The rush for loading and moving is the same whether you’re moving across town or across country. Once the vehicles are loaded the only difference is driving distance. Reducing the stress can help a lot.
Step one - sort and declutter. This can save you time and money in the long run. If you haven’t used it in a year out it goes. It doesn’t matter if it was a gift or was such a great deal when you got it - don’t keep what you don’t use and certainly don’t haul it with you! Have a section in the garage or deck to sort these items out. Give them to people who can use them, have a yard sale, donate to a thrift store or place it on free cycle - but clear it out. This includes clothing!
Go through the kids clothing - anything outgrown goes. Unfortunately almost any time of the year there are fires and people lose everything - they would appreciate these possessions that you or your kids really don’t need anymore. If you really don’t like the item out it goes. If you don’t foresee yourself using it out it goes. You’ll be surprised how much you can lighten the load!
Have plenty of boxes and packing material. While there are moving and shipping places that you can buy this at don’t overlook collecting them. Many people hit up grocery stores and liquor stores - but overlook places like farm supply stores, hardware stores and other sources of boxes. Ask what they do with them…many break them down and crush them, but would be happy to let you take all you want if you come on the day freight comes in. Often you can get not only small boxes for heavy items but large boxes for light items - bedding, pillows and such.
Pack smart. A general guide is the heavier the item the smaller the box. Books, cast iron pans and such go in smaller boxes that are easier to move (especially if you have many of them!). Start early and pack seldom used items a week ahead of time. Get a marker and on it write the room it came from. This allows a much easier time unpacking…you can look at a box and say “oh kitchen pans”. Be sure to clearly mark on all sides glass and other fragile contents. These should be loaded on top with nothing on them.
Call ahead to the new residence and have power, phone and water turned on the day before you get there. Make sure before the water is turned on there are no open faucets or broken pipes. You might have an overlap of service for a day but there is little more refreshing than getting to the new place, unloading for a couple hours and being able to go take a hot shower! Get keys to the new place at least several days in advance.
For boxes containing photo albums or framed photos consider using a garbage bag on the inside of the box - this allows a moisture barrier and even if the box should get wet the plastic barrier protects what’s inside.
Have plenty of help to load and have your piles separated (as you box them) to heavy/durable items (bottom), medium durable (middle) and light/fragile (top) when they’re loaded. If you have to color code them…get markers and use a red for heavy boxes, blue for medium and black only for fragile. The same principle works for rooms - red for kitchen, blue for living room. Don’t just label “bedroom” - indicate which bedroom! If you have to hire a few kids from church it can be money well spent to be loaded and on the road quickly with minimal stress.
Think ahead not only for getting stuff packed and loaded but saving you time unloading also!
Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. If you are looking to move and need if you need moving boxes in Garland, Plano, or Richardson area visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com