We all know how moving to a new home can be challenging and stressful. Where to start, what to pack first, where to get boxes, how to organize everything so not to miss anything, what to do with furniture, and how to deal with unavoidable surprises?
We will try and answer all these questions in the guide below.
Planning
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
— Benjamin Franklin
Planning is the first thing you should do when starting anything. And your move is not an exception.
- Designated packing space. First off, prepare a designated packing space that will be used exclusively for packing. In such a way you will avoid confusion and distraction during packing.
- Split your rooms. The next most important thing is to split your rooms (or spaces) into separate units. This will remove any guesswork about where your clothes should go or what to pack next.
- Consider downsizing. Moving is a perfect opportunity to declutter and get rid of old stuff you no longer use. It may be appliances you no longer use, old furniture, or clothes you no longer wear. First, by doing so you will make your move easier, and second, it will make you feel better (according to numerous studies, such as this one which talks how a cluttered home can cause stress.)
- Research moving companies. Do your research on professional moving companies if you are planning to hire one. Again, doing this in advance will allow you to not stress out about which company to hire when the time comes. You can contact us today with any questions or to get a quote!
- Pick the date. Pick the right moving day and schedule in advance. Make sure that everyone in your household is ok with the date and doesn’t have anything planned. And, if you are using a moving company, make sure to book in advance, especially during the peak season.
Tools and moving supplies
Give us the tools and we will finish the job
— Winston Churchill
- Get high-quality moving supplies. Your life will get much easier by using the heavy-duty moving boxes specifically designed for the job. After all, you do want your belongings to reach the destination safe and sound, right? You can have a look at our catalogue of moving supplies we have available here. We can also deliver the supplies a few days in advance before the moving day so you would have time to pack everything. See our moving supplies catalogue.
- Alternatively, you can reuse some of your boxes from electronics you have and/or search for moving boxes online. Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are good places to start.
- Get the essentials. Regardless of which way you choose, you will need essentials like tape, stretch wrap, markers, labels, scissors, and a stationery knife.
Packing for a move
Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.
— Barbara Hemphill
The quote above perfectly fits when it comes to moving. You’d better spend a minute packing the right way, rather than spending hours and your hard-earned later during the move and when unpacking.
- Put boxes from the same room together. By doing this you will save money because your movers will not waste extra time figuring out which box goes where.
- Label boxes. We can’t stress it enough. If this is your first move, just believe that it will save you a few evenings and a lot of frustration.
- Back a bag or a box of essentials. This will let you reach your essentials (such as snacks, toothpaste with toothbrushes, scissors etc.) without ransacking your boxes once you arrive at your new place.
- Make use of dresser drawers. Dresser drawers already hold your clothes and/or other items. To save space and time, simply take our drawers and wrap them with a stretch wrap.
- Use your pots to store smaller kitchen items. Similarly to dresser drawers, use your pots to store other kitchen items like salt and pepper shakers, spices, etc.
- Use small boxes for heavier items. It’s common sense, but still, a lot of people are making this mistake. First, you will not be able to get a lot of heavy stuff in one box and it is much more likely to reach its destination in one piece, and second, you will be doing your movers a big favour by not making them break their backs lifting one huge heave box.
- Put heavier items at the bottom. Again, it’s common sense that will make sure you’re lighter and more fragile items are not squashed by the heavier ones.
- Take extra care to protect your art. Art is probably one of the valuable things you possess, both emotionally and money-wise. To prevent it from being damaged make sure to wrap it in a blanket and securely tape the blanket.
- Protect fragile items. several supplies can be used for this, such as bubble wraps, blankets, and pad dividers.
- Disassemble furniture. If you are packing your furniture make sure to take off all moving and protruding parts if possible. For example, when packing chairs for moving, remove legs and tape them to the chair. For extra protection use blankets to wrap your furniture.
- Consider using professional help. At Simply the Best Movers we are always there for you whether you need our moving or packing services. Our professional packers and movers will make sure that your belongings are properly packed and moved. Rest assured knowing that we will take full responsibility for packing and wrapping all your household items, glassware, and anything else you might have. Learn more about our packing services.
Congrats, you are now ready to start packing. This might be a rewarding time for you and your family to rediscover small things that will bring back old memories and emotions. It might also be a good time to get rid of old stuff you no longer need. And it’s going to be a beginning of a new chapter in your life in a new home!