Packing and Moving Tips

Finding a new home is one of the most exciting and momentous events in a family’s life. However, preparing to leave your old one is, well, not so much. Streamline the moving process with some of our professional moving company tips for packing-up. 1. Dump it. Ultimately, loading old stuff you don’t need or ever use into boxes is a big waste of your time, money, and moving-day manpower. So the 1st thing to do before you start packing, is to get all your old unwanted items under control. Ruff and Ready Movers one of Temecula’s best moving companies recommends going room by room and fully compelling yourself to selling, donating, or trashing at least 20 percent of what you own. The closet is usually a great place to start – the minimum criteria being, if you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months, let it go. No exceptions (sorry, hoarders). 2. Tidy up. Once you’ve made the decision to shed the excess, give everything in the house a good cleaning. Trust us, you’ll be glad when you unpack all your stuff dust-free after the move. 3.  Shop for Your Move. One thing we do encourage you to stock pile are Moving supplies. Start by going through each room in your old house and calculate how many boxes you’re going to need. Determine what shapes and sizes will best fit your possessions, with the thought in mind that it’s far easier to pack your boxes tight to save money on materials and time. We like these bundle packs offered by Uline or Pioneer -- they even deliver to your door. Their hanging wardrobe boxes help cut down on folding time. Also, don’t forget about packing paper (newspaper will do in a pinch), tape dispensers with plenty of extra rolls, bubble wrap, and permanent markers for labeling. Bargain hunters can save by asking local stores for their extra boxes. 4. Make a system. Simplify the process by creating a packing plan and schedule. As much as possible, commit to packing a minimum of one entire room every 2 to 3 days at least. Too Busy? Buy some pizza and beer and host a moving party for your friends. Find a consistent, out-of-the-way place to keep the taped-up boxes for each room, whether it’s stacked up in a corner or in the garage. The minor inconvenience will be worth it in the long run when the movers are working from a central location. 5. Wrap your breakables. Even if your move is not all that far, please remember to wrap all fragile items carefully in bubble wrap. If it’s an irreplaceable favorite, consider moving it yourself instead of trusting the movers. 6. Label everything. Make unpacking a breeze (and protect yourself as well in case a box goes missing in transport) by labeling and numbering every box. Write or record a list of contents for each one. Try to keep categories together that relate to one another (like kitchen, living room, DVD collection, electronics, etc.). 7. Organize. Organization will help keep you sane during this difficult transition, but should you end up with one “miscellaneous” box with a toaster, a sweater, and a tape dispenser, it won’t be the end of the world. 8. Leave it for the movers. Sometimes it’s simply worth the extra bucks to let your moving company put the final touches on your packing job. They do things like wrap up bulky furniture, pack your flat-screen TV correctly, and find ways to transport those things that you simply can’t fit into boxes. Get moving estimates beforehand to fit into your budget. 9. Set aside a box to ship. Once everything is cleared out, you will surely find a few items that for whatever the reason were forgotten. Reserve an extra box for these odds and ends -- then when it’s time to lock up one last time and leave to that new chapter in your life, simply ship it to your new home. Have a great packing tip? Share it below. With big john