While moving your items yourself can seem like a good idea, it can easily become overwhelming if no proper planning is done. The whole situation can be overwhelming but worth it if done correctly. The goal of this article is to provide some do it yourself moving tips to help your moving process.
Get Organized Early
Even with professional help, moving can be quite demanding. Things can go wrong at the last minute. It’s therefore important to avoid packing at the last minute. Set deadlines for specific tasks once you decide on the moving date. Start preparing as early as 6 weeks. It may seem a long time but worth saving you from any inconvenience. Wait till the eleventh hour and see how your valuables will damage from a bouncy trip. Also, preparing early will help you determine the budget for various supplies such as a tape machine, packing papers, boxes, bags, markers among others.
Declutter
The less you possess, the easier it will be to relocate. Moving with huge loads may require extra packing resources, rental trucks or even additional gas. It’s therefore important to reduce your items before you move. You can either sell, donate or throw items away. Donate those pieces of furniture or clothing still in good condition.
Make Use of Boxes
It’s prudent to use moving boxes when relocating. Avoid using plastic carriers which cannot sustain pilling, or grocery boxes which are too fragile for the task. You can obtain the proper moving boxes from hardware stores, moving companies as well as storage firms. You may think packing your things in huge boxes is faster but never the true case. Instead, consider using standard boxes which are easier to load.
Tackle Things in Steps
Start by packing unnecessary things early. Examples include artwork, paperwork and off-season wear. Experts recommend doing this as early as two weeks to the moving day. You can pack everything, especially in the least used room. Also, ensure you pack related stuff together. Put things necessary to use upon your arrival. Place such items where they can be accessed easily and mark them for easy identification. These items should be packed last. Such things include clothing, cosmetics, a few utensils, towels, tissue papers among others.
Don’t Skimp
Using inappropriate packing supplies may damage your items. For instance, newspaper ink is likely to stain your items. Instead, you can pack your things using a newsprint type which is impermeable. Ensure all seams are taped to ensure the boxes remain intact and no dust penetrates in.
Pack Smart
Do not rush the packing process by tossing things into the boxes. Label your boxes using different colored stickers by room. For example, use a red label on bathroom boxes and then indicate the contents contained in each box. Keep a summary of the contents in each box. If you go for a self-storage option, then keeping a track of your items is crucial.
Pack like a Pro
As we said earlier, rushing the packing process will definitely damage the items. Staying organized will create the whole difference when loading or unpacking the items. Use fastenings to keep items intact during the loading process. Try to lift heavy items carefully. Also, heavy items should be placed at the front to prevent weight shifts.
Bottom Line
Planning early and staying organized is the key to tackling the moving process yourself. Stick to the above do it yourself moving tips and you will see the difference. Packing early, and proper labeling will help the moving process as you pack, and unpack in your new home.