17 ways to make moving easy
Buying a home can be a long, tedious process. After making an offer, getting the best mortgage for you and closing, it seems like the hard work is over. However, it’s just the beginning—now you have to move in. Here are 17 move-in hacks that ensure a smooth, efficient transition into your new place.
1. Two to three weeks leading up to your move, plan your meals around frozen food, perishable items or half-full containers you have left in the kitchen. If there are extra nonperishable items, donate them.
2. Designate a pile for clothing items you’d like to donate. Before moving out, all you have to do is schedule a pickup with the Salvation Army, Goodwill or any other donation center.
3. If possible, schedule the move in the middle of the month or middle of the week. Moving companies are generally a lot cheaper during these times.
4. Download apps that take the edge off moving. Stay organized with Moving Checklist Pro and use MagicPlan to get room measurements from any photo. Use Cleanly to schedule pickup and delivery times for clothes you need washed and dry-cleaned, because nothing is worse than doing loads of laundry before your big move.
5. Ask local retailers or businesses if they have any extra boxes on hand. Many do and are eager to give them away.
6. Use a knife to cut handles into the sides of cardboard boxes for easy lifting.
7. Color code your boxes to stay organized and label them on the side, not the top. This way, you’ll never have to guess what’s inside.
8. Keep your clothes on hangers and slip garbage bags directly on top of them. This way, your clothes won’t get dirty and the garbage bags will keep everything in place.
9. Nothing is worse than shampoo and cleaning supplies spilling everywhere. To avoid this, keep liquids in a separate box from everything else.
10. Cover all bottles of liquids in plastic wrap before putting the top on.
11. When moving dressers, keep everything inside and covered in plastic wrap. This prevents clothes from falling out when it gets shuffled around in the moving truck. Plus, you don’t have to reorganize your clothes later on.
12. To avoid broken plates, stack them with Styrofoam in between one another. Not only is this easy, it’s cheap.
13. Instead of folding clothes, roll them up. Your clothes will take up less space and get less wrinkled.
14. Keep valuables, such as your Social Security Card, birth certificate and jewelry, with you at all times during moving day.
15. Pack a separate bag with a change of clothes and toiletries. Chances are, you won’t unpack everything in one day, so you’ll want to have everything you need when getting ready the first day in your new home.
16. Use sandwich bags for small items, such as screws.
17. If you’re moving with a dog or cat, put their food and water bowl in the same room and in the same spot as your old place. The more consistent you are with your pet’s routine, the less confused it will be.