How to Pack Effectively When Moving to a New Home

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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How to Pack Breakables for a Move

Don't toss your good china and crystal willy-nilly into boxes - unless you prefer them smashed to bits. Here's how to get those breakables safely to their destination. Terry Moving and Storage can help you with all of your moving needs.

Things You'll Need:

Boxes
Storage Organizers
Newspaper
Newspaper
Insurance
Bubble Wraps
Markers
Packaging Tape
Packing Peanuts
Markers
Boxes

Instructions:

1. Place a layer of cushioning - wadded up newspaper, bubble wrap or packing paper are good - at bottom of box.
2. Loosely fill insides of mugs, glasses and vases with cushioning.
3. Wrap each item separately in cushioning.
4. Layer pieces neatly inside box using plenty of filler (more crumpled newspaper or foam peanuts).
5. Leave room for another layer of cushioning at the top of the box.
6. Slightly overfill the box with cushioning.
7. Close and seal the box securely with tape.
8. Label the box "FRAGILE" and identify contents: "Good China, Dining Room."

Tips & Warnings:
-You can buy everything you need to pack breakables from large do-it-yourself moving companies, including special boxes for dishes and glasses, bubble wrap, wrapping supplies for individual items, tape and marking pens. Also, save money by asking friends and family for boxes that they would be willing to give away.
-If you underpack a box, loose items are likely to move around and smash into each other. If you overpack, the box might burst open and send contents flying.

Use Terry Moving and Storage for your relocation needs.

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How to pack your Uhaul on moving day

I've helped a lot of people move. Some haven't packed. Some put everything in black trash bags. Some don't label anything. Others mix breakables (e.g.-glassware, plates, albums, picture frames, jewelry, etc.) with heavy items. There are some awkward pieces--don't ask. Oh, and my favorite: "I know you're halfway down packing the truck, but there's something I just remembered..." Here's how to pack a UHaul or any other truck--just so everyone's on the same page. Terry Moving and Storage can help you with all of your moving needs.

Things You'll Need:

Boxes
Permanent Marker
Duct Tape
Gloves
Old Tennis shoes
Flat head screwdriver
Adjustable wrench
Bucket
Blankets
Large trash bags
Appliance dolly

Instructions:

1. Move as much stuff as you can by yourself (e.g.-breakables, little stuff, paintings, pillows, mirrors, plants, etc.). This helps reduce clutter and makes for a faster move. You can also plan a good route and get an idea of what the "Move" is going to be like.
2. Line up the heavy boxes closest to the door (lightest boxes farthest away).
3. Load heavy boxes first. Spread the weight around so the truck doesn't tip when you go around corners, etc. Think of this as a big game of Tetris. The heavy boxes should be the bottom layer of this cake.
4. Next, load the medium weight boxes on top of the heavy boxes. Remember to save space for the furniture and appliances.
5. Now, load the lightest boxes on top of the other boxes. At this point, you may want to load couches, washer and dryer next to the boxes. Fill all the spaces so nothing shifts in transit.
6. Typically, the back of the couch goes against one wall of the truck on one side (you can fill the seats with boxes, TV, etc.). On the other side, you can put the washer/dryer or dresser, etc. Fill the space in between these items with the bed stuff (e.g.-frame, mattress, box frame, head board, etc.).
7. If the moving truck has no top, strap everything down with rope. You can use a tarp to cover the front half of the stuff. If there is a top, you can now load the chairs, clothing, pillows, cushions, drawers, lamps, and any other knick knacks on top of what you've got in there.
8. Lock it up and move it out! Once you arrive at your destination, unload everything in reverse order. Be careful when you open the truck as contents may have shifted. Happy moving!

Tips & Warnings:
-Here are some tips before you start the moving madness, disconnect the washer and dryer. You'll need to drain the water in the washer; so, take the black hose in the back out of the drain pipe and put it in the bucket. Use the flat head screwdriver and/or wrench to loosen up any connections.
-Make sure your boxes are packed with heaviest items at the bottom. Make sure the boxes are filled so nothing shifts during the move. Tape the boxes up good.
-Take the cushions out of the couches and move those last.
-Dis-assemble your bed, fold everything up and put it all aside.
-Get a bunch of dry cleaner bags (the clear ones your clothes are wrapped in when you pick them up) and sack all your hang up clothes (large trash bags will work too--just poke the hangar hook through the bottom of the bag and wrap it up)
-Use paper towels to wrap breakables individually (so nothing scratches). Then, use newspaper or Styrofoam peanuts to cushion the breakables in the boxes.
-Dis-assemble breakables as much as possible and wrap individually as mentioned above. Some breakables are more vulnerable put together than not.
-Pull out the drawers from all furniture and move the drawers last.
-Empty your furniture (e.g.-Cabinets, chests, dressers, desks, end tables, etc.) of their contents. You may find our long lost pen.
-Use blankets to cover the furniture/glass/paintings/TV once you load a piece onto the moving truck so nothing scratches.
-You're not He-Man (or She-Ra), don't move heavy or awkward stuff by yourself.
-Move at dawn. Hot weather sucks. Something always goes wrong. Movers/helpers are always late. Etc.
-Reserve the moving truck for the day. One person I know reserved the truck for just the morning. Guess what?
-Ask specifically about the refueling policy when you return the truck. No sense paying for gas the moving company won't reimburse you for.
-Donuts, juice and water go a long way. No one needs to die and everyone likes to feel appreciated.

