Moving is a hassle, full stop. However, a few careful steps and a good plan can make a world of difference, especially when you have your family to think about. Here are 11 tips to help you move within the same city or even overseas.
1. Pack early.
The time it will take you to pack all your items depends mainly on how much you have in your house. So, for a large apartment or house, a month should be enough if you pack two or three boxes a day. For smaller homes, two weeks should be just fine. Of course, this is not an exact number, but you get the idea.
2. Start with rooms or items you least need.
Makes sense to pack the items you don’t use on a daily basis first. Seasonal items you’re currently not using such as garden tools, coats and Christmas lights are perfect examples.
3. Pack one room at a time.
This is one of the most important packing tips which for some reason often gets neglected. Doing this will help you stay organized and will later tell the movers, or anyone unloading, which box goes where.
4. Declutter.
Hold an open house sale or give your old unwanted items to charity. There are also several WeChat buy and sell groups as well as your own personal Moments, so your options are plenty. If you have friends helping you with your move, ask them whether they need anything you’re planning to sell. After all, you’re not paying them and they should get something for all their troubles.
5. Pack light items in large boxes and heavy items is small boxes.
One of the boxes might not be able to withstand the weight. This packing tip alone will save you a great deal of pain… literally.
6. Fill empty gaps.
Use old newspapers, packing papers, or just old rags to fill gaps in the boxes. This should secure the items for the ride.
7. Let your kids get involved.
If your kids are old enough to help without adding to the stress of moving, then put them to work. This is a great learning moment for them to pack up their own rooms and teach them a skill they will most certainly need in the future.
8 Label your boxes.
Write the contents on each box with a marker. Write on the sides of the boxes and not on top, as this will make it easier to recognize them if they’re are stacked. It’s also advisable to use a different color for every room. Ask your children, if you have any to help you. Kids love drawing and coloring, so what better way to reduce the stress of moving? This is just one method of helping your kids cope with the move.
9. Put heavier boxes on the bottom.
Packing tips like this one might be common sense, but they’re still important to mention. By putting your heavy boxes underneath the lighter boxes, you ensure no breakable items will get crushed during the move. Boxes full of books and furniture parts are great examples of what you should load first.
10. Prepare a box of essentials
Things like medicines and daily use items can be kept aside for easy access and will avoid you rummaging through boxes later.
11. Contact a relocation expert!
Last but not least, if all the above seems all too stressful, contact a relocation expert who will help you professionally pack the house in a short very span of time, using materials like heavy blankets, bubble wrap and so on, to protect your belongings. They will also provide trucking and assembly and disassembly of all furniture items, as well as a door-to-door service that’s safe and hassle-free.
Mike Hong is from Rayca Moving & Transportation Services, which handles both local and international relocations (www.raycatrans.com).
