Terry Moving and Storage http://terrymovingandstorage.posterous.com Most recent posts at Terry Moving and Storage posterous.com Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:05:00 -0700 How to Pack Effectively When Moving to a New Home http://terrymovingandstorage.posterous.com/how-to-pack-effectively-when-moving-to-a-new http://terrymovingandstorage.posterous.com/how-to-pack-effectively-when-moving-to-a-new
Nearly all of us will find ourselves moving at one point in our life or another. Terry Moving and Storage can help you with all of your moving needs. When that time comes, you will likely be thinking how nothing could be more unorganized than packing for a move. That is, until the unpacking begins! Following this advice will make both packing and unpacking organized and stress free. Trust me, I've moved more than twenty times in my lifetime already.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:
Boxes
Packing Tape
Permanent Marker
Newspaper

Instructions

1. Before you begin packing, arm yourself with a list of all the rooms in your new home. When you pack up your old house, I want you to pack by rooms. Not rooms from where you're finding the stuff but the rooms in which the stuff will be going in your new home.

2. Gather your materials. Do not begin until you have all the packing supplies at hand. Calling grocery stores is a great place to get boxes but begin calling early. Most of them smash their boxes. Another place to call is area restaurants. I have a strong preference for the sturdy produce boxes. They are the ideal size for most items. Only use large boxes for large items. Never over pack. This is just too cumbersome and often too heavy. It's also harder to unpack those giants. Just looking at them later will overwhelm you to the point the garage may be looking real handy.

3. Now that you have all your materials, clean your house. Not a down on your knees scrub (that's later) but put away clutter, wash your laundry and dishes, etc. Basically make sure everything is where it is supposed to be. As you go, put aside all items you can live without. Now is the time to get rid of those things and end your pack rat ways. Give to charity or have a moving sale. I strongly suggest charity. Be done with it in one fell swoop and get a receipt to claim it as a deduction on your taxes. Less stress this way and you'll be helping others!

4. Pick a room to begin packing. Label your box before you begin with the name of the room the stuff will be going TO. Use nice bold letters on top of the box so it's easy to find when you're unloading your moving truck when you get to your new home.

5. As you pack, write the name of the item down on top of the box. If there are multiple little things, place those into a smaller container first and label that so you don't have to list every little item but rather the name you give that container. Using a detailed clipboard to take notes may help some people with this process.

6. While packing, visualize every item as potential packing material or packing container itself. Double duty items save time, space and cost of packing materials. Towels around fragile decor items, washcloths layered on photo frames, you can even use paper towels between plates and around cups. It won't be in roll form later but you can still get more use out of them than newspaper. Garbage cans, large pans, suitcases, etc all make great containers to place other stuff inside of. With the exception of towels and other linens for packing around fragile items, stick to your room rule.

7. Think of packing as you would in loading your grocery bags. Mix heavy with light so there are no obscenely light nor heavy moving boxes. At least limit it as much as you can. Your moving helpers will thank you!

8. Have specially colored boxes for those 'will need immediately' boxes. Let your kids color them with crayons or mark them with spray paint. Just make them easy to identify amidst piles of moving boxes. Give extra attention when deciding what goes into these. It's helpful to make a list of things you use daily for about a week prior to packing for your move to begin with. Otherwise, there will always be items you forget.

9. Mark fragile items as well as items which need to be carried in such a way that their contents aren't tipped. Simple arrows always do the trick.

10. Strive to unpack and put away all of your things and immediately remove the moving boxes within one to two days. Demand this of yourself. Seeing moving boxes still packed in your new home is stressful and so is having to wonder where some of your things are. If they weren't important enough to unpack, I certainly hope they made their way to charity before you got to your new home.

Tips & Warnings

-If you want newspaper for packing material, save yourself the stress of collecting them and inquire with your local newspaper office about getting their newsprint roll ends. Usually they will give these to you for free.

-If you find you have a need for bubble wrap or other such packing materials, inquire with other specialty store, which may get shipments using these materials such as framing shops, pharmacies and smaller general merchandise stores. Again, you can normally get these free. Sometimes with the boxes and all.

Use Terry Moving and Storage for your relocation needs.

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Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:38:00 -0700 How to Use a Moving Checklist for Home Moving http://terrymovingandstorage.posterous.com/how-to-use-a-moving-checklist-for-home-moving http://terrymovingandstorage.posterous.com/how-to-use-a-moving-checklist-for-home-moving
Home moving is a detailed undertaking and using a moving checklist helps to keep those details in order and under control. Besides packing everything you own into boxes, moving them, and unpacking the boxes there are details that need to be taken care of. Use a moving checklist to make the home moving efficient and less stressful. Terry Moving and Storage can help you with all of your moving needs.

Instructions:

Step 1
A Moving Checklist Starts With the Broad Picture

Start by looking at the entire move and break down tasks as follows:
• Create an inventory for each room - Make a list of what items go in which room. You will mark your boxes accordingly when packing.
• List what items are needed in each room the first day. These items will go into a box or boxes labeled 'first day - unpack first'.
• List what items will be sold at a moving sale.
• List items that will be placed in a storage facility.
• Begin a manila envelope (or closable folder) to put important documents. Here you will put insurance information, itinerary for traveling, any types of tickets, keys, and any bills that need to be paid after the move.
• Start a 'To Do' list and keep it somewhere it will not be moved around. Whenever you think of something write it down so it is documented and off your mind.

Step 2
Moving Checklist of Fine Details

There are so many little details that need to be done when home moving. Ensure that these are on your moving checklist and check them off when completed.
• Transfer bank accounts as needed.
• Transfer your child's school records.
• Pay final utility and last time bills before move.
• Ensure utility company has move date to cancel service.
• Notify the post office (this can be one at www.usps.com)
• Change address on subscriptions, gyms, and other places you have a membership.
• Order enough medications to get you through the first month in the new place and switch your pharmaceutical needs.
• Purchase travelers check so you do not carry cash during the move.
• Organize legal papers, manuals of utilities in the house (furnace, water heater and softener, oven, etc), and extra keys that will be handed to new owner of your home.

Step 3
Moving Checklist for Moving Day

Have these items ready so when moving day arrives you are organized and ready.
• Pack a box or suitcase that is labeled 'moving day travel'. This is where you will put the travelers checks along with toiletries, a change of clothes, a couple days of medications, some food, games for the kids including ipods and keys for your new home.
• If using a moving company create a folder containing company's name and phone number, add in the job number or tracking number, and have the check for final payment so it is ready when you arrive at your destination.
• Assemble an 'important papers' envelope for birth certificates, medical records, car titles, etc. Some of these items may be needed right away at your new home.
• Have a list of utilities that need to be activated at your new home. List phone numbers, who you spoke with to start service, and when service should be activated. This includes gas, electricity, cable, water, garbage pick-up, phone service, etc.
• Know where your box labeled 'First day - unpack first' is so when you arrive at your new home you have the essentials.

Tips & Warnings:
-Organization for a home move means less stress. Use a moving checklist to keep you prepared, organized, and ready to move to your new home.

Use Terry Moving and Storage for your relocation needs.

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