Want to move without spending too much time packing or breaking the bank? There are various things you can do to make moving easier and less stressful. Here are 15 moving tips that will save you time and money. Be smart and pay attention.
- Goodbye bubble wrap, hello phone book!
There’s absolutely no need for you to spend money on bubble wrap when you can get something just as effective for free – a phone book, for instance. You know, those big books that no one uses anymore. Well, their time to shine has finally come! Wrap your breakables using the paper to keep them from damage during moving. If you don’t have a phone book, that’s fine. Use a newspaper instead.
- Get boxes for free
It’s quite silly to pay for boxes. Well, unless you’re really keen on spending your hard-earned cash, but I highly doubt that. Find boxes for free by going to your local grocery store. Ask the staff to set aside some boxes for you the next time they receive stock and go back to pick them up.
If you prefer to search online for free boxes, visit Craigslist. They have a whole category dedicated to free stuff. It’s pretty exciting!
- Organize a garage sale
Get rid of all the things you don’t need by organizing a garage sale. Not only will you free up some space in your new home but you will also earn some money while you’re at it. Sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it?
- Pack your kitchen first
Kitchens usually take the longest to pack so you definitely want to start packing from there. Wrap your breakables in paper to keep them safe during the move.
- Take a photo of connected cables
There is nothing that takes more time than reconnecting all your electronic devices. Save yourself the time and trouble by taking a picture with your phone for quick reference.
- Color-coordinate boxes by rooms
Use different colored tape to label boxes according to which room they belong to. This will save you a lot of time when unloading and unpacking the boxes. By color-coordinating boxes, they can directly be put in the correct room.
- Label the side of the box
Most commonly, our first instinct is to label the top of the box. However, you should label the side of the box instead. Why? Well, because boxes are usually stacked on top of each other, making it difficult or even impossible to see labels put on top.
- List box contents
No, you don’t have to write up a whole essay. Two-three words are enough. Just a brief description of what’s inside each box will make unpacking a whole lot easier and more productive.
- Pack a first-day pack
Place all the things you will need on the first day of your move including a change of clothes, personal hygiene products, plastic plates, etc.
- Cover liquids in plastic wrap
Avoid liquids spilling on other items by sealing off the opening with some plastic wrap. Even if you don’t think something will spill – wrap it! You don’t want to spend money cleaning your new carpet, do you?
- Compress seasonal clothes
Put all your out-of-season clothes into a vacuum-sealable bag to save some space. Besides, you won’t need this stuff anytime soon which means you have more time to unpack more important things.
- Bundle up silverware in plastic wrap
Keep your silverware together by wrapping the entire tray in plastic wrap. This way you don’t have to take out your forks and knives and put them back inside again.
- Put cables in empty toilet paper rolls
Organize your cables by putting each in an empty toilet paper roll. This means you won’t have to spend time untangling cables. Don’t forget to label each roll so you know what each cable is for.
- Cut triangle-shaped holes in boxes
Carrying and moving boxes can be quite difficult. Cut holes on each side of the box in the shape of a triangle to form handles. This allows you to have a better grip on the box and makes it easier to carry. Remember to cut the holes at least three inches from the top.
- Get in touch with professional movers
It’s easy to lose your head when moving. All that packing, loading, moving and unpacking can take its toll, especially if you decide to go solo. Do yourself a huge favor and get some professional moving help. Contact Invoke Moving today for a free quote and leave the moving to the professionals. See you at your place!
Related: 3 Ways to save time when moving