8 Things to Know About Packing and Moving
Plenty of people are moving this year, buying bigger houses, or relocating to their dream city as they work remotely. Of course, not everyone is doing this, but that and my own move have inspired me to write a bit about moving. After all, moving is one of those life transitions that most of us experience at least a few times in life.
If your moves are frequent, like a college student’s, you probably have a system figured out. However, if, like me, it’s been a while since you’ve moved, it may feel overwhelming. I’ve felt some of that as I prepare to pack and move for the first time in eight years. Here are some things to know about the process.
1. Each move is slightly different, depending on your transition. The moves I made in college and just after were all similar, and the amount of stuff I had remained somewhat level. I was always moving into and out of dorm rooms or small apartments. But as we get older, our moves may change. For example, I moved in with my boyfriend (now husband) 10 years ago, and it was the first time either us had cohabitated with a partner. That meant consolidating items. My last move was into this house, our first one. That was exciting and meant different things. Now, we’re moving as part of a home renovation, which means we’re coming back. It also means I’m not fully emptying the house, which is presenting different challenges. As you think about your move, think about how this one is different and what that may mean.
2. Choose your move date. Some people find this easy, while others struggle. Outside factors such as a home closing or rental agreement may dictate your move date. In my case, I have a wide span of time, and on top of that, it’s a moving target based on how quickly our contractor gets the city permits. Here are some considerations for your move date:
- How soon do I need to be out of my current home?
- Is there an ideal date by which I should be in my new home? Maybe you are having a baby and want to be in well before. Maybe you’re starting a new job and would rather be somewhat settled.
- Any seasonal considerations? This doesn’t apply everywhere, but you may prefer not to move in February when it’s really cold or possibly snowy. (If you have a choice, that is!)
- Is your move a whole-house pack-up and move that may take a few days? When my parents moved out of their Illinois house after 20 years, it was not a one-day affair. That move required months of preparation and packing of a garage, a barn, and a basement plus a hot tub and much more. If your move is that big, you’ll need multiple days.
- Is it across town or across the country?
- If it’s for a home renovation like mine, can you stay while the contractors begin work or do they need you out immediately?
3. Start with some purging. Packing up is overwhelming! Start getting ready a few months in advance. For example, a few months ago, we went through our shed and reorganized it. We cleaned out old paint cans to take to the Wake Recycling Center. We generally moved things around and tidied up so we’d have more storage space there. We then did the same thing with the attic. We then took a day to move a lot of attic stuff to the shed. My daughter and I went through her clothes and toys, setting aside many for donation.
4. Book your moving or storage. We are putting a lot of stuff in storage because we are moving in with my husband’s parents during our renovation. We don’t need a lot of our things during that time. Luckily, my sister-in-law just bought a new house nearby with a ton of storage space in the basement, which saves us from having to pay for it. If you require temporary storage, be sure to check that out in advance so you can find one nearby your new or old home and compare pricing. Moving companies are sometimes very booked — and sometimes not. Consider setting that up as soon as you have chosen your move date.
5. Gather supplies. In this previous post, I talked about gathering your supplies and support, so check that out. You can also sort a bit more if needed. For example, I recently went through the pantry and kitchen cupboards and boxed up a bunch of random things we won’t need for a long time. Read more about sorting your stuff ahead of a move.
6. Start packing. Start with the easy stuff, as I mentioned here. Books are easy. Kitchen items such as holiday dishes are another good one. All holiday-related things, the bins you have with childhood stuff, etc. Make a pile somewhere out of the way.
7. Label as you go. Put labels on boxes and bins as soon as you fill them. You don’t want to be confused about what goes where!
8. Make an early trip if you can. If you’re hiring a professional team, you might just do the whole move in one day. If not, consider taking a few trips per week to the new place with a load of stuff in your car. I’m doing this because I’m taking things to two locations: the storage at my sister-in-law’s house and to my in-laws’ house also. We’re hoping to have everything in storage before moving day except the washer-dryer and a chair.
Also, check out these related posts we’ve done about moving and packing:
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