Packing & Moving Tips
If you are a senior, baby boomer or a young professional on the go and transitioning to a smaller home or living space, we can help to make the process seamless.
We will help you:
Determine the "fit" of your belongings and help you decide what to take with you
Develop a plan for packing and unpacking
Provide resources for unwanted items for sale, donation and recycling
Coordinate the process with movers, family members, and facility staff (if applicable)
start a "to-do" list
Start your "to-do" list early.
Create a notebook to keep track of everything—receipts, estimates, inventories, etc.
Order moving supplies unless you have a packing company doing everything.
Take measurements/room dimensions at your new home & make sure larger pieces of furniture will fit through the door, building's elevator, etc.
Make your list of all services that need to be disconnected/reconnected & schedule these services in plenty of time.
Before you hire a mover
Save money by not moving what you don't need or want
Map out the best way to get to your new home.
Get moving boxes from your local liquor store.
Be careful of lowball estimates. To avoid this from happening, make sure you're detailed & upfront about every box & piece of furniture you want to move.
Make sure you know all of your costs for the move. Are you paying extra for moving pads? Are you paying for unnecessary specialty boxes? Find out all of this information up front. The unethical mover will start adding stuff that isn't on your estimate.
Your best bet is to hire a mover that's referred to you by a friend or family member. You don't want to get hooked up with an unlicensed mover who doesn't have liability insurance & workers' comp.
If you have museum-quality art use specific movers just for that.
If you don't like the way the movers are handling your things, be direct. If they're throwing stuff around or seem to be careless, address it immediately & call the company. No reputable mover wants a problem.
For valuables like jewelry or small electronics, move those yourself.
Take photos of your valuable electronics.
Keep an eye on the clock.
Watch your own behavior on moving day. Some movers might "punish" clients for rubbing them the wrong way. The worst thing you can do during a move is be dismissive, treat the crew like dirt & not letting them use your bathroom.
Make sure to read the company’s list of services & refund or damage policies (fine print). Look out for hidden costs when you review your final bill.
If you're unfortunate to have something go wrong during the move & the mover fails to resolve the complaint, register a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
important tips for moving day
Your mover should load heavy furniture into the moving truck first.
Have the mover stack & load boxes in groups according to the rooms indicated on the labels. That way they can unload all the boxes from the same rooms at the same time which makes the move easier on the other end.
Find a safe place to store your valuables on moving day.
Whether hired movers or friends & family, be sure to have food and drinks available for everyone.
packing tips
Try to avoid leaving things until the last minute. Unless you have to pack up & leave very quickly, chances are you should have 1-2 months to make a plan & ensure that your moving day runs smoothly.
Start to get rid of things you're not taking with you as soon as you know you're moving. Don't wait until move day.
Sort things by category.
Put signs on each door in your new home so the movers know where to put the boxes.
Take inventory of everything you're moving.
Number each box as you pack to make sure you’re not missing any boxes when you unpack.
Label all boxes with the name of the room you want the mover to leave them in: KITCHEN, BEDROOM #1, BATH #2, LIVING ROOM, OFFICE, etc.
Label boxes on all sides, not on the top.
Put signs on each door in your new home so the movers know where to put the boxes (BEDROOM #1, BATH #2, OFFICE, etc.)
Fill in the gaps in the packing boxes.
Don't overload the packing boxes.
Pack decorative items first to get them out of the way.
Use small boxes for carrying heavy items (books).
Protect fragile items with packing paper, bubble wrap or blankets.
Pack dishes vertically.
Pack an overnight bag for the first night in your new home. Also pack a clear, plastic box with things you'll need right away. (toilet paper, snacks, etc.)
Put your garbage pails & storage bins to good use when moving. Fill them up!
Set aside cleaning supplies for moving day.
Sort things by category.
Number & label each box as you pack to make sure you’re not missing any boxes when you unpack.
Put signs on each door in your new home so the movers know where to put the boxes.
Fill in the gaps in the packing boxes.
Don't overload the packing boxes.
Pack decorative items first to get them out of the way.
Use small boxes for carrying heavy items (books).
Protect fragile items with packing paper, bubble wrap or blankets.
Pack dishes vertically.
Put your garbage pails & storage bins to good use when moving. Fill them up!
Pack an overnight bag for the first night in your new home with your personal things.
Prepare a moving day kit. Keep one box aside of “essentials” that you’ll need on moving day: cleaning supplies, stickies, light bulbs, toilet paper, garbage bags, etc.
downsizing tips
If you're a senior, baby boomer or a young professional on the go & transitioning to a smaller home or living space, we can help to make the process seamless.
We will help you:
Determine the "fit" of your belongings and help you decide what to take with you.
Develop a plan for packing and unpacking.
Provide resources for unwanted items for sale, donation and recycling
Coordinate the process with movers, family members & facility staff (if applicable).