Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by Sam Radbil from Abodo about ways to make your upcoming move less expensive and more efficient.
Heavy boxes. Days of packing. Lugging furniture up and down the stairs. Long drives and late nights. Sounds like fun, right? The average American moves 11.4 times per lifetime, according to fivethirtyeight. Organizing a move can be a long and daunting process for many.
Whether you’re making a short move across town, or a move from a small Chicago apartment to a Los Angeles beachfront property, packing up your entire life can be stressful, super expensive, and will take up a ton of your time. That said, there are some things you can do to make it easier on you and your family. Here are some strategies you can implement to make your move as quick, painless, and financially-friendly as possible.
Fill Those Empty Spaces & Forget Packing Peanuts
You will have tons of gaps to fill when you’re moving and you know that you’ll be using a lot of boxes. Think about the things you already own that can be used to help fill those empty spaces in your boxes – t-shirts, towels, and bedding can go a long way and will be much cheaper options than purchasing packing peanuts. This will save you money and it’ll be much easier to clean up. You might even be able to find another use for those old packing peanuts.
Don’t Skimp on Boxes
Boxes are necessary for making the big move, and they are more important than you think when it comes to packing for your relocation. Although you could check to see if your local liquor and grocery store had free boxes, these are often not your best bet when it comes to durability. Often, the boxes break or collapse because they are so thin.
For the highest quality boxes, seek out materials from the professionals. The Top Box department at Gentle Giant offers free box delivery and sells the highest quality boxes, so you can buy less and save more. The materials you purchase from Top Box are of great value, so you will never have to worry about them collapsing or breaking; they can handle whatever comes their way. This will offer you peace of mind and extra security for your belongings.
Hire the Pros to Handle Your Move
Hiring great movers can really take so much stress off your shoulders, but it’s important to put those professionals in the best place possible to succeed and do a great job in helping you move. Don’t wait until the last minute before your movers arrive to start organizing your materials. Take a few days to organize your belongings and pack them into color-coordinated, clearly labeled boxes. This will help your movers in a huge way!
To organize a successful relocation, you should start preparations early. Create your inventory, get insurance, measure the doors and prep the furniture, create a plan for your pets and your children, and check the weather to make sure you have the right materials to protect your home. You don’t need any additional damage caused to your home during the move. When you hire the right moving company, you’ll have nothing to worry about!
Treat the Breakables with Respect
As you pack your glassware, wine bottles and other expensive and breakable items, be sure to use paper and bubble wrap for padding. These packing materials are extremely inexpensive and will protect your fragile items. You can pack your cups and bowls inside of one another to save some space and add extra protection as well.
Besides your kitchen items, remember electronics like your TV and computers will need some additional protection as well. If you can keep these items safe and sound during your move, your bank account will be left unaffected!
Consider Hosting a Garage Sale
While you’re fully focused on packing and moving from one place to another, you might come across a fair number of belongings you no longer use. If this is the case, plan a garage sale a few weeks prior to your move and you’ll be able to earn some extra cash by selling things to your neighbors. You never know when your trash will become someone else’s treasure.
We all want to save a few bucks when we can, and we all want to make a move less stressful if the option is available. Use the tips mentioned above and get prepared for your easiest move yet!
Sam Radbil is the lead writer for ABODO Apartments, an online real estate and apartments marketplace. Their research and writing has been featured nationally in Curbed, Forbes, Realtor.com, HousingWire and more.