Last week we were officially given a close date for our new build and I couldn’t be more excited about it! In 7 weeks we’ll be the owners of a brand new house. Naturally, as an overly-anxious person, the timeline has me frantically thinking of all the things we need to get ready before moving day. So today I’m sharing with you some of the moving tips + tricks we’ll be using come April.
This post will focus on tips and tricks you can use leading up to your move. I’ll be posting a part two that can be used closer to your actual moving day.
Finding Supplies
Facebook Marketplace is the perfect resource for finding supplies like moving boxes and packing materials. I see free posts for moving boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, etc. everyday. Why purchase your own boxes when you can take them off someone else’s hands for free? What’s the saying, one person’s recycling is another mover’s treasure! 😉
Another recommendation is using plastic storage totes for packing. Again, you can search Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone is selling these for cheaper, otherwise stock up at Walmart or Target when you can.
Create a List of Rooms to Pack + Purge
This is where I’m at right now. I wrote down all the rooms in my house and the specific areas I need to focus on for packing and purging. I’ve given myself a goal of one room, or part of a room if it’s a more tedious task, a day. For example, tonight I told myself I need to go through the products in our master bathroom; tomorrow I’ll focus on our linen closet. I’m doing this to avoid overwhelm, which was what I totally did to myself when we moved last time.
Create a Packing System
This is one of my favorite moving tips that I’m implementing this time around: creating a packing system. As I’m moving from room to room, area to area, I’m bringing five buckets with me. These buckets are labeled: Pack, Donate, Sell, Throw and Keep. As I’m going through my stuff, each item needs to go into a bucket:
- Pack: These are items that won’t be used/needed before we move and can be packed in a box right away.
- Donate: These are items that I/we no longer use but are in good condition and can be donated (either to Goodwill or on my neighborhood Buy Nothing Facebook group).
- Sell: These are items that I/we no longer use and can be sold (likely on Facebook Marketplace).
- Throw: Pretty self explanatory but these are items that will be thrown away.
- Keep: Items that will still be used before we move so can’t be packed away quite yet. These will get packed away as we get closer to our moving date (think silverware, dishes, toiletries, etc.)
Now that you have items to pack, create a system for easily identifying what’s in the boxes and where they’ll go once you move in. I purchased this painters/masking tape set and will be assigning a color to each room that is likely to have plenty of boxes (e.g. Ivy’s room, my office, the master bedroom, kitchen, etc.). I still label the tape with the room location and what I’ve packed inside (e.g., books, decor, clothes – just high-level categories that will help identify when unpacking).
The end goal here is that you’re giving yourself enough time to get rid of as much stuff as you can to limit the amount of boxes to move. Remember: if you’re not using, let it go!
Meal Plan with Food You Already Have
Yes, I realize this one is a little weird, but start thinking early about all the food you have in your freezer and cupboards and how to use it before moving. We have a chest freezer and the freezer in our kitchen and both are packed with food right now. I recently did inventory to figure out what frozen foods we have in each freezer and I’ll be planning meals that use up those items so we have less to move.
My cupboards also are pretty full with items that could easily be used before we move. If I can minimize the boxes we have to haul from one house to the next, I will gladly do so!
Start Researching Utilities + Services
Depending on how much time you have before your move, it’s a good idea to start researching the utilities + services that are in offered in the city of your new home. This week I started researching internet providers in the area of our new home so I can setup an appointment as close to our move-in date as possible.
Research + Book a Moving Truck or Company
Whether you’re planning to hire movers or do the moving yourself, I’d recommend researching and booking either the company or truck 4- to 6-weeks prior to moving day. No use in waiting until the last minute only to find out nothing, or no one, is available.
I hope you found these moving tips + tricks helpful! I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more tips + tricks that you can use when your move is getting closer. Until then, leave me a comment below on what your favorite moving tip or trick is.
