Packing. Ugh. Any tips?

So. The sellers FINALLY cashed our deposit check. We will be moving and buying a house.

This is going to be the 3rd and final move for me in 4 years.

So I anticipate us moving April. I'm going to start packing allmthe stuff we don't need. Artwork, the bar, all my chatchkis.

Does anyone have advice, tips, good practices THEY have used for moving?

Ugh. We still have boxes we haven't unpacked from the last move.

Re: Packing. Ugh. Any tips?

I'm in the middle of moving too & I find that I'm not using cardboard boxes that have to be taped up. Instead I bought a load of plastic storage containers & bins from Target & Home Depot that were on sale for $5 or $6 dollars. Click on the tops, label & go. Very neat & I can re use them later in the garage & attic for storage.
Purge,Purge,Purge. Old clothes,shoes,chipped dishes,etc... GoodBye.

Good Luck, I hate moving. I told my DH last night next move I'll be making after this one will be six feet under! 3 houses in 15 yrs.

Re: Packing. Ugh. Any tips?

I've moved more times than I can count. Some tips I've gotten from movers and experience:

I love using the file storage boxes. You save on tape, they're strong and stack well. You also can't overpack them, and I've never had one break on me. They also don't crush. I buy the Staples brand for 10 for about 11 dollars. I use one piece of tape to secure the cover on. I went through less than 3 rolls of tape for a 2br plus office apartment.

-Small boxes only for heavy stuff
-Large boxes should only be for light weight, large items.
-Pack each box until it's full, there should not be any space. Use towels, blankets, sheets, tshirts etc to fill space or crumpled up newspaper.
-Unless it's Ikea or ready to assemble furniture, you can leave dresser drawers full.
-If you are using movers, ask for wardrobe boxes. Put shoes at the bottom of those in a trash bag.
-Wrap large frames/mirrors in blankets/quilts and tape.
-Roll up any area rugs and secure with packing tape.
-Do not use newspaper to wrap knick knacks, the print can rub off. Wrap them in a single paper towel, pillowcase, sheet, tshirt etc, then use newspaper to stuff into spaces
-Use your suitcases for clothing and bedding etc
-It's a great time to purge - get rid of stuff. Sell furniture that won't fit on craigslist, donate clothes, trash the broken stuff etc
-LABEL, LABEL, LABEL: Label what is IN the box and put what room it goes too. (I do initials, so master bedroom would be mbr, lr, dr, kit, etc)

-Stage it all. Boxes go on the truck first, then furniture, by floor. Have all the boxes stacked and ready to go. If you can, have an area in the new house where you can stack boxes (we did the kitchen this time). Once you're in, arrange rugs furniture in rooms THEN bring boxes into the rooms.

Lamps, valuables, prescriptions and fridge/frozen food should be brought by you. If you're moving local, come back for the fridge/frozen food later on.

Congrats on the new house!

Re: Packing. Ugh. Any tips?

DO NOT take your clothes off the hangars in your closet. Lay down sheets on your bed or somewhere flat, take clothes out of closet (still on hangars) lay in the middle of sheet, tie each corner of the sheets to the middle and carry all clothes out. Once you're in your new place, untie sheets and just hang up clothes into closet

Re: Packing. Ugh. Any tips?

Posted by tarabelle99

I've moved more times than I can count. Some tips I've gotten from movers and experience:

I love using the file storage boxes. You save on tape, they're strong and stack well. You also can't overpack them, and I've never had one break on me. They also don't crush. I buy the Staples brand for 10 for about 11 dollars. I use one piece of tape to secure the cover on. I went through less than 3 rolls of tape for a 2br plus office apartment.

-Small boxes only for heavy stuff
-Large boxes should only be for light weight, large items.
-Pack each box until it's full, there should not be any space. Use towels, blankets, sheets, tshirts etc to fill space or crumpled up newspaper.
-Unless it's Ikea or ready to assemble furniture, you can leave dresser drawers full.
-If you are using movers, ask for wardrobe boxes. Put shoes at the bottom of those in a trash bag.
-Wrap large frames/mirrors in blankets/quilts and tape.
-Roll up any area rugs and secure with packing tape.
-Do not use newspaper to wrap knick knacks, the print can rub off. Wrap them in a single paper towel, pillowcase, sheet, tshirt etc, then use newspaper to stuff into spaces
-Use your suitcases for clothing and bedding etc
-It's a great time to purge - get rid of stuff. Sell furniture that won't fit on craigslist, donate clothes, trash the broken stuff etc
-LABEL, LABEL, LABEL: Label what is IN the box and put what room it goes too. (I do initials, so master bedroom would be mbr, lr, dr, kit, etc)

-Stage it all. Boxes go on the truck first, then furniture, by floor. Have all the boxes stacked and ready to go. If you can, have an area in the new house where you can stack boxes (we did the kitchen this time). Once you're in, arrange rugs furniture in rooms THEN bring boxes into the rooms.

Lamps, valuables, prescriptions and fridge/frozen food should be brought by you. If you're moving local, come back for the fridge/frozen food later on.

Congrats on the new house!

Re: Packing. Ugh. Any tips?

Label and number all the boxes and make a master list of what is in all the boxes.
This way you will be (1) able to tell if a box is lost and (2) able to unpack the important stuff first.