21 Tips on How to Pack for a Move

How to pack for a move

Packing for a move involves strategy and planning. Whether it’s your first move or the fifteenth, you can’t be too prepared. These 21 tips will walk you through each step of the packing process and also give you some packing hacks to make the process easier.

21 tips when packing for a move

1. Start with a plan. Use a moving checklist so nothing is forgotten.  

2. Purge your home. If an item won’t be used at the new house, get rid of it. Also get rid of (or make a plan for moving) items on the Do Not Ship list.

3. Use professional moving supplies. The better the packing materials, the better protection they will provide. Check out the U-Pack Box Store for everything you need.

4. Prep the boxes. Use two strips of packing tape on the bottom of each box for extra support.  

5. Set up a packing area. While you can pack boxes in individual rooms, it’s a good idea to set up an area specifically for filling empty space in boxes with packing paper, taping them closed and labeling. Then, to keep boxes organized, just stack the packed ones in this area. 

6. Set packing goals. Do you have eight total rooms and three weeks to pack? Set out to do a room every 2-3 days (or whatever schedule works). Taking it a little at a time makes it easier to manage.

7. Make an inventory. Take note of the contents in each box then number each one (and put the number on the inventory list) to make it easier to find stuff quickly as you unpack.

8. Start with seasonal items. If you’re moving in the winter, box up summer sports gear and warm weather clothes. In the summer, start with Christmas decorations and heavy coats. Pack those things first since you won’t need them during the move.

9. Create an essentials box. This box is for the things you’ll need right away. Include stuff like light bulbs, cleaning supplies, scissors, screw drivers, paper towels and toilet paper.

10. Clear out storage areas. Don’t forget about closets, cabinets, the basement and/or attic and storage buildings.

11. Pack rooms together. Each box should contain items from only one room, so it’s easy to unpack.  Going room-by-room makes packing faster.

12. Don’t pack air. If boxes aren’t fully packed there’s potential for shifting and damage. To secure the contents of a box, pack pieces as tightly as possible and fill empty space with packing paper.  

13. Place heavy items in small boxes. It’s best to keep the overall weight of each box under 40 lbs. So, when packing heavy things like books, use small boxes.  

14. Label everything. Use printable moving labels (or write on each box), and apply labels to the top and at least two sides, so the label can always be seen no matter how the boxes are stacked.

15. Utilize drawers. Keep clothing or linens (or other unbreakables) in drawers, and secure the drawers using plastic stretch wrap.

16. Don’t take clothes off hangers. Transfer clothes into wardrobe boxes to keep them protected during transit. This also makes unpacking easier.  

17. Take pictures before disconnecting electronics. Before unhooking anything, take a picture of the back connections. This makes hooking electronics back up a breeze.

18. Disassemble furniture. If possible, remove feet or legs from furniture and take lampshades off the base. Keep cords and connectors secure by placing them in a zip-top bag and taping them to an inconspicuous spot (be careful applying tape to any finish). Or place the bag in a box for safekeeping.

19. Use up perishable foods. A few weeks before the move, start using everything from the freezer and fridge and use any open pantry items you don’t want to move.

20. Pack an “open first” kitchen box. Make cooking easy so you don’t have to live off of pizza and fast food. This meal plan includes the things to put in a kitchen box and a few items to pick up at the store.

21. Finish packing before moving day. Before the equipment arrives, do a final check to ensure everything gets packed. Don’t waste time on moving day packing — finish ahead of time and use your energy for loading the moving trailer.

Learn more about packing

With over 20 years of experience, we have a lot to say about packing and moving. Check out these resources to learn more:

How to Move Alone to a New City

Moving by yourself to a new city can be one of two things: a terrifying ordeal or the adventure of a lifetime! But a big move by yourself doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, with a little preparation and some positive perspective, it might just be the fresh start you’ve been waiting for.

If you’re planning to relocate by yourself, here are four tips to help you make the most of your move and adapt in your new city.

