We are moving....

[Disneylover79]

Anyone got any tips on packing,loading the truck, or unpacking...

 

[Hannathy]

Do not let the movers,yourself or anyone else write Miscellaneous on any box!!!

And always write the room that the box came from on it then you have an idea what is in it and where it should go in the new house.

 

[momrek06]

Anyone got any tips on packing,loading the truck, or unpacking...

I recently move from MA to CA!

Have yard and moving sales! Do not move items that you know you will not use! Clean up and out! Drop clothes off at Goodwill esp if you have not worn them in a while. Why take anything with you that you will only throw away or give away once you get to your new address.

No question, moving is very stressful. Make sure you get your rest.

 

[Angelhalo]

Do not let the movers,yourself or anyone else write Miscellaneous on any box!!!

And always write the room that the box came from on it then you have an idea what is in it and where it should go in the new house.

I was going to say the same thing! Don't have any Miscellaneous boxes and don't have any junk boxes. For us, these boxes never get unpacked. We still have two closets in our house with these misc. boxes in them and we have been in this house for 2 years!

If you haven't worn it or used it in a year or two, get rid of it.

Make sure boxes have specific labels on them. If you open a kitchen box, you shouldn't find a pair of shoes, a fish bowl, a hairbrush and ONE kitchen item.

When you're packing your truck, Pod, whatever your moving vessel is, get the smallest size that will hold your stuff. You really want it to be very tight in there once everything is packed so there will be less room for shifting.

We used PODS the last time we moved and it was the best thing we've ever done when it comes to moving. They drop it off at your house, you fill it up, and then they take it away. When you're ready for it, they bring it to your new location. It was so much easier, and less stress, hassle, and aggrivation than renting a truck!

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

We bought 50 rubbermaid/sterilite buckets before we moved (MA to NH, used a moving company) and used certain box colors for certain rooms. We also labelled the outside exactly where they go in the new house (top floor, 1st room right etc...) and the movers LOVED us!!

Use towels, facecloths, curtains, sheets, pillowcases as packing materials where possible (works well for lamps, picture frames, knick knacks but newspaper still works best for plates/dishes/cups!)

 

[momrek06]

We bought 50 rubbermaid/sterilite buckets before we moved (MA to NH, used a moving company) and used certain box colors for certain rooms. We also labelled the outside exactly where they go in the new house (top floor, 1st room right etc...) and the movers LOVED us!!

Use towels, facecloths, curtains, sheets, pillowcases as packing materials where possible (works well for lamps, picture frames, knick knacks but newspaper still works best for plates/dishes/cups!)

Ohhh, I have done that with my home! Bought out Target/Walmart/Kmart of all their Rubbermaid containers every size and shape and nothing is in cardboard boxes at all! Best tip ever!

At Halloween it was so easy to find all my decorations looking through all the clear boxes!!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

burn it all and start over
Im moving in 14 days. Best advice I have, get colored dots. Then pick a color for each room (blue kitchen, yellow bedroom...). That way you can just put a dot on the doors in the new place and the movers will know where to put stuff. Label well too cause the second you pack it, thinking you dont need it you will. Dont pack the can opener untill the day you move, then put it in your purse for easy acess (I speak from experance). Also start as early as you can, its nice to get to the end and be able to relax before moving day. Plan for the unexpected too, things break, people are late. Oh and use the best boxes you can find and fill them completly. Make sure you stuff towels or stuff up around the edges so they will have less chance of getting crushed.
Ive moved 15 times since the age of 1.

 

[dyna]

I'm moving too for the 1st time in almost 30 yrs...I'm lucky new house is furnished DD is buying my current house an wants most of the furniture. We rented a storage building last week to store our stuff till we ready to move it right after christmas. We will drive down with the truck an harley right after Thanksgiving to clean the new house maybe do some painting etc.

I like the colored dot idea might have to start that but then I'd also thought of colored dots for stuff that staying here an stuff we moving an stuff to be donated an yet another for stuff that friends is taking off our hands.

I been saving cardboard (cereal boxes, coke cases etc) to pack between dishes, oans etc that I don't want rubbing.

Old blankets an towels can make great packing when loading truck to move (we will be renting a Uhaul type truck to move most of our stuff)

I'm finding it interesting that when it's DH's stuff it has to go but when it's my stuff I don't need it an need to get rid of it. GRRRRRRRR

 

[cluvsdisney]

I use large heavy duty garbage bags as garment bags. I cut an opening in the top and slip the hangers through that opening. When you get to your new place, you just have to hang everything in the closet and tear off the bag.

Pack daily essentials in one or two boxes that you move yourself. These boxes would include personal items like toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, change of clothes, clothes to sleep in, shower curtain, towels, one set of bedding, etc. What ever you need to end & start the day. If the move runs too long in the day, you'll at least be able to sleep in a made bed and take a shower.

You'll also want to keep the following on hand: scissors or a box cutter, thick markers, pad of paper & pen, tape, garbage bags, paper towels.

Pack heavy stuff in smaller boxes.

If you are using a moving company, number the boxes and keep a list of what's in each just in case one gets misplaced.

