Are you getting ready for moving day? When it comes time for you to start packing up your house in preparation to move, how you pack your things can either help make a move go smoothly or make you fantasize about burning all of your belongings and moving into a tiny house instead...
We would like to help you achieve the first option. So below, we share with you the do's and don'ts and tried and true tips we've picked up over the years about how to pack effectively for moving day. We want to help you have a relatively stress-free experience of moving to Ucluelet.
When it comes to moving day, there's so much to think about! Here are 5 things you should absolutely do to help your moving day go smoothly.
Make sure to use strong boxes and packing materials such as bubble wrap, newspaper, and packing peanuts to protect breakables and fragile items. You want to avoid going through all the work of packing your things only to find items damaged upon arrival.
Write a general description of the contents of each box with a sharpie on the outside. Make sure you include a detailed inventory of what is inside. This will help you quickly find items when you need them and make unpacking much more manageable.
Don't allow yourself to label any boxes "misc." because we guarantee you will not have a clue what is inside after a few hours of packing. Instead, give each box at least some signifier like "cookbooks and colander" or "living room misc." This way, your memory will be jogged, and all of the miscellaneous stuff you packed with the cookbooks and colander are more likely to be memorable.
Having images of these items will help you reassemble them quickly and accurately when you reach your new home. Make sure you put loose screws and cords in ziplock bags and keep them with the item they go with. After your big moving day, you want to avoid playing guessing games with loose pieces.
This should include items you need right away, such as a change of clothes, toiletries, and electronic chargers. You'll be thankful you won't have to dig through all your boxes to find these items at the end of a long moving day.
Essentials can include things like medications, documents and electronics. Don't pack these things with the rest of your belongings. You want quick and easy access to them if you need them!
Start packing as soon as possible, and give yourself plenty of time to get organized. Organizing for a move can seem overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to make the process easier. Start by listing all the tasks that need to be done and break them down into small, manageable steps. Prioritize the most important tasks and create a timeline for completing them. Be sure to delegate tasks to your family or friends when necessary.
Check for any items that may not be allowed to be transported, such as flammable or hazardous materials. You should not bring gasoline, paint, propane tanks, batteries, fertilizers, or cleaning supplies on a moving truck. Additionally, you should refrain from bringing any food or perishables, as they can spoil during the move. Finally, don't bring any firearms or weapons on the moving truck.
Keep any important documents, money, jewelry, and other valuables with you during the move. It would be best to keep your electronics, such as computers and televisions, in your vehicle. You don't want to risk them getting damaged in a car that isn't temperature controlled.
Remember to ensure each box is at most 50 lbs. for easy lifting and carrying. An overloaded moving box typically looks like a box full to the brim and often bulges out of the sides. It is usually challenging to close and is much heavier than a typical moving box. An overloaded moving box may also have items sticking out of the top or sides and may be taped shut so that it does not pop open.
So how do you properly pack a moving box? Start by choosing a solid and sturdy box to hold the items you’re packing. Place your heavier items at the bottom of the box and lighter items on top. Fill any empty spaces with bubble wrap or packing peanuts to keep things from shifting during the move. Make sure to close the box securely with packing tape to prevent items from spilling.
It's not a nice feeling to arrive and realize that your bed won't fit up the stairs. Make sure you measure the doorways and hallways in your new home to ensure all your furniture will fit. Remember to measure the space for your bed and large appliances. If your new home has a patio or deck, inspect and measure the area for your outdoor furniture. This will help you determine what size and type of outdoor furniture will fit in your outdoor space.
Yes, your towels, sheets, and tablecloths can act as excellent packing material. Not only will you save money on bubble wrap, but you will be able to fit more things into fewer boxes! But remember to keep out some clean towels and face cloths for moving day. You want to avoid digging through boxes of wine glasses and tea cups to find a towel for a post-move-in shower in your new Ucluelet home.
It's tempting to try and keep out some dishes and soap and a toaster and... all the other things you need for making meals until moving day, but you will find yourself with more work than it's worth. Keep a stack of unbreakable or disposable dishes and cutlery in the kitchen. For meals, feed yourself with either take-out food or by preparing one or two big casseroles in disposable pans that you can warm and serve on the last few days before the big move.
Wondering how you should start packing up your kitchen?
For more helpful advice, check out the article How to Pack a Kitchen Like a Pro!
Get rid of anything you are not 100% sure you want in your new home. Go through the closets and storage areas and give or throw away anything that you last used a year ago. If you have yet to really like it that much, or you have a newer version of something, go ahead and give it away. It's going to be refreshing when you unpack in your new place to have only those things that you really want instead of having to sort through boxes of stuff that were cluttering up your basement in the first place.
Otherwise, you'll never be done with the task of packing! Don't be afraid to pack things together that aren't similar. Opt for packing things together that are from the same room rather than, for example, trying to get all the candle holders into a specific box. If all the things from the bookshelf go in a box labelled "bookshelf" and all the things from the wall shelves in a box labelled "wall shelves," this will make the packing and unpacking process much more straightforward and even faster for you.
When it comes time to call the cable or internet company to let them know about the move, please be sure to ask if the modem or router is yours or if they are to be returned as a part of your service agreement. This can be a costly mistake, especially if they are packed away, and you cannot find them, because, of course, they will be in the last box you look in... So, to remain stress-free, do the research on your wifi connection before moving day.
Ask your friends or local businesses if they have any boxes to spare. Often offices will have sturdy paper boxes that are excellent for moving. Places that stock napkins and paper towels will also be a good source of decent-sized and robust boxes.
It's helpful in filling spaces so things won't shift and can be a perfect buffer between breakables. It always seems impossible to find all the newspapers that you need at the last minute, so by stocking up early, you will know you have enough when the time comes for packing.
Packing up your home for a move can be daunting, but following a few simple steps and having a plan in place can make it a much smoother and easier process. Start by determining what needs to be packed and what can stay, and then organize your items into labelled boxes. Make sure not to pack the modem or router, and use boxes and labels to make the unpacking process faster and more efficient. With these tips, you will be ready to move in no time!
If you're dreaming of moving to Ucluelet, we are happy to help facilitate your move. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have or to set up a viewing.
Header Photo Credit: Shrewsbury Homes