1. Get organized.

A one-person relocation sounds simple, but can still take a lot of work. You might feel overwhelmed if you take everything on all at once, so in order to get started effectively, make a list and plan out your move. Create your ideal timeline, and set weekly goals to keep you on track with your official moving date. Breaking up your move into manageable steps with a moving checklist will also help you focus your time and keep your stress levels low.

Photo by Linh Nguyen/Flickr

Another tip? The more organized you pack, the quicker it is to unpack. Taking a little extra time to label all your boxes is helpful, both during the move and after. Labels let everyone involved in the move know exactly what’s in each box. This way, fragile things get treated as such, and boxes are put in the rooms they’re relevant to.

Finally, before leaving your old home, walk through to double check that you’ve packed everything you need. It might not be easy — or even feasible — to make multiple trips between cities for forgotten belongings.

2. Budget your move.

Moving can get expensive, as there are a lot of costs that add up quickly. When you’re setting a budget, considering all aspects of a move — including the pros and cons of hiring movers or doing it yourself — is critical. Depending on how much you’re bringing to your new home and how long the drive will be, hiring movers may be more affordable than you think. And even if a DIY move is a little cheaper, the freedom of knowing you won’t have to move everything you own up two flights of stairs alone may well be worth the cost of hiring help. Either way, look at what you can afford and then research your options to see what the best fit is for you financially.

Photo by Mike G/Flickr

While you’re budgeting, you’ll also want to consider any expenses that might pop up after the move. If you aren’t going to be working right away, make sure you have enough saved up to get by for a few months until you feel more established in your new city — and don’t forget to account for the cost of living in a different city. Having financial security when a lot of other changes are happening will help you hit the ground running in your new home.

3. Explore the city on your own.

There are so many opportunities that come with moving to a new place where no one knows you, so be confident and comfortable enough to do things on your own. Go out to lunch or to a movie, and relish the newness of the city. Even though living in a different place can be hard at first, you are going to adapt more quickly than you think.

Photo by Tanenhaus/Flickr

Don’t underestimate the importance of self care, either. By packing up and starting from scratch, you have done what a lot of people are too scared to do, and you should take some time to reward yourself for it. Find a coffee shop or neighborhood park that you love, and go there often. Having a solid hangout spot to go relax at will help you feel like you can get out of your apartment while still just winding down.

4. Meet new people.

Building a new social circle can be intimidating, but having a reliable group of friends and contacts will help you really feel settled after your move. Making friends in a new city will take one part bravery, one part action, and one part creativity to be successful. If you’re living with roommates, make an effort past small talk and really get to know them. You can branch out beyond your roommates, too — try using Instagram, Facebook, or other social media channels to connect with new people.

Photo by Rafael Montilla/Flickr

In addition to social networking, consider doing something you feel passionate about to help you meet others who love the same things you do. If photography is your thing, attending an InstaMeet would allow you to meet people who are also interested in photography. If you love yoga, sign up for a weekly class at a local studio – be sure to arrive early and stay a few minutes late so you can chat with other attendees. Not only will these activities build your confidence and help you develop a routine, but you’ll also get to meet people who share your interests. The more people you get out and meet, the more at home you are going to feel in your new city.

Overall, the process of moving to a new city alone will have a few ups and downs, but the end result will be as great as you choose to make it. So don’t get bogged down in the little worries during the process. Focus on feeling at home in your new city, and owning your individual strengths — heck, you just moved all by yourself!

FUN FOR KIDS ON LONG MOVING TRIPS

If you’re moving with kids in the near future, you know better than anyone how stressful and logistically-demanding it can be. Finding a new neighborhood, a great new home, changing schools, organizing the logistics, packing, saying goodbye to your friends, neighbors and possibly even family members… it’s all a huge undertaking that takes a large toll both financially and emotionally.

With all of those things obviously taking precedence on the relocation radar, it’s only natural that most folks might leave the planning of the actual traveling to the last minute. This might spell disaster with a capital 'D' if you’re not prepared, especially with the possibility of your children already being stressed out due to the life-changing events transpiring around them.