 

[Tazicket]

If you're going to use cardboard boxes, check with a local liquor store to see if they have any empties you can take. Those are really strong, and you won't have to worry about them falling apart.

ETA: and don't forget the shower curtain hooks! DH & I packed the shower curtain hooks in some obscure box that we couldn't find right away. So, for the first shower in our new house (really late at night on our first day here), he had to tape the shower curtain to the curtain rod.

 

[Angelhalo]

We also don't take any clothes off of hangers. If they are already on hangers, they stay on them. We just layed them across the top of everything in the POD. Then we they delivered the POD, we pulled out the stack of clothes on hangers, and hung them up. I would go insane if I had to rehang everything once I got there. What a waste of time!

 

[Disneylover79]

I recently move from MA to CA!

Have yard and moving sales! Do not move items that you know you will not use! Clean up and out! Drop clothes off at Goodwill esp if you have not worn them in a while. Why take anything with you that you will only throw away or give away once you get to your new address.

No question, moving is very stressful. Make sure you get your rest.

This we are doing...we are going through the boxes when we get to the new place because we need to get out of here by the 15th.....but we are going through clothes and things that we don't need and donate them to the salvation army

 

[Pig Pen]

but we are moving to FL on January 1 so I feel your pain. However, we are only taking what we can get into our honda civic and our odyssey van, so I have challenges coming!

 

[disneychic2]

To move our clothes on hangers, we lay a bedspread or blanket on the floor and place hanger items on it, lap the two sides over the clothes and carry it (takes two people) to the car or truck. It protects the clothes and keeps them from shifting around while in route.

Also, mentally go through your first couple of days at your new place and pack everything you'll need in a special box that goes directly into your car (I use a suitcase or two for this). That way it won't get buried under everything else.

I love the idea of the colored dots. We used signs on all the doors and marked the boxes accordingly, but the dots would have been easier! Hope you have a great move and enjoy your new place!

 

[Disneylover79]

We also don't take any clothes off of hangers. If they are already on hangers, they stay on them. We just layed them across the top of everything in the POD. Then we they delivered the POD, we pulled out the stack of clothes on hangers, and hung them up. I would go insane if I had to rehang everything once I got there. What a waste of time!

This too is a good idea..Thanks

 

[golfgal]

I would buy packages of the paper that professional movers use, set up a "station" in each room, wrap what needs to be wrapped, box, LABEL well, and move to the next room. Put all the "stuff" that goes in each room in that room before you box so it is easier to find down the road-if you have kitchen stuff stored in the basement, for example, move that stuff into the kitchen before boxing up.

Call your local Walmart, etc. and ask if they will save boxes for you. We did this and it was GREAT. They had 5 shopping carts FULL of flattened boxes ready for us to pick up. The liquor store ones are nice for glasses and books but they are too small for anything else.

Pack a box of cleaning supplies, paper plates/glasses/silverware, toilet paper, some hand towels, paper towels, etc. to have on hand right away. There is nothing worse then getting into the new house to find no toilet paper and nothing to use to wash/dry your hands.

As you are packing, have one box ready for stuff you don't want-call one of the pick up charities (Lupus, Disabled Vets, etc.) and have them pick up what you don't want. It is MUCH easier then a garage sale and you can write off the donation on your taxes. When in doubt, toss it out (or donate it). If you find later that you really needed that, you can always buy a new one-but you never do.

Try to get boxes to be the same size as much as possible-they will back more efficiently in the truck that way. If possible, pack by room so all the kitchen stuff is in one section, etc. It makes unloading go faster. Put all the boxes for that room IN that room. It just saves time hauling stuff later.

Keep a box available for tossing/donating all the stuff you THOUGHT you wanted but decided later that you didn't and call the pickup charity to come to your new house too .

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

When you get to your new location, the FIRST thing to unpack is your bed. Put the sheets on it and have it ready to go for when you get tired. The last thing you want to be doing when you are exhausted from a long day of moving boxes is trying to find your favorite pillow.

Key items like toiletries, pillows, pajamas, a few important kitchen items (coffee pot!) get packed last and the box gets labeled "OPEN ME FIRST."

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

also on the bed note, pack your sheets and pjs in a box you can eaisly find. Nothing worse then not being able to find any sleepwear and having to sleep in jeans and a tee.

 

[diznygirl]

Instead of using a box to pack the essentials needed for the first night (sheets and toiletries) we packed them in the drawers of our dresser. It was super easy to find in a sea of boxes later!


Good luck.

 

[Donnainnj]

We bought 50 rubbermaid/sterilite buckets before we moved (MA to NH, used a moving company) and used certain box colors for certain rooms. We also labelled the outside exactly where they go in the new house (top floor, 1st room right etc...) and the movers LOVED us!!

Use towels, facecloths, curtains, sheets, pillowcases as packing materials where possible (works well for lamps, picture frames, knick knacks but newspaper still works best for plates/dishes/cups!)

This worked for my dads move. We also used zip ties to secure them closed. After the move he sold most of the containers for at least half of what he bought them for. I did most of the packing and went room by room disposing of, donating or packing what was going with him. Good luck.
Donna