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Moving to a new home is an exciting time and a huge milestone. But before you enjoy the fruits of your labor, there are many logistics to consider, which can be overwhelming and stressful, especially with the clock ticking. Plus, it takes a lot of time and effort to actually pack your belongings and move out. Fortunately, with smart and early planning, you can make the transition as smooth as possible.
Check out these packing hacks that will help make your move feel like a walk in the park.
9 Packing Hacks for an Easier Home Transition
1. Label all boxes accordingly.
We know you might frantically throw random items into the same box. Don't! To stay organized, label all boxes with the room it belongs in as well as all its contents. That second part is key — you'll never have to guess where anything is. Number each box and keep an inventory master list to track what you’ve packed so far. Avoid mixing items for different rooms in the same box to make your packing and unpacking a lot easier.
Alternatively, color-code each box based on the room it belongs to. Then, in your new place, use the same color to mark the entrances of the rooms. This will help you and your movers immediately identify what needs to go where.
Also, don’t forget to label boxes with breakables as fragile. This will ensure that people will take extra care with those boxes.
2. Take advantage of plastic wrap.
You don’t need to empty out your drawers when you’re moving. Simply put layers of plastic wrap over each of them so that the contents will not fall out or get misplaced.
Likewise, use plastic wrap on toiletries or anything that has the potential to spill, to keep anything from leaking and making a mess during transit. The wrap should be placed under the lid so that it will be an additional seal between the bottle and the cap.
Bonus tip: You can never be too sure about spills during a move, so try to separate toiletries and liquids from other dry items.
3. Save space and time when packing clothes.
Instead of taking each piece of clothing off its hanger, you can transport them all together. Using a garbage bag, cut a hole on top, then place the bag over a group of hanging clothes. To keep it more secure, tie the hangers together.
As an alternative, consider rolling your clothes instead of folding them. It saves space and prevents wrinkles. You can also use clothes as cushion to fill any gaps in the boxes and even protect fragile items. Not only are you saving space, but you’re preventing items from shifting around the boxes during the move.
And speaking of fragile items...
4. Bundle all breakables.
For fragile items – like everyday dishes, ceramics, or china – make sure they’re sufficiently cushioned and properly positioned during the move.
Use clothes, bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper, or packing paper as padding to prevent anything from breaking. You can also use dish towels, plastic grocery bags, or paper plates to create additional buffers between each breakable.
When packing, position these items on their sides, never flat, so they’re less likely to get broken. Individually wrapped bowls and cups can be placed inside one another. And be sure not to leave the box any extra unpadded room at the top or without a fragile label.
5. Secure your accessories and jewelry.
To avoid knots, tangles, and broken jewelry pieces, take extra care by making sure they’re adequately secured.
Place your necklaces and chains through straws to keep them from tangling. You can also lay them flat of a small towel and roll it up. Likewise, you can pack anklets, bracelets, earrings, and rings in egg cartons or plastic pill cases to keep them organized.
Bonus tip: Keep valuables with you, instead of on a moving truck, to make sure they won’t get mixed up in a pile of boxes.
6. Repurpose what you already have.
While it’s important to have enough moving boxes, you don’t have to rely on them completely. Instead, you can use your suitcases, bags, and other home items as containers.
For example, smaller essential appliances like a toaster or coffee maker can be packed in a laundry hamper. This will make it easier for you to unpack and immediately put on your new kitchen counter.
Bedding, towels, and pillows can be packed in your laundry bins. Heavier things like books and other household items can be packed in suitcases with wheels for easier transportation.
7. Keep the small things accessible and organized.
During a move, smaller home items tend to be overlooked. And often, it takes longer than we want to find where these things were packed.
These tricks can help :
- Use toilet paper tubes to organize cables and wires.
- Keep bolts and screws in clear plastic bags and tape them behind the furniture they belong to.
- Invest in quality storage bins for holiday decor and seasonal items.
- Label cables, drawers, and anything disassembled so you know how to put it back together.
- Maintain a common handy tool box.
- Take photos of electronics or furniture parts you take apart to serve as a guide when it’s time to reassemble them.
8. Pack a separate bag for essentials.
Create a “moving day essentials” bag ahead of time to ease into settling in your new home.
This should include paper plates, disposable cups, and utensils so you won’t have to dig through the boxes when it’s time to eat on the first night. Also, each family member should have spare clothes as well, in case clothes don’t get unpacked yet. Additionally, keep must-haves like your toothbrush and toiletries readily available. Lastly, keep all packing supplies in a common basket that can be moved from one room to another.
9. Declutter weeks before packing.
As best as you can, don’t move into your new house with things you don’t need or haven’t used for along time.
Before going into the actual packing stage, sort out your belongings to see what stays and what goes. For things that you don’t need but are still in good condition, consider donating these to your local community center. You can also hold a yard sale for your neighborhood or look into selling the items online.
Essentially, decluttering will help lighten the stress and workload because you can pack less.
Packing for a move is an exciting but also challenging task to undertake. Sometimes, there are just too many details and moving parts to consider. Fortunately, these packing hacks can help make things a little easier for you and your family.
Ready to move in to your new home in Las Vegas? Wherever you’re coming from, we’re ready to help you find your dream home in our beautiful city and make your moving process smooth. Contact The Brendan King Group today to learn more.
