You have arrived. You have joined the ranks of move-up buyers. The deal on the new house has closed, and all that is left is to pack up and leave your overcrowded, two-bedroom life behind. With visions of new neighbors, social teas, potluck suppers and picket fences dancing through your head, you quickly toss your treasured valuables at random into a box labeled “Accessories,” slap some tape over the seams and hand fate over to Manny the Mover.
Now, imagine your arrival in your new four-bedroom home. You’re sitting in the middle of your spacious living room, cutting open that box that says “Accessories” on the outside. Funny … it seems to be making an odd rattling noise when you move it very slightly. Tearing open the seams, you reveal not accessories, however rather shards of glass, which have settled in every nook and crevice of the accessories which amazingly stayed in tact. Considering your down payment and that hefty bill for Manny’s services, you are hardly in the position to replace those (extremely) breakables.
To avoid accessory-break and heartbreak, purchase more boxes than you think you’ll need before you start packing. For beginners, this avoids your having to run out, mid-packing session, to purchase more boxes. Second, you will avoid overpacking your boxes, which frequently results in breakage … both of your treasured valuables and your precious back. No one wants to wind up in traction after a move. Boxes are expensive, you say? Savvy movers check out their local grocery store or furniture store and ask for their empty boxes. Most retailers are more than happy to accommodate you and simply point you in the direction of the trash bin. Before you haul those boxes into your car and into your home, however, peer inside them first. A few might include live or dead insects, and you don’t wish to expose your new home to bug infestation; nor would you like to unwrap a stray roach upon your arrival.
Before you begin to fill each box, make sure that the bottom flaps are not simply closed securely, but that they are also taped shut with heavy-duty packing tape. Even though it takes more time in the beginning, pack boxes according to their assigned place in your new home (i.e., living room, kitchen, etc.). This saves you lots of time upon your arrival. Your movers know where to put your belongings in order that you don’t need to lug them elsewhere before unpacking them. Pack your boxes with heavier items on the bottom, lighter items on the top.
As you’re packing, you will without doubt be searching for cushioning material for your valuables. While newspaper is a superb option, just make sure that newsprint isn’t rubbing off on fabric or other linens. It’s a great idea to wrap anything made of fabric in plastic before you place it in a box. And when utilizing newspaper to pack your belongings, wash your hands at frequent intervals so that the newsprint doesn’t rub off on your belongings during packing.
Whether or not you trust your computer to your moving crew is your choice. Before you say “No way!” and swear to move it by yourself, consider the story of a personal friend who said the same thing, then dropped his Pc while lugging it into his new office. If your comfort level is high enough with Manny to trust him with your pc (read: your life), pack your pc in its original box and styrofoam inserts if you still have them (and if you do not, let this be a lesson to you … and instead, make use of a sturdy container with plenty of packing material). Before you pack up your Pc, make sure you do not have disks in the drives, and close all drive doors. Back up all of your files on disks, store them together in one box, and take the box with you; Manny’s going to be a bit too preoccupied to pay much attention to their proper care. Make sure those disks are not exposed to excessive heat or moisture during your travels.
Even if you are simply moving locally and plan to begin unpacking your belongings the same day you officially depart your previous residence, it will save you considerable grief if you pack a box of essentials and label it as such. Take this box with you so that you don’t have to track it down when you arrive in your new home. Your “essentials” box will contain such must-haves as toilet paper, paper towels, tape, a local phone book (if you have one for your new neighborhood yet), instant espresso and espresso mugs, bar soap, dishwashing detergent, scissors, pens and paper, a small box of laundry detergent, flashlight, a few bath towels, paper plates, cups and plastic utensils, toothpaste, toothbrush and other toiletries, and aspirin.
Following these simple recommendations will save you a huge period of time (and money) after your arrival in your new home. Instead of searching through unmarked boxes, straining back muscles and mourning the shattered remains of Grandmother’s fine China, you can unpack effectively and enjoy this milestone occasion.
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