How to Move

Moving is a challenge I wouldn't recommend for anybody, but as a necessary part of living, here's a tip from somebody who has moved over 20 times in 10 years:

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxes, boxes and more boxes
• Packing tape
• Time
• Newspaper (optional, I've used towels before)
• Large tip marker or markers as needed
• Friends (optional)

1. Find boxes.
   This isn't a difficult step, and you don't have to pay for these most of the time. Department stores and liquor stores get shipments on a daily basis and usually have a mass amount of boxes they need to get rid of. These boxes work just as well as any moving boxes you can buy at the store, and as long as you don't mind the logos.

2. Get packing tape.
   I recommend highly that you get a packing tape dispenser as well. This cuts down on frustration 100 fold and makes the packing much faster. I recommend getting a pack of six rolls.

3. Get newspapers.
   Everybody has newspapers sitting around, ask your friends or neighbors. Subscribe to the Sunday paper a month before you are planning to leave, the amount of advertisements alone in a Sunday paper will suffice for packing breakables.

4. Get a hand truck.
   You would not believe how much this step will save your back. They are well worth the cost.

5. Get a storage unit.
   You can rent a storage unit for a month or a year, but you might find that the storage unit will house the overflow and keep you from losing your mind in the first few months.

6. Get friends.
   Make it a packing party. It's always more fun when you have more than one. Get paper plates and order from a restaurant, put on some upbeat music and invite everybody you know to help.

7. Gather like items together.
   If you are going to pack up your son's toys, make sure you have them all in one space. Jewelry, clothes, dishes (make sure these are clean): make sure you have them all together for easier packing.

8. Pack away.
   Everybody has his or her own idea for how things should be packed, so get to it. If you have friends helping, let them know how you think the items should be packed, but let them know that you trust them so they don't get discouraged.

9. Move to the new place and begin unpacking.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep your important papers and a week's worth of clothes with you. Valuables and important papers can get easily misplaced in a move.
• Anything that can spill should be packed separately or put in a spill-proof container.
• If packing perishables, they need to be moved as soon as possible and packed last. A cooler is a good thing to have when moving.
• Label your boxes clearly and do not label more than one box Miscellaneous.
• Always lift with your knees, not your back.
• This article assumes you are in good enough health to move on your own, if you are not, your health is more important than the money it costs to hire a mover.
• If hiring a mover, be cautious and ask around. There are really good moving companies and really bad ones.

[FireOpal]

on 11/11/2008 Anything you can live without, do it. Sometimes it is worth more to give something away than keep it.

[DreamrKate]

on 11/11/2008 Now tell me how to get motivated to start packing. I've got about two weeks to move a whole family and all our crap, and the tasks are daunting. My theory? Move what I want into the new place, and then come back and sift through the rest - three piles - Goodwill, dumpster, trash. Any comments?

[TxLady]

on 8/24/2008 These are some great tips! Thanks