So whether you’re making your journey by plane, train or automobile, we’ve got you covered with some useful tips to keep the kids distracted on your move.

MAKE AN ACTIVITY BOOK FOR THE ROAD

This might seem self-evident, but the best ways to keep kids distracted is to provide them with things they like to do to pass the time. If you’re not of the hand-held gaming persuasion, you could take some time beforehand to prepare a crafty, customized activity book for your kids.

You can make one easily with a cheap three-ring binder, a three-hole punch and some imagination. Fill the binder with sheets of stickers, blank pages, coloring book pages, puzzles, games, and so on. Include a pencil case filled with a variety of crayons, colored pencils, and markers so they never run out options.

Tell the kids that this binder is their own travel journal and they can write or draw whatever they are thinking or feeling. You could even keep it and give it to them when they are older as a fantastic memory. If you are traveling by car, pick up a few extra travel bathroom organizers and hang them in the back seat, filled with books and activities to keep your kids busy.

STOP AT RESTAURANTS WITH KIDS’ AMENITIES

Despite every parent’s best intentions, preparing a nutritious lunch for the road on a day that many consider to be more stressful than a wedding just might not be feasible. Indeed, packing cute little sandwiches without the crust is probably the last thing on any parent’s mind on the eve of a big move, and besides, you’d be missing out a potentially life-saving element of road food: the play areas.

Say what you will about the meals, but a good half hour of running around a playpen and dispensing that pent-up car energy might help make for a smoother (snoozier) ride. You may not often let your kids eat at restaurants like these, so for them it will be a fun treat and make moving a bit sweeter.

MAKE A TREASURE MAP

As most parents know, kids tend to get antsy on long car rides, so frequent stops may be inevitable. That said, why not make stops part of the relocation journey? Create some sort of treasure map leading up to the new house as the end goal, which includes landmarks and fun sights along the way. This will build up your kids’ excitement and keep them entertained on the road; it'll break down the trip into smaller, more manageable chunks with the reward of a fun activity at the end of each one.

Another idea that builds on this concept is to create a countdown to the new house, with each stop bringing everyone closer and closer to the end goal. You can include the treasure map in their activity book so that they can follow along the way.

AUDIO BOOKS AND MOVIES

For those equipped with onboard DVD players or tablets, the value of bringing along a bunch of movies is immediately clear on long trips. For those whose kids get a bit too motion sick for movies, audiobooks are a great and too often overlooked option that can get the whole family participating.

A tablet loaded with your children’s favorite movies is also an amazing idea for families flying to their new location. Many of the movies offered on board are either too mature or just not diverse enough for kids, so having your own in-flight entertainment prepared will (hopefully) guarantee you a few hours of peace and quiet.

PLAY 'I SPY' AND BINGO

Many sites have road trip printables with bingo cards that show common car makes, and iSpy cards that display common restaurants seen on the road.

The easiest is the license plate game - print out a sheet with pictures of license plates from each area (like surrounding states), and each time they see one, they place a sticker next to the picture. The first one to fill up their page wins!

Have a few snacks or prizes ready and give your kids one each time they completely fill up a card with stickers. They will be so busy looking out the window for the things on their cards they won’t even realize a whole hour has passed!

ROAD TRIP LEGO BOXES

Keeping your kids busy with tactile activities generally lasts longer than reading or a movie. Lego is a fantastic way to keep your kids busy, and with these boxes, you'll keep your car tidy, too!

Glue the base of a lego kit into the inside of a plastic pencil case or lunch box. Fill the rest of the box with a variety of lego pieces. Your kids will be occupied for a while as they come up with little lego cities to build in their lego box!

