About 36 million Americans move every year. If you’re about to join their number, you’ll want to be careful with the safety of yourself and your belongings. You should also avoid getting injured while trying to move your furniture and other objects. Consider these tips for a well-organized and well-planned move.
Use the Right Packing Materials
Boxes might be traditional, but they aren’t always the most efficient resource at your disposal. If you’ll be moving heavy things like books and appliances, you might want to store them in stackable, interlocking shipping containers. If you need to be able to see the contents of every container even when they’re tightly crammed in a room, look for clear plastic tubs or see-through bags.
Buy or Rent Moving Equipment
If you’re hiring professional movers, they might already have things like ramps, dollies, and trolleys. They might also have useful tools for furniture disassembly. Good removalists will even haul and dump the big-ticket items that you don’t want anymore. If you’ll be tackling these tasks on your own, however, you’ll need to hunt down the necessary gear for yourself.
Label Everything
Markers should be the beginning of your organizational efforts, not the end. Invest in things like colored dots, numbered stickers and waterproof labels that won’t “bleed” if it starts to rain on your relocation. Separate your cords and cables in clearly-marked sandwich baggies. You might also want to prioritize what gets unpacked by labeling boxes with A-B-C or 1-2-3. This way, the holiday decorations won’t have to be dealt with until after you’ve already unearthed the cutlery.
Evaluate Your Property
Inspect your home and driveway before the big day. If there are hidden steps that movers might not notice while they’re carrying the couch, mark them with chalk or blinking lights. If you think that the foyer might get slippery with ice or mud, lay down a tarp or traction mat to keep anyone from having an accident. A little precaution now can save you a lot of heartache in the future.
Take Pictures
This is a common piece of moving advice for both personal and practical reasons. In addition to giving you some sentimental keepsakes, photographs can also help you remember how things are set up, plugged in and stationed around their designated room. You’ll appreciate a diagram when it’s time to hook up your complicated entertainment system again.
These are just a few tips for a no-fuss, no-mess relocation. Whether you’re taking a simple journey down the street or a giant leap across the pond, organization and safety should be two of your biggest concerns for a successful move.
It’s ironic because they used my image from Pixabay.