| By :
Mark Etinger
Moving house doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re moving within the neighborhood or long distance, moving from an apartment to a house, or moving out of home to college, with a little planning and the right boxes and packaging, you can have a smooth and efficient relocation. Here are some tips to help you move quicker and easier. 1. Decide on how you are going to transport your belongings. If you choose to hire a moving company, ring several companies so that you can compare prices and quotes. 2. If you are able to drive a truck, then consider renting a moving van. Ask your friends and family for recommendations on truck companies. Make sure you know exactly what’s included in the price (some companies may try to charge you for extras including boxes and blankets) and know what your liability is in case of an accident. 3. Get boxes and packaging. There are many companies that sell a range of packaging and shipping supplies. You’ll need a variety of boxes and packaging, including corrugated boxes (tall boxes, long boxes, printer’s boxes, cub boxes, heavy duty boxes, long boxes and basic moving boxes), as well as shipping tape and plenty of padding and fill (loose fill, papers, wraps, tissues and bubble wrap). If you’re low on cash, you can usually get used boxes through Craigslist or at your local grocery store. Make sure you have plenty of smaller boxes because these are easier to handle. 4. Start packing now! Packing is always going to take longer that you initially estimate, so don’t wait until the last minute and find yourself in a state of panic surrounded by a sea of half filled boxes at 3am on moving day – five hours before the movers are scheduled to turn up. It’s a good idea to start packing at least 6 weeks in advance, and use the move as an opportunity for a Spring clean – discard items you no longer need, and move lesser-used items to a self-storage unit. 5. Pack smart. Fill suitcases with items you will need immediately such as clothing and toiletries. Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap, tissue paper and loose fill (clothing and blankets can also be used as padding). Watch the weight of your boxes and packaging – as a general rule, a box should not weight more than 50 pounds. You’ll appreciate the lighter weight of boxes on moving day. 6. Label smart. Labeling is one of the most important parts of the packing process and helps the movers do their job more efficiently – and helps you to find things later. Label both the top and sides of boxes with special instructions such as “fragile” or “open first,” and also include the name of the room that the box should be placed in. Also label the boxes with a detailed list of the contents – you’ll appreciate this later. If you prefer not to label the boxes with contents, then create a numbering system. List the contents of each box in a spreadsheet and put a corresponding number on the box. On moving day, motivate your movers and helpers with plenty of cold drinks and snacks. The hard part’s over, and you and your boxes and packaging are now in your new home – congratulations!
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