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If there is one thing I absolutely never look forward to, and I think most people would agree, it’s moving.
The moving process is never fun — it’s time consuming and can take quite the toll on you, both physically and mentally. So with that said, there are some ways to help make packing and moving a little less painful and even a little easier on your wallet.
CREATE A CHECKLIST
The very first thing you should do is create a checklist.
Do you need to sell items? Look for moving truck discounts? Buy supplies? Reach out to people to help you move? Clean or make repairs to your home? Paint your new place before moving in?
A written-out to-do list will help you see everything that needs to be taken care of, as well as help you make a timeline of when each task needs to be completed. Keep this list handy so you can add to it as you as you think of all those little things, too.
ORGANIZE AND PURGE
The next step you’ll want to take in advance of your move is to go through all of your belongings, which includes junk drawers, closets and the garage. You should be able to separate everything into four categories: sell, donate, trash and keep. Leave your ‘keep’ items where there are, but start pulling piles together of the other groups so you can easily see everything you have.
SELL
Selling items you no longer use can put money right back into your pocket! If you are able to prepare for your move well in advance, you will have several options when it comes to selling your belongings.
It can also be easier to sell bigger items before you move to lower moving costs and lessen the worry of things breaking during the move. For long distance or cross-country moves especially, it will likely cost you more to move your mattress than just buying a new one when you get there.
HAVE A YARD SALE
If you are wanting to sell a large number of items and the weather allows it, try putting together a yard sale. You may not be able to sell every item for a huge profit, but you will have the chance to get rid of a ton of things at once.
SELL TO LOCAL RESALE SHOPS
Clothing and accessories can be taken to resale stores like Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor or Once Upon A Child. For sporting goods, try Play It Again Sports and for home goods, check out New Uses. You can also find secondhand stores for books; video games; game systems and accessories; electronics; and movies.
These stores don’t guarantee to take any or everything you bring in, so while it is a great option to get rid of a group of things at once, you may still walk away with some of your belongings. Also, don’t expect to make top dollar since the shop has to make a profit, too.
SELL ONLINE LOCALLY AND MEET UP
Utilize online marketplaces like OfferUp, Letgo and Facebook, where you can connect with buyers locally. These are going to be more time consuming because you will have to list each item individually, respond to lots of questions and take time to meet up with people.
Save yourself a little bit of hassle by putting all of the details you think someone would ask about your item in the description. Think measurements, sizes, colors, brands, etc. Adding multiple pictures, as well as notes like “price is firm,” “serious inquiries only,” “must pickup” or specific hours for meeting. This should help ward off the onslaught of inquiries and get your items sold.
SELL ONLINE AND SHIP
This would work best weeks to months in advance of your move, since items can take a while to sell and you will need to ship to your buyer.
If you don’t feel comfortable meeting people in person or have items that may fetch a higher price tag with a wider audience, try selling your items on sites like Ebay, Poshmark or Mercari. You would list you item and once someone decides to buy it, you will ship it to them.
Just note, a portion of what you make will be taken out and paid to the platform. For example, Ebay and Mercari take about 10 percent out for themselves. This would be a great option for those trying to sell collectables or designer clothing and accessories.
DONATE
Do you have gently used items that you don’t have the time to sell or would just like to pass on to others? Donating is a great option!
While you can quickly and easily drive down to your nearest thrift store, toss your stuff out of the car, grab a tax write off slip and go about your day, try to think of other places that could greatly benefit from your donations.
This may require a little more research on your end, as every city will be different, but just know these places will be giving your items directly to those in need and not just selling for profit.
Clothing, shoes and accessories can be taken to a variety of places. You can find shelters that help the homeless, domestic violence victims, new moms or the disabled. Ask your church if they will take any donations, as many work hand-in-hand with different charities. You may also find more specific programs in your city like Dress for Success, Big Brother Big Sister or even one of the many groups that give your old dresses to young girls for prom.
Check with schools, libraries and recreation centers in your area to see if they will take any books, games, office or craft supplies. Pet food and supplies, as well as, towels and bedding can be dropped off a most pet shelters. Tools and building supplies can be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Remember these items should still be new or gently used!
If you want to donate larger items like furniture but don’t have the ability to take it yourself, there are many companies that will pick up from your house! This will vary by your location, but look into charities like The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.
TRASH
If it is broken, torn, old or just highly unsanitary, you should probably trash it. If it’s actual trash, throw it away. Otherwise, try to recycle the best you can. Plastic grocery bags can be recycled at most grocery stores. Places like Best Buy will recycle old electronics, ink cartridges and batteries. For clothes and linens, look into a textile recycler near you.
KEEP
It would be a good idea to have a general list of all of the things you plan to keep. This will help when you are deciding what and how much packing supplies to get, in addition to what size moving truck you will need. Want to move all six of your TVs? Thats okay, just make sure you get six TV boxes. Hopefully this will help deter from some of the last minute running around.
While you are going through your home and organizing, put all of your important paperwork together and in a special bin that you will be able to recognize and keep close to you during your move. Think old bank statements, health records, pet records, birth certificates, leases and any other document that you would not want to lose.
Also, don’t forget to forward your mail to you new mailing address. You can do this online with USPS, though, you will also want to change your address individually for any subscriptions, banks or credit cards to ensure anything important is getting to you.
