If you’ve ever moved before, you know the dread of packing up all your things and actually moving them to another home. There are so many little things to think about that it’s easy to just get completely lost in all the tasks. Despite all this upheaval, moving can be very exciting! You are setting off on new adventures and have a chance at a fresh beginning. With so much going on and your irreplaceable possessions at stake, wouldn’t it be amazing if the actual packing and moving went smoothly?
There are some secrets that can help make this a breeze. Unfortunately, we only learn these lessons out of experience after moving a few times before. Even if you are an old hand, there is always more to learn. So, with that in mind, here are some tips for making packing and moving out of your mobile home simple.
Don’t procrastinate!
We all know how easy it is to delay doing things that you don’t want to. This usually happens with packing. It’s all too easy to tell ourselves we simply don’t have time, but maybe tomorrow…
However, starting out early can save you a lot of stress when it comes closer to D-day. This is not a process that you should rush. There is always more to do and almost always one more thing that you overlooked or forgot about.
If you start early, you have some time to plan and to figure out how to approach the big move. You can catalog everything that needs to go, call moving services, and catch your breath to mentally prepare. Then you can work on packing little by little, doing a bit every day.
Sell or give away unneeded or unwanted goods
You’ll no doubt continue to find things throughout most of the process of packing, but you should try to sell or give away things from the very beginning. Scan your home for items that you no longer need or want and put them in a pile to sell or give away. Also, take a minute to consider if there’s anything you won’t have space for in your new home.
Look at your bigger items and ask yourself where you’ll put them and how well they’ll match with your interior. If you can’t really picture an item in the new place, see if you can sell it and buy a new/used piece that will fit better. Think of it as a way to not only start out fresh but to have some spare cash to invest in your new home.
What to sell and what to give away is up to you. There are great online resources for selling second-hand items like eBay. There are also wonderful local charity organizations that you can contact if you want to donate some of it.
Iron out the details
Once you start to get an idea of what you are going to move and when you want them moved, you can begin planning the logistics surrounding moving day. Jot down the items you’ll need moved and try to guess how many boxes you’ll have too. Giving this information to the moving company can help them figure out how many trips are necessary for an accurate quote.
If you do not have a lot of furniture or appliances, you might be able to manage without a professional company. Ask around and see if your friends or family will be willing to help. Don’t forget to see if they’re willing to let you use their cars and trucks. Keep in mind that appliances usually need more than one pair of hands.
Go get some supplies
Before you start packing up, here is a list of the things you should buy:
- Boxes or containers to pack things in. Note: plastic totes with lids are not only stackable but also convenient to access in case you need to get into them quickly.
- Bubble wrap for fragile items. You can also ask your local newspaper if they have old copies to use for wrapping.
- Permanent markers for labeling boxes.
- Labels. (We’ll explain how to use these later.)
- Packing tape.
If you are worried about buying too many boxes, just buy a couple to get started and then so how it goes. You can also often find free discarded boxes outside of shops or warehouses. Try looking on Craigslist as some people will give away their boxes for free after a recent move. If you have the time and you really want to get your packing materials for free, here is a whole list of ideas.
To make your move more environmentally and budget-friendly, don’t forget to use any plastic or wooden containers and suitcases that you already own for packing. You can also wrap breakables in clothing, linen or towels. That way you get them out of the way in one go.
Pack little by little instead of whole rooms
It’s difficult to pack up your entire bedroom or kitchen in one go. It can also be unpractical. Instead, pack your things by categories or types, like packing away breakables together. Figure out beforehand what categories are going to work for you.
Another way of breaking up your packing into tasks is by packing one cupboard or one shelf at a time.
Keep necessary items at hand
Be careful not to pack away things that you’re definitely going to need before you move. Keep these items in their own container that you leave open (i.e. without taping shut) or set aside a cupboard or shelf for them. Here are some things that you should consider packing last:
- Keep a set of cutlery and crockery for every household member.
- Leave some spare sets of linen and towels out.
- Do not pack away all of your clothes. Most of your clothes can easily be transported on their hangers in a car.
- Leave out most of your cosmetic and hygiene products until the end. Also do not pack away your medicine.
- Hold on to any cleaning products you will need.
- If you have children, let them help you decide which toys to leave out and which can be packed away safely.
This means you should start by packing away the things you use least, like ornaments.The same goes for rooms, like a spare bedroom.
Pack items away safely and conveniently
We are always worried about our precious possessions whenever we move, there is just so much that could break or get lost. Here are some tips to get everything to the other side safe and sound:
- Wrap breakables in bubble wrap or another soft material, pack them together and mark as fragile.
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Put heavier items in smaller boxes to make carrying easier
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Tape boxes closed thoroughly.
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Pack heavier items at the bottom and lighter items at the top of boxes.
- When moving furniture, secure loose parts with tape.
- Some upholstery can also easily be damaged. Wrap these in plastic or handle with care.
Here are a few additional tips in case you’re wondering how to pack specific items, like lampshades.
Labeling
As much as we’d like to think that we’ll get everything unpacked right away, that’s often not the case. Here’s where a good labeling system can get you started on the right foot.
Remember those labels you bought? Go ahead and print or handwrite several labels for each room in your new house. Places like the kitchen and bedroom are probably going to need more labels but don’t worry, you can always make more as you need them. Also, make labels for categories of items like clothes, sheets, dishes, etc.
When you’ve finished packing a box of items that need to go to the new kitchen, put a “kitchen” label on it along with the category labels (e.g. cups, utensils, plasticware) that match the contents inside. Your movers will know which room to put the box in. And, when you’re trying to give your thirsty helpers a drink, it’ll be easy to find which box in the kitchen you’re looking for.
Have everything ready for moving day
You do not want to scramble around unnecessarily an hour before you are supposed to move. So, try to have more or less everything packed and ready to move before the movers (or willing friends) come.
Stack your boxes together in one place so that they can be easily moved out. Remember to have fragile items clearly marked so that they can be kept safe.
Ask a friend or family member to help you with the process on the day ahead of time. Tell them what should happen and what should go where so that they can help to check up on everything. It’s a good idea to have at least two people who know the big picture – one at the old house to move things out and one at the new place, moving things in.
Follow these tips to make packing less stressful!
Moving is always a hassle but it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming endeavor we all fear. These tips for living in a mobile home will help you make both moving and packing a lot easier and less stressful. Preparation is the key thing to remember. The more you do beforehand, the smoother it goes later. With that in mind, make sure your new house is move-in ready with these remodeling tips.
