Marking your boxes with the room they are headed for can be helpful, as long as you have movers who can follow instructions. Last week, a certain college student of my acquaintance needed to move out of his dorm. Not one to over-think a process, he did one thing to prepare -- he told his parents his moving day.
When the requisitioned parental vehicle arrived outside of the dorm, nothing had been packed. No empty boxes had been found in the back of the local liquor store and filled with neatly sorted belongings. No garbage bags had been stuffed with out-of-season clothing or bedding.
The college student and his obliging roommate hand-carried every single item down the stairs and into the yawning back end of the family's ancient mini-van, which cannot be retired until said college student graduates -- or starts handling his moves himself.
Moving tips: Move like a grown-up
Once at home, the student moved everything from the van into the foyer and then took the things he wanted into his bedroom. His parents are still waiting for the rest of the dorm furniture to get moved out of the foyer, but said college student thinks it looks fine there.
It's not that I don't understand the motives, or lack thereof, of said college student. When I graduated from college, I threw all my belongings, unencumbered by any sort of packing materials, into the trunk of my 1967 Chevy Impala and moved from central Illinois to Miami, Fla.
As I recall, it took me almost a year to get every last lip gloss and sandal out of that trunk. Being 22, I did not find that particularly troublesome.
If you ask professional movers, they might suggest there is a better way to move. And since summer is a peak season for moving, herewith are a few suggestions from Move.com, along with a few other comments:
Notify people and companies that you'll be moving soon. Give utility companies a date to forward or terminate services like your electricity or cable.
If you are employing professional movers, search out specials and coupons, and get referrals if possible. If you expect your parents to help you move, now would be a good time to let them know. Parents have lives, too, you know.
Get quotes from multiple moving companies. Ask plenty of questions, such as whether they give binding quotes and what kind of insurance is included. Some will provide all your packing materials and even do all the packing for you -- at a price.
Figure out what you want, and what you can afford. Hire the movers, or reserve a truck. Move-it-yourself vehicles can be hard to get during the summer. Don't expect one to be available unless you have made advance reservations.
Families should be sure to pack important documents, such as a child's school records, in an easily accessible way. Make copies of important records in case they get misplaced during the move.
Notify the world of your new address. Fill out change of address forms for creditors, doctors, magazines and providers. Move your prescriptions to a new pharmacy, if necessary.
Close out your services for gardeners, pest control, etc. Moving.com offers a free address changer, that may save you some time.
Inventory your belongings and decide what will be coming with you to your next home.
Clean out closets, drawers and storage areas and divide things into categories: "take," and "never want to see again." This can be difficult for pack-rats, but imagine yourself unpacking an item and having to find a place and use for it in your new home. If you can't picture this, get rid of it.
If you're moving yourself, pack the items you know you won't need until 30 days after the move. It will feel great to get started early.
If possible, take pictures of rooms and areas inside the home or apartment you'll be moving into so you can start thinking about placement of furniture, artwork and other items.
Figure out the logistics of the move, travel plans and if other specialized plans need to be made.
Make travel arrangements for your pets. There are pet-exclusive airlines available such as Pet Airways but regular airlines have travel options for pets as well. If your pet will be in a car with you for many hours, discuss options with the veterinarian.
If you have young children, make childcare arrangements for moving day. This will keep your little ones safe and you focused on the move.
Schedule "move out" cleaning service, carpet cleaners and heavy appliance disposal for the home you're vacating.
If you are selling, it's a nice welcome for the buyers to move into a clean and tidy home. You would want the same.
Set aside valuable items and keep those with you.
Make sure the details for paying the moving company are taken care of. Some require money orders or cashier's checks upon delivery; know their policy in advance to avoid stress on moving day.
Start eating all the frozen foods you have, or give them to a neighbor or friend. This way you won't have to throw them away on moving day.
Keep packing. Mark boxes with the room they should go to. This marvelous tip did our family absolutely no good when our movers dumped every single box in our garage so they could finish faster and go to another moving job, but if you have movers who can read, it can be really helpful.
Pack necessities such as toiletries, toilet paper, a flashlight, rags and "must-have" cooking supplies in boxes marked "open first" so they are easy to find when you arrive.
Take one last walk through your old property and make sure nothing has been forgotten or overlooked. Lock doors and windows, turn off light switches.
Start unpacking in the kitchen, but be sure to set up your bed and at least one bathroom, or you'll be sleeping on your couch that night. Unpacking one room a day is a worthy goal.
Meet your neighbors, ask for advice on places to eat and shop. In my own experience, no one will give you the name of the neighborhood's best babysitters unless they really, really like you.