GATHER SUPPLIES
Living in an apartment, I always keep boxes on hand because I know we will be moving in a year or two. I’ll break down and keep any boxes that my dogs food was shipped in (we get a box every three weeks!) or boxes from things we buy online. They easily fit under the bed or in the back of the closet.
If you don’t hoard boxes like me or have a shorter notice, try grabbing boxes from your job if you work in an office. Those computer paper boxes with lids are the best! Reach out to family and friends and see if they can grab some from their jobs, too. Also, many stores get shipments weekly and don’t mind setting aside boxes for people so just call around and see what businesses are willing to help you out! I have never had to buy a box, besides one for my tv!
When it comes to the inner packaging, I would suggest buying it from Sams or Costo. You can get a huge thing of bubble wrap, Saran Wrap or packaging paper for much less than a moving or hardware store.
LOOK FOR DISCOUNTS
Check moving truck company websites for discounts or promotions. Many offer discounts for AAA, AARP, military and service members, as well as students.
Oftentimes, booking in advance will save you big time. If you are flexible on moving dates, check the price for different days of the week. I’ve typically found that the middle of the week is much cheaper than the weekend when demand is likely to be higher.
PREPARE YOUR PETS
Don’t forget about your furry friends during the moving process! If they are anything like my dogs, they may get anxious as soon as they see you start packing. When packing and even unpacking in your new home, make sure your pets have a comfortable place set up that has their food, water, toys and bed or blanket.
If you are staying local, an afternoon at a doggie daycare or staying with a friend could be just what they need while you are transitioning from one place to another.
Keep a bin of all of their essentials packed together for easy access. Include items like records, food, leashes, bowls, toys and medications. Remember this can just as stressful for them as it is for you! If you are moving long distance, it would be good to know where the nearest emergency vet is located near your new home.
THE PACKING
EASE INTO IT
Slowly start packing weeks in advance to give yourself plenty of time. Start by boxing up anything you don’t need or use first. This could be pictures, decor or out-of-season clothes. You could do a couple boxes after work each day or take some time over the weekend to focus on it. Obviously, it will depend on your home size and the amount of notice you have, but doing a little bit at a time will be a lot easier than trying to properly pack 40 boxes days before your move.
This would also be a great time to photograph any gallery walls, shelving displays or vignettes that you would like to have styled the same in your new home!
TIME TO PACK
Multi-purpose pack and maximize your negative space! Use your towels, blankets, scarves, or even leftover wrapping paper to protect breakables and fill those empty spaces for a tight, safe fit. Store smaller items in any thing that may have some extra room, like your crock pot or food storage containers that don’t stack together.
When it comes to clothing, fill your suitcases or any travel bags with clothes you may need immediately. Otherwise, you can use vacuum seal bags to save on space when packing or for short moves, leave you clothes on the hanger and put a group of them in a garbage bag, tying the bag through the hangers.
For furniture you have to take apart, take a photo of how the piece was put together and then put all screws and bolts in a zip lock bag. You could either tape the bag down to the main component or label and keep in a safe place you’ll remember. This would be a great idea to do with curtain hooks and any wall hangings, so you will quickly know what screws and nails fit with what.
Protect your furniture, even if it was taken apart, with heavy duty Saran Wrap. This will also keep drawers from opening or handles from banging around.
To keep your boxes organized, labeling is everything. Write the name of the room or use a number system to label multiple sides of each box. Using different color duct tape can also help you quickly identify where a box belongs after unloading.
Lastly, I would suggest packing two small bags to keep with you in your car. One for your clothes, toiletries, medications, valuables and a bath towel. The second for those initial necessities for your new home. This may include hand soap, cleaning wipes, chargers, tools, toilet paper, some utensils and paper plates and anything else you will want to use right away.
HIRE HELP
Ask for or hire help! If you can’t talk some friends or family into some free labor, there are tons of companies that will do the heavy lifting for you. Want a whole team of people to actually pack your belonging and move it? While probably pretty pricey, there are people that can do that. Just want two extra hands for a couple hours to help you load/unload your truck? There are people for that, too!
Check out websites like HireAHelper or MovingHelp, which will show you companies in your area that will do all the heavy lifting. You can choose how many hours and helpers you need and compare pricing across different companies.
OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Moving into an apartment? Or leaving one? Make sure to photograph and note any damages. Small marks, holes, tears in the carpet, really anything that you think might be a problem later on, especially if it was there before you moved in. They will likely try to charge you for it, whether it is keeping your security deposit or charging you hundreds of dollars after you leave. So make sure to have proof to back up any claim they make.
Renting moving equipment? Note any marks, scratches or defects, as well. Also make sure to get the exact mileage before and after renting a truck, since many companies charge you by the mile or any miles over a certain amount.
When you do rent a truck in advance, I would highly, highly suggest calling several times up until the pick up day to make sure they will have your truck ready for you. We had an absolute nightmare of a time when we went to pick up our last truck — or should I say not pick up. They didn’t have the truck available that we reserved well in advance. In fact they didn’t have any trucks. The company didn’t have a single truck across the entire city or any neighboring cities. To say it was frustrating was an understatement. We ended up having to use another company and pay hundreds more than planned.
No matter how you get it done, just remember the worst is behind you…until your next move 🙂
Do you have some good moving tips or hacks? We’d love to hear them! Share your best advice in the comments for everyone to check out!
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