Smooth Moves - Keep on Truckin'

Smooth Moves - Keep on Truckin'

Yesterday,  Do You Have Smooth Moves  gave some tips about planning for moving day. Today, let's talk about how that planning sets out how you pack and label your boxes.


Tools You'll Need
 - Black marking pens

 - Colored labels (large dots or squares in multiple colors).  Use the same ones
    you put onto your " COLOR CODING FOR EACH ROOM IN NEW HOME" that
    you've prepared ahead of time. Now is also a good time to determine a numbering
    scheme for those rooms where there are several, such as bedrooms.

    Under the Bedroom sticker, write 1 in a circle and put the first person's name next to it,
    continuing with each until you have all bedrooms accounted for. For example, number 1
    might be assigned to Master Bedroom, number 2 to Kaitlyn's Bedroom, and so on.

    Bathrooms can also be assigned this way. Do this before you start packing.

 - Packing tape and dispenser (available at stores such as Staples). The dispenser will
    save you from needing to find scissors - and the edge of the tape on the roll.

 - Boxes of varying sizes:

     . Boxes used to ship letter size paper are perfect for books, and boxes that
        originally held bottles of wine are great for packing glasses, especially
       stemware, because they have inserts that allow you to slide your glasses in,
       where the bottles originally were stored. This saves you wrapping every single
       glass in bubble wrap.

       If you ask your local merchants to save some of these for you, and you pick them
       up regularly for a couple of weeks ahead of time, you'll have a good collection
       of free and very useful boxes.

     . Wardrobe boxes - ask your moving company if they have the option to rent
       rather than buy these. They will be slightly less expensive, and you won't have
       to break them down and recycle them or pay to have them carted away. The
       movers will take them back at the end of your moving day or a couple of days
       later, depending on how far away you're moving.

     . Some movers will move things you already have stored in plastic bins, but be
       aware that if they do, they are likely to put packing tape all around these to
       ensure that they don't pop open during the move. If the tape is not removed
       shortly after moving, it can prove hard to take off and may leave a very sticky
       residue. Be sure to ask if your moving company will move plastic bins.

Step 2 - Packing & Labeling

Before you start to fill the box, tape it along the bottom where the edges of the box folds come together. Also run one or two lines of tape from one side of the the box across the bottom and up the other side to reinforce it and ensure that it holds together. Remember: it's much easier to do this when the box is empty!

When you are packing your boxes, you'll want to make sure you label them adequately:
  - Write the name of the room it should be placed in on arrival
  - If it is a room that is one of several, such as bedrooms, place the person's name, e.g.,
    Kaitlyn's Bedroom, on the top and side
  - Place the appropriate color sticker for that room, referring to your Color Coding sheet,
    and put the number for that bedroom on the sticker itself.
  - Add a brief list of what's contained in the box, such as twin bed sheets, blankets, duvet
  - When you close the box, tape it shut where the top box edges come together. This helps
    when movers stack the boxes -  there are no edges to get caught when sliding one box
    on top of another.

When packing, here are a few things to remember:

a) Heavy Items

In general, remember this rule of thumb: the heavier the objects, the smaller the box. Neither you nor the moving staff will want to wrestle with large boxes filled with very heavy items. In addition, if you pack too many heavy items into a larger box, the box may not hold together.

Remember, there is a reason why the smaller boxes that movers provide are generally called "book boxes."


b) Light, Bulky Items

These are the items to put into the very large boxes sold by moving companies and storage places. Quilt, duvets, down coats, pillows, and so on can go into large boxes.


c) Medium Boxes

Medium boxes are best packed with a combination of medium-weight items, such as pots and pans, topped with light weight items, such as measuring cups and spoons, and other utensils. You can use your dish towels and oven mitts to fit around items so they don't rattle around in the box.


d) Un-Pack Me First Boxes

Remember to refer to the lists you made for these boxes. Label this box, and place items into it as you come to them. This should be one of the last boxes you close up.

e) Suitcases

Remember that these will go in the trunk of your car, and should contain essential items each family member will need upon arrival. Imagine that the moving truck breaks down and you need to go to a hotel for the night. What would you need with you? Some suggestions are listed below for children - you can translate appropriately for adults.
 - Two changes of clothing appropriate for the weather in the area of the new home
 - Two full sets of underwear, or multiple diapers or pull ups
 - Pajamas and robe
 - Slippers
 - Socks and shoes
 - A bathing suit if there's a pool or other swimming place
 - Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
 - A couple of favorite books and stuffed animals
 - Anything else essential for your child's peace of mind

You can plan on packing a small suitcase for each child if you have these, or plan on packing all children's items in one suitcase, and all adults in another. Use what you have.

f) Keep in Mind for Backpacks or Small Travel Bags

These can be packed on moving day, or you can each start to keep the items together in your own small bag so the items don't get mislaid or packed into boxes. Some suggestions (obviously, food items will go in at the last minute):

Children's Bags
 - Trip amusement items: books, games, music, journal, etc. in whatever form the child already has.
 - Child "security blanket" items: essential stuffed animal, blanket, pacifiers, small toys, etc.
 - Snack food - items you're ok with the child opening and eating on their own

Adult bag - can have just one for two adults, since one will be driving:
 - Prescription and over-the-counter medications
 - Bandaids
 - Snacks and drinks
 - Small "surprise" items for children if it will be a fairly long drive
 - Diapering essentials
 - Books or personal music and player for the non-driver adult
 - CDs and/or DVDs for playing in car
 - Cell phone chargers for the car and for the new home
 - Digital camera for "travel" photos on the way to the new home
 - Batteries for any electronics taken in the car
 - Two sets of keys to the new home - each adult should have these separately
 - Two sets of keys to the car(s) - each adult should have these separately


The next post will be about moving day - and moving in - with maximum ease.


Photo Credit: Moving Boxes

Smooth Moves - Keep on Truckin'