ALPHABET GAME

By far the easiest game on the list, all you need is a paper plate, scissors, and a marker. Write the letters of the alphabet around the outside rim of a paper plate, and cut small slits between each letter. In the center of the plate, write down your child’s name. Once you are all settled in the car (or plane) pass them the plate and tell them that each time they see an object that starts with a letter of the alphabet they should fold the letter down. The first kid to fold all their letters wins a treat! (even if it's a pat on the back)

LET THEM PACK THEIR OWN CARRY-ON BAG

Let your kids feel in charge of the move by encouraging them to pack their own carry-on bag. This works best for families traveling by plane, but it can also be a great trick for those making the trek by car. By letting them pack a bag, your children will pick out their favorite items, which will help them feel comfortable and safe throughout the trip. You can even help by preparing travel-friendly sizes of their favorite snacks! This is a life saver when your kids begin whining that they're hungry and your hands are full checking in your luggage. It's also convenient when larger carry-on bags are packed away in overhead compartments.

HAVE DRAMAMINE AND GUM ON HAND

Many children get motion sickness in cars as well as planes. And just like your ears begin to pop when a plane lands, so do your kids', just much more painfully. Having a pack of Dramamine at the ready when you begin to hear complaints of tummy aches or a stick of gum to chew on during your flight’s descent will help stop a tearful meltdown in its tracks. There is nothing worse than a tired, cranky, and crying kid on a plane or strapped in the back seat of a car.

We hope that these little tidbits will help you get your kids excited for your new home, and make the journey itself a bit more smooth. The important part is to try and enjoy it as a family, and to remember that the end goal of a great new start is closer than ever!

Do you have any ideas about how to make the trip more enjoyable? Share it with us!

Moving Tips: What Should I Do If I’m Moving Out of State?

While any move is going to be a difficult one, moving out of state can be particularly difficult. When you make an out of state move, there are several factors you have to consider that you don’t have to think about when you are moving locally, including:

• Can I hire movers who will travel out of state?
• If so, how much more will hiring movers to help me move to another state cost?
• How will the weather in my new state impact when I can move? For instance, should I wait to move to a cold weather state until the spring or summer?

These are just a small sampling of the questions you will have to answer before making an out of state move.

Tips for Moving Out of State

The following are a few tips to help you plan and execute a successful and efficient out of state move:

• Create a calendar for the timeline of your move – Making a move this complex will involve meeting several deadlines, such as making sure you turn in fees and paperwork on time to ensure you have a house or apartment to move into in your new state.
• Put together a budget for your move – The last thing you want to do is get halfway through the process and realize that you do not have enough money to complete your move. Preparing a budget beforehand ensures you know how much money you need to afford your move and that you are prepared to pay for the entire move before beginning the process.
• Research and hire an out of state moving company – Not all moving companies travel out of state. If you plan to use movers, do your research. Find the highest quality and most experienced movers that fit within your budget to handle your out of state move.
• Do an inventory of your possessions – This has two purposes. First, you need to know everything you own, because you will be traveling a long way with a lot of items and it could be easy to lose something in the process if you are not well organized. Second, the more you have to move the more it will cost, so having an idea of what you own can enable you to decide what to take with you and what to give away or discard prior to paying money to move it out of state.

All Reasons Moving & Storage has been dedicated to providing individuals, businesses and families in San Jose, California

9 Tips to Move with a Cat:

Moving with a cat can be difficult. They are very smart and curious creatures, but most importantly they are territorial. When you change the environment of your cat they become confused. You need to help them understand that the new territory is now their home, where they eat and get love and care. They need the time to become familiar with at least some of their new territory, and time to make to become comfortable before expanding it. If you simply bring your cat to your new home without taking the proper steps often they’ll often just run away in search of the territory that is familiar to them. Use the steps below to make sure they have as little stress as possible during the move. If you have a dog go check out these 7 tips for moving with a dog.

BEFORE THE MOVE

1. Allow your cat time to get used to the carrier.

Introduce your cat to her carrier by leaving it out so they can explore it. You want your cat to have a positive relationship with this carrier, so place a comfy bed inside and occasionally add some catnip or treats. Later, start feeding your cat in the carrier. If your cat is reluctant to enter the carrier to eat, start by just placing his dish next to it. After a few days, put the dish just inside the carrier, right near the opening. Then, over a week or two, gradually move the dish toward the back of the carrier so your cat has to step a little further inside each day. Eventually, place the dish at the very back of the carrier so your cat must go all the way into it to eat.

