fulls days and simply pack. We have found that packing here and there for two weeks can feel incredibly overwhelming. By tackling all of the packing over 2 - 3 days is a great way to go - get it done quickly and check it off your list!
5) Label all of your boxes. The move will feel better and you will feel more in control. While this seems simple enough, it's easy to get distracted during the chaos of packing. Definitely label as you go. And MISC is probably not a label you will like a few weeks later when you are looking for an item in your boxes.
6) Like Laure suggested, once all your stuff is in your new place, make your bed. It's easy to do and will help you feel like home in your new home. Plus it will feel like you are making progress in unpacking.
7) Tackling painting in the first few days after your move can be a much easier DIY by using a paint roller with a longer handle. Forget the shorter, cheaper ones and spend a few bucks more on a roller that's at least 24 inches.
Check out more moving ideas from Apartment Therapy:
Comments (7)
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Okay. I recently moved a pretty modest bunch of stuff. About a bedroom's worth.
I've learned something. No matter how easy you make it, it's always easier to just save some money and hire movers and cleaners. (Even though I didn't have that option at the time).
Moving is always a horrible experience, even in the best of circumstances. It's fraught with pain, exhaustion, and panic. And that's not even including the risk of a pirate encounter.
Or there's Plan B. Burn anything that won't fit in a single car load and buy new stuff. :)
view Aloof's profile
I have a friend in LA looking for a company to move she and her family's home content to south Orange County. Thus far, the companies she has contacted have been sketchy and over priced.
If anyone has a referral for a good moving company, please post contact info. Thanks!
view Seaside's profile
When we moved this past June I found it hard to keep like things together- some were just getting too heavy and I kept having weird gaps in boxes I had to fill up with other things that could fit. So I numbered each box and listed in DETAIL the contents in an Excel spreadsheet.
And I did the whole packing bits and pieces for 3 weeks and it was really just better to dedicate a couple of full days to packing!
view Snowiye's profile
Aloof,
You are so perceptive!!!
view sassydo's profile
I would like to add one thing... I just went through an arbitration with United Movers... and won. Get the good insurance (full value) and if something is damaged on the unpacking end that they didn't note was damaged on the packing end, they have to pay for it. The law favors the shipper. If something is damaged, don't just take some crappy offer, go through arbitration. It is worth it.
view jenzoe's profile
We have a heap of kids and a heap of stuff (mostly tons of books)... after chucking out as much as I could on every shelf and in every drawer for a month... one shelf/drawer a day. I figured if it would take the same time again to pack... and I just consistently packed two boxes a day for a month - it turned out really quick and easy... got up packed two boxes and didn't think about it again till the next day.
This worked for us and didn't interrupt the life and times of all the little people roaming around... they just had a growing climbing spot in the corner of our least used room.
view se7en's profile
Agree with Snowiye numbering boxes and listing what's in each on is a good to stay organized. It also helps to make sure you have all your stuff if you hire movers.
view kbittner's profile