Moving Soon? 6 Tips To Make It Easier!

It's Summer, which means moving out or moving in! There is nothing more stressful than moving, especially during the Summer. The heat, the heavy lifting, and adjusting to a new home are all too much for any person to take on all at once. As a veteran NYC resident who has moved in and out several times, I’ve finally mastered everything I need to do to ensure my moves go as smoothly as possible. Here are 6 crucial organizational tips to help you prepare and relieve stress!

1. Start Earlier Than You Think Is Necessary!

You can start planning your move more than a month before the official move-out/move-in date. Go purchase boxes, bins, and any other moving supplies you like so you have them on hand already. Start packing items not for everyday use, such as dishes for special occasions, out-of-season clothes and shoes, knick-knacks, and artwork. Anything you don’t use every day can be the first to be packed away.

2. Clothing Bags

Stop wasting your money on wardrobe boxes! They are big and bulky, which takes up too much space in moving trucks and storage units, not to mention a complete waste of money. Instead, fold your clothes that don’t belong in your closet in bulk moving bags. Not only are these great space savers, but they are also easy to handle during moves, especially when bringing them upstairs. For clothes you typically hand up, like shirts, dresses, and jackets, simply put them on hangers and bulk chunks in trashbags, leaving the hanger hooks out. You must put the hangers in your closet and remove the trash bags when you move in.

3. Utilize Household Items When Moving

Don’t waste your money on bubble wrap and packing paper. Instead, use towels and clothes to protect your fragile dishes and artwork. Using towels between stacked plates and wrapping glasses in old T-shirts helps pack extra items and ensure their safe transport. This is also a great way to be more environmentally friendly about moving! Try to avoid one-use items.

4. Compare Moving Company Prices

If you plan to hire people to help with your big move, do your research! Don’t go with the first company to pop up on your Google search. Make a list of companies in your area -- most will give you a free quote -- and compare the prices. If moving companies are out of your budget ,check Task Rabbit! Find local movers; some even have trucks an will transport your things within the same day just like the big fancy companies! 

5. PURGE!

Purge all your old items! Clothes that you haven’t worn in 6 months, old school notebooks, out-of-style decor, any broken items... Get rid of anything extra you might have accumulated. Try all your clothes on and make sure you like how they fit and can style them. Skipping this step will only make your move harder than it needs to be. Don’t waste time and money packing and moving things you’ll only end up throwing away! Less is more. Pick out what you love and donate or sell the rest. 

6. Label Everything

The most common mistake people make when moving is not labeling every box. Save yourself the headache and label each box with the room and specific items (i.e.: Kitchen: Dishes, Bedroom: Desk, etc.) This will make sure you don’t end up tearing up boxes trying to find things you need. With things you don’t want permanent marker on like bins and bags, get painters tape and write the contents on the strip of tape instead!