2. Keep your cat’s daily routine as consistent as possible.

Stick closely to her regular schedule for feeding, playtime and attention. A feeder with a timer can be helpful to make sure your cat eats at the same time each day.

3. Use anti-anxiety meds for skittish cats.

If your cat is very skittish, nervous or easily stressed, speak to your vet about using anti-anxiety medication to make the moving process easier on her.

MOVE DAY

4. Keep your cat in a closed room.

Movers will be going in and out of your house all day, to prevent your cat from dashing out the door while movers are moving your stuff, close her in a bathroom with food, water, a bed and a litter box. Place a sign on the door asking the movers to keep the door shut. Such as “DON’T OPEN! CAT INSIDE!” in large, red, clear writing.

5. Feed your cat a small breakfast on move day.

To reduce the changes of your cat having an upset stomach on move day only feed your cat a very small breakfast. Your cat might be a little hungry, but she will be fine and reduce the chance of your cat throwing up.

6. Don’t open your cat’s carrier in transit.

It is easy to want to help soothe your cat especially when your cat is meowing and scratching at her carrier. But, while in transit, resist the urge to open your cat’s carrier. No matter how well behaved your cat usually is, a scared cat may try to dash out. Only open the carrier in a secure area and when absolutely necessary. Also, carry a roll of packing tape in case the carrier needs some emergency repairs along the way.

AFTER THE MOVE

7. Cat-proof the new house.

Keep your cat safe by tucking away all electrical cords, arrange furniture in an open way to make sure cats can’t get stuck, ensure all windows have secure screens, remove all things that can be poisonous to your cat like certain houseplants and pest-control poison traps.

8. Keep your cat in one room.

Immediately take your cat to a room that will remain relatively quiet. Before opening the carrier, set up your cat’s food and water dishes, litter box and bed. Place some cat treats around the room to encourage your cat to explore. Keep your cat in this one “home-base” room for the first several days in the new house. This will allow your cat to gradually get used to the sights, sounds and smells of your new home without feeling overwhelmed. Keeping your cat in one room will also make it easy for her to find her litter box, food and water. Spend time with your cat in her home-base room, at first doing low-key activities like reading or watching TV. When she begins to explore, offer your cat attention, treats and playtime. When the majority of unpacking is over, gradually give your cat access to the rest of the house, one room at a time. If it’s not possible to close doors to limit his access, closely supervise your cat during short exploration sessions.

9. Slowly move the litter box to its permanent spot.

Provide a second litter box where you’ll want to keep one permanently. Keep the box available in the home-base room for at least a few weeks. Once your cat has settled in, you can remove that box. If you don’t want to spend money on an extra litter box, you can gradually transfer it to a preferable location. To make sure your cat doesn’t lose track of where it is, move the box just a foot or so away from the home-base room and toward your preferred location each day.

Fall Moving Tips: How to Keep Your Move Simple and Cheap:

You might think that the season during which you move makes much of a difference. However, from the type of weather you have to deal with to the holidays you may have to work around, when you move can have a big impact on the price and effort you have to put into your move. US News and World Report published an article featuring fall moving tips.

Tips for Keeping Your Move Simple and Cheap During the Fall

Fall is one of the best seasons to move. Summer tends to be the most popular season to move. However, that often makes it the most expensive season to move as well. Plus, moving in the summer means having to deal with the heat. Moving in the winter on the other hand is often cheaper than the other seasons. However, moving in the winter can result in having to deal with extremely cold weather and even snowy conditions. While it’s not quite as cheap as moving in the winter, moving in the fall is less expensive than moving in the summer. Plus, the weather is often not too hot or too cold. Below are a few tips to help make your fall move simple and cheap:

• Keep walkways clear – This is true for any season you move. You want to make sure that the paths where people are walking when they are carrying boxes and furniture are free of debris and slip and fall hazards. One slip and fall hazard specific to fall is fallen leaves. These can become especially dangerous if it has rained recently, because leaves become very slick following a rain.
• Packing – When you pack, make sure that you are organized. If you just randomly throw things in boxes, you can end up spending most of your time at your new place digging through box after box searching for items. Plus, if you pack the boxes properly, you can avoid having to use as many boxes during your move. Just make sure to pack like items, such as linens or kitchenware, together and label the boxes with what’s packed inside.
• Transportation – Since most people tend to move at the end of the month, that’s often when moving rates are highest. Therefore, when you schedule your move with a moving company, try to avoid scheduling it during that time.
• Plan ahead – Moving can become very chaotic very quickly if you are not careful. One thing you want to plan ahead for is making sure your utilities are set up for when you move in. Even though fall is not as cold as winter or hot as summer, you still do not want to move into your new place without having working electricity, water, A/C or heat.

As our name implies, no matter what reason you choose to move, All Reasons Moving & Storage is prepared to help make your move cost-efficient and smooth. Homeowners, renters and businesses in San Jose, California have counted on us to meet their moving and storage needs since 1991. Contact us today for a free quote.

Nine questions to ask your landlord before moving in:

This is a guest post from Rentalutions.com

There’s a lot on your mind when you’re preparing for a move, from what day you can move in to when you’ll receive your keys, where the moving truck can park, and more.

To ensure you’re as prepared as possible, and have as many moving day details to make it a stress-free and efficient day, it’s important to ask your landlord these nine questions ahead of time.

#1 What day can I move in?

It’s best to check with your landlord about what day you’re able to move in. That way, you are both on the same page and you can schedule professional movers ahead of time. It’s recommended to reach out and book your movers as soon as possible, even as early as one month out from the date you’d like to move.

#2 What will you do to prepare the unit before I move in?

Most landlords clean and re-paint in between tenants. We recommend finding out what your landlord plans on doing ahead of time, so you know what condition the place will be in when you move in.

#3 Were the locks changed?

In some locations, it’s a legal requirement for landlords to change the locks in between tenants. Even if it’s not a legal requirement, you can still request that your landlord changes the locks if you prefer.

#4 When will I get my keys?

Of course, you’ll need to know when you can pick up your keys to access your unit for move-in day! We recommend coordinating with your landlord to find out where and when you can pick up your keys. You may want to ask if there are other people who have a copy of the key, or access to your unit.

#5 What doors/elevators should I use? And where can I park my moving truck?

Your landlord will know the best place for your moving truck to be, whether it’s in an alley, on the street, or in a truck dock (at a larger building). You can also find out if there are service elevators for you to use. Be sure to make arrangements for parking and service elevators prior to your movers’ arrival.

#6 What do I do in the case of a lockout?

Before moving in, it’s best to know the lockout procedure. Is there an extra key on site in a lockbox? Is there a 24/7 emergency lockout company you should call? Your landlord will likely have a way for you to remedy the situation, and having this information may come in handy down the road.

#7 Is there a move-in checklist for me to complete?

It’s best practice to fill out a move-in checklist. You’ll mark any existing damage on move-in day. That way, when you move out, you can show the landlord that the damage was already there. This is helpful if you want to receive your full security deposit at the end of the lease.

You can also check to ensure you have all the proper moving essentials, here.

#8 How do I pay first month’s rent?

Typically, landlords expect first month’s rent before you move in. It’s usually a requirement before he or she will hand over a key to you. Make sure you know how to pay rent and when it’s due so you get your keys on time.

#9 What utilities am I responsible for?

You’ll want to set up your utilities before you move in. Gas, electricity, and internet are utilities you’ll want immediately. If you’re responsible for setting these up, your landlord should let you know which companies to reach out to. If not, we recommend asking your landlord for more information.

Next steps

You’ve asked your landlord these questions, and found out your move-in date, so the next step is setting up professional movers. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is here to help.

If you’d like to pay rent online, tell your landlord about Rentalutions. You can set up automatic payments, so you don’t have to remember each month. Learn more about Rentalutions below.

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