Use Terry Moving and Storage for your relocation needs.

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10 Tips For Relocating With Ease

Let's face it, relocating is not always easy. Even if you are an experienced mover, anxiety can permeate every aspect of the process. The unknowns of moving to a new city, the mental and physical strain of getting your house ready to sell, getting rid of stuff you don't need anymore, packing, etc. cause stress even for the most laid-back of people. If you have children, you'll also be dealing with their anxiety over changing schools and making new friends. You may be starting a new job. There are so many things going on at once that it can simply become overwhelming. The little details seem to pile up and begin to feel gargantuan. I've put together a list of some helpful hints that will make your move a little smoother.

1. Research the school district in the area to which you will be moving. This will help you narrow down potential neighborhoods for your home search. Most cities have school information on-line which makes it easy to evaluate and compare school report cards, academic programs, sports programs, music programs and special needs. Write down phone numbers so that you can make a personal visit to the school during your home hunting trip.

2. If you have children who have particular hobbies or play sports, you may also want to research local facilities and programs. This may also narrow your home search.

3. Locate a realtor that will be ready to help when you arrive. A good realtor will ask the right questions in advance so that they can show you homes in the neighborhoods that will best suit your family's needs.

4. In advance of your home-hunting trip, get a list of the local lenders from your realtor. Not only will it be important to have a pre-approval letter with you in order to make an offer on a home, but using a local lender can be a blessing if there are any last minute issues at closing.

5. When you arrive for your home-hunting trip, use the time to also check out daycare facilities, elderly care, after school care, or any other special needs you may have.

6. Bring measurements of your furniture with you during your home-hunting trip. It's highly unlikely that every piece of furniture you own will suit your new home, but having the size of the major pieces with you will certainly help wean out those that will be completely unsuitable. Obviously, this means you need to take a tape measure with you also!

7. Keep important papers in your possession - do not pack them! Birth certificates, marriage licenses, stock certificates, divorce decrees, custody papers, passports, social security cards, etc. should all be brought with you. Anything that may be required to register your children in school, close on your home, or would be difficult to replace should be brought with you. Shot records, social security numbers, birth certificates, and in the case of divorce, child custody papers are generally a requirement to register children in school.

8. Get copies of all medical records, including any important x-rays such as mammograms, to bring with you to your new home. There may be a small charge for this, but it is worth it for the continuity of your medical history.

9. Ditto with school records; some schools will only send them directly to the new school, but you can give them written permission in advance to do this. The new school can of course request the records at registration, but it is much better for purposes of planning your child's curriculum to have them at the new school as quickly as possible.

10. Make a list of the phone numbers of all the people/companies you need to call to cancel service in your old home. This includes cable, phone and utilities, but don't forget lawn care, daycare, cleaning people, etc. When you are ready to leave and all of your paperwork is packed and on a truck, you will not be wracking your brain trying to remember who you are supposed to call. Your realtor should be able to provide you with a list of all the services you may need -cable, phone, electric, gas, etc. - in your new home.

Use Terry Moving and Storage for your relocation needs.

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Moving And Relocating Tips

I know how stressful and chaotic moving and relocating can be. We moved from one part of Tucson to another in March of this year, and then in June we bought a home and relocated to Colorado. Here are some of the lessons others and we have learned.

1. Make and use lists. We all forget things, even after remembering them several times. Put them on that list during one of these times. Make a list of things to do before the move, including getting school documents transferred, filling out change of address forms, returning borrowed books and movies, transferring prescriptions, getting maps, and arranging utility shut offs and start ups.

2. Call the moving company and make the reservation a month ahead. You don't want to discover that they are booked up on the date you need them. We found out that the type of van we wanted wasn't available, but this was easily resolved because we started the process early.

3. Sell and throw away things. Carefully consider what you need to keep. Many people spend hundreds of dollars to move things that will probably be thrown away some day. It isn't just about the expense either, but also about the hassle. When you are moving and especially when you are relocating to another city - this is the best time to get rid of the things you really don't need.

4. Have a rummage sale. This is a good way to get rid of those things, and you might even raise enough money to pay for the move. Again, it is best to be rid of your things before the move. We went to a after-the-move rummage sale the other day. What a shame to pack and pay to move all those things just to have to work to sell them for pennies later.

5. Start packing early. not only is it difficult to predict how long it will take until you are doing it, but you never know how much time you'll have later. Starting early means avoiding running around looking for boxes and packing materials at the last moment.

6. Pack an "essentials" box for when you arrive at your new home. This should have the things you need to make your arrival easier, like toilet paper, paper plates, soap and such. Carry the box where it is easily accessible.

7. Let everyone know where you are relocating. Give family and friends of your new address and phone number(s), and do this before you have the current phone shut off. Call all your credit card companies with your new address. Change the address on any subscriptions too.

8. Check weather reports for moving day. You don't want to arrive in a snowstorm with your coat packed away somewhere. You will also need to allow for extra moving time if the weather is going to slow down traffic.

9. Save all your receipts. Keep receipts for moving expenses, like gas, hotel rooms, and anything else related to moving and relocating. Ask your accountant or tax accountant if you are eligible for a tax deduction for moving expenses. Usually you are, if the move is for employment purposes.

10. When you move into your new home, try to reestablish your routines quickly. If Friday night is normally movie night, don't break with the tradition. Moving and relocating are less traumatic if you have some consistency in daily life. If you're moving with children, this could be one of the more important moving tips.

Use Terry Moving and Storage for your relocation needs.

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