Preparing For A Move

1. Create a moving checklist and timeline.

Before you even begin preparing for your move, it’s a good idea to draft a moving checklist with a rough timeline. Of course, everyone’s timeline will look slightly different depending on factors like your reason for relocating, how much notice is given before the move, and how far you’ll be moving. Some people will have two months, and others might have two weeks. In any case, you can work backward from your move-in day to help distribute tasks evenly throughout the time you prepare. That way, you won’t feel rushed or overwhelmed in the week leading up to the big day.

2. Weigh the pros and cons of hiring professional movers.

If you don’t have access to willing family and friends or are moving to another province it might make sense to hire professional movers. The amount of work a moving company can take off your plate during this stressful time might be well worth the added cost.

3. Complete admin tasks early.

Whether you’re moving down the street or to a new province you’ll need to complete some inevitable tasks like changing your address and forwarding your mail. Simply put: There are a lot of loose ends to tie up before you move to a new area. 

Our Best Packing Tips For Moving

1. Declutter so you can pack less.

A crucial packing tip for moving is ensuring you don’t bring anything to your new home that you no longer need. Lighten your stress and workload by decluttering before you enter the packing stage, which means figuring out what to toss, keep, sell, or donate. Pro tip: Take measurements of your new home and remove any furniture that won’t fit or that you know you won’t use.

2. Invest in quality moving boxes.

Taking advantage of free cardboard boxes from work, friends, family, or your local grocery store is tempting. However, grocery boxes and reused moving boxes can be compromised due to wear and exposure to moisture, or worse, a bug infestation. The last thing you want is a box falling apart in your hand while you’re trying to move it into the house. It’s relatively inexpensive to buy moving boxes, and the added durability of boxes made specifically for moving can be worth the added cost.

3. Set a timer and pack for an hour a day.

Only bite off what you can chew. Relocating is a long process, and it’s easy to burn out by trying to do it all in a short amount of time. When packing for moving, break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Here’s an easy way to structure your packing process: Tackle one room at a time and spend an hour loading items into boxes each day. If you procrastinate and try to pack everything the night before, you’ll likely become overwhelmed with stress.

 What should you pack first when moving? 

It might seem obvious but start by packing anything you don’t need daily. Home decor pieces, extensive collections of games, books, movies, and even clothing items that aren’t in season are all great places to start deciding what to pack when moving. Over a few weeks, you can continue packing items you use more frequently until you’re down to just the essentials— toiletries, food items that you’ll be eating immediately, and a few changes of clothes. 

5. Give each room a different color packing label.

To stay organized before, during, and after your move, use different colored masking tape and give each room its own color. Label the contents of each box and include the room it belongs in. Then, in your new place, use colored tape to mark room entrances. This moving tip will save you (or your movers!) a ton of time. Instead of needing to read the label explicitly or play the room guessing game, they can quickly match color to color.

6. Don’t overpack a moving box.

One mistake many people make when moving is trying to cram all of their belongings into a few cardboard boxes they have lying around the house. The desire to consolidate is understandable, but use as many boxes as you need while packing for a move. Keep your largest boxes to no more than 50 pounds to create easy-to-lift loads.

7. Use the right size boxes.

Similarly to using the correct number of moving boxes, be sure you’re using boxes that are an adequate size, too. Place heavy items like books in small boxes and lighter items in larger boxers. This makes it easy for movers to organize and pack boxes into the moving truck. Be sure to pack heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top to avoid damaging breakables.

8. Don’t leave empty spaces in boxes.

Fill in any gaps with packing paper, old clothing, blankets, or foam peanuts to prevent items from shifting around in transit. Use tape to secure the bottom and top seams of your boxes so everything stays put, and remember to tape around the edges where stress is concentrated.

9. Bundle the breakables.

Use plenty of bunched-up paper and padding for any fragile items you pack. That way, you’re prepared for any bumps in the road during the moving process. (Literally!) Never place these items in boxes freely without some extra cushion. Spending the time packing these items correctly is worth it to save you stress in the long run.

10. Repurpose household items for packing.

Think about how you can repurpose things you have when packing for a move. Household items like hampers, suitcases, and laundry bins could be great for transporting items like clothing, books, home decor, and more. Plus, it’s one less moving box you’ll need to use!

12. Label and take photos of furniture parts and accessories.

Take the extra time to protect larger pieces of furniture before you move. Remove and secure all drawers and doors beforehand. Also, label cables, drawers, doors, and anything you need to remove so you know where it goes when you put it back together. Put screws and bolts into plastic bags and tape these to the back of the furniture for safekeeping.

15. Stock up on packing material for the kitchen.

Consider packing everyday dishes, bakeware, Tupperware, and silverware separately. These items may be breakable or easily scratched if crammed in a box with little wiggle room. Crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap, or corrugated cardboard will help prevent your fragile items from breaking, but just about anything can be used to pack breakable items. Utilize dish towels and even paper plates to create buffers.

Remember, crystal, fine china, ceramics, and keepsakes must be carefully packed with lots of padding. Pack these items in smaller boxes with appropriate packing materials labeled as fragile.

16. Use plastic wrap or plastic bags to avoid leaks.

Throughout the packing process, take care of anything that has the potential to spill. For instance, a shampoo bottle that seems tightly sealed outside a box can magically figure out a way to ooze over all your other belongings. In this case, keep all toiletries and liquids separate from dry items. Plastic bags, tote bags, and grocery bags work well here.  Use plastic wrap as an additional seal between the bottle and the lid.

17. Use straws to keep jewelry from knotting.

Avoid knotted, tangled, and broken jewelry by taking extra care of these items. When packing jewelry for a move, place your necklaces through straws to keep the chain from tangling, or lay them flat on a small towel and roll it up.