Before
Get a move on. Nows the time to hire a trustworthy moving company with your best interest in mind! Now's the time to get your packing supplies and your boxes. And not from the supermarket. Now's the time to purge, throw out and toss anything you really don't want. And now's the time to sort through, separate and organize everything you want to keep and store. Now's the time to pack the stuff you won't need until after you move. And for now, time is on your side. So use it wisely.
During
Now, we’re getting somewhere. Now, we’re into the double-walled construction boxes, the stacks of newspaper and the rolls of packing tape. Now were pouring Styrofoam peanuts and using the bubble wrap that we know you can’t help but pop. Now, we’re taking things apart, putting like items together and labeling everything. Yup. Now, we’re moving.
Put smaller boxes in larger boxes to make less trips.
Remove wheels from everything with wheels.
Disassemble anything you can.
Label every box with its contents and it's room. (Or better yet have us do that)
Mark boxes with breakables as "fragile". Then, don't drop them.
Put Styrofoam peanuts in boxes before you put in your breakables.
Spread the weight of heavy items over several boxes.
Make sure boxes are completely sealed.
Use bubble wrap and newspaper to wrap fragile items.
Defrost freezers so they are clear of ice on the day of the move.
Pack a separate "emergency" box with things you'll need on the day before the move.
After
Now, you can relax. Now, you can take a deep breath, look around and make sure everything is in its place ready to be moved to another place. Now, you can kick back, put your feet up and wait for the movers.
Before you gather your stuff, gather your thoughts. Plan ahead, instead of at the last minute. And be prepared for anything. With this checklist, you can stay organized during your move and save yourself some headaches along the way. Because while we have all the moving and packing supplies you’ll ever need, we’re all out of aspirin.