Countdown to your move.

As you’re planning your move, use this as an opportunity to purge.  How much storage is available in your new space?  Will all of these items fit?  If you’re not using an item now, it’s highly unlikely you’ll use it in your new home so let it go now and save the space and expense of packing and moving it.  Packing is really starting in earnest now so use the right size boxes.  Put heavy items, like books, in small boxes; light items, like linens and pillows, in bigger ones.  In boxes, fill in gaps with clothing, towels, or packing paper to maximize space.  When packing, bundle your breakables.  As you pack dishes, put packing paper around each one, then wrap bundles of five or six together with more paper.  Use dish-barrel boxes if possible as they are extra sturdy for these heavy and highly breakable items.   Remember to label each box with the room it’s intended for so unpacking and organizing your new space is easier.

What needs “special” treatment?

All packed items are not equal.  Moving toys, books, bedding, and clothing is relatively easy but pay special attention to anything electronic or high end.  Movers treat TVs like any other piece of furniture, wrapping them in quilted furniture pads.  Plasma TVs, however, require special wooden crates for shipping if you don’t have the original box and can be ruined if you lay them flat.  If you’re packing yourself, double-box your TV – there are special TV boxes. Smaller electronics like gaming systems, computers, and printers also fit well in the heavy-duty dish-barrel boxes so err on the side of caution to be sure they arrive undamaged.  Any antique or high-end furniture should also be wrapped in padded moving blankets.  For pictures behind glass and expensive art, ask the moving company about special crating.

Moving is stressful; there are lots of details to keep organized.  During COVID, we need to add extra time and safety to the process so plan out the move accordingly.

Next week – two weeks and counting.  Your move is right around the corner; be prepared and ready to go.