When it comes to packing up an entire house or apartment, it’s best to start early. We’ve always said planning the move a month prior is the most important aspect of any move. This will allow you to get moving boxes early on and start packing items weeks beforehand.
Packing up seasonal clothes, holiday decorations, and little-used kitchenware in the weeks leading up to the move saves stress and allows more focus on the job at hand. You can even use this time to figure out what can be donated or sold and what can be kept. Instead of freaking out, you can move at a leisurely pace.
Unless, of course, you have no choice but to freak out.
Moving with no time to spare
Just get a dream job hundreds of miles away, but you need to be there in a week? Or maybe you need to move closer to home because of a family illness. Or any number of reasons you need to move and move fast. Once the shock of such news wears off, it’s hard to stay focused on just one thing.
With moving day fast approaching, you need to act fast, but with purpose. Along with packing everything up, you need to cancel services, have mail forwarded to the new address, and let friends and family know you’re on your way out.
If you’re renting, you’ll have to give them notice. If you own a home, you’ll need to find a realtor that can work independently and efficiently to get a quick sale. And you’ll need to find a place to live in your new town, too. Don’t forget about finding schools for the kids, vets for the pets, and doctors for the family.
Don’t Think, Just Move
With so much to do, it’s understandable to suffer from “paralysis by analysis.” Ideally, you’d have the time to organize your belongings before packing – but this isn’t an ideal situation. Although there’s no particular order, here are some packing tips for saving time during a last-minute move:
Purge – Find the stuff you must keep and get rid of everything else. If you have large items to donate (think couch, dining room table, garden tools, etc.) find a friend with a truck to help take these items to Goodwill or post on social media as free. People LOVE the word free and they’ll even come and get it.
Clothes are easier to jettison. Put the stuff you want to get rid of in a garbage bag and find the nearest donation box. Please remember to tie the bag up and make sure the clothes are usable. Nobody wants to deal with a bunch of ratty clothes all over the place.
The kitchen packed with food? Food banks are always happy to take dry goods that are unopened and non-perishable. Animal shelters will also take that half bag of dog food off your hands, too. Perishable foods can be added to your plastic bin of yard debris.
Combine Items – You certainly want to be careful with fragile items such as plates, glass, or heirlooms. You can buy boxes specially made for dishware, but if you don’t have time, use the remaining clothes to help keep them safe. Towels, t-shirts, sweaters, etc. will work fine and you can save money on packing supplies.
Keep remaining clothes in the dresser drawers and wrap them with plastic wrap. Or, if possible, keep the dresser intact and move it that way. Put clothes hanging in the closet in a large garbage bag by tying the bag closed at the hangers.
Essentials – When you get to your destination, you’ll probably want a fresh outfit and toiletries. Pack like you’re going on a three-day holiday – toothbrush, medications, and the like. You’ll want this stuff handy for the first day or two as you sort everything out.
The packing process is time-consuming, even if you have weeks to prepare. With only a few days, you can’t worry about everything being just right. You’ll have plenty of time to go through everything once you’re settled in. Or, you can just go with the pros.
Do It Fast, Do It Right
The fastest way to pack the house and vamoose? Hiring a professional moving company to take care of everything. Smooth Move People have been moving apartments, townhomes, and 4-bedroom homes for decades and our experience will help save you a lot of time.
Whether it’s across town or across the state, we offer the best moving rates in Oregon – guaranteed. Mostly because Oregon law won’t allow us to go any cheaper! So feel free to shop around and then schedule a move with us. Our professional packers are fast, safe, and will give you time to take care of other matters.
