Non-Packing Moving Essentials

By Kaitlin Hurtado on November 13, 2017

When thinking of moving essentials, you may often think of packing supplies — the typical hoarding of cardboard boxes, packing tape, and old newspapers. However, moving is a process that is more than just packing and requires more than your typical packing supplies.

Be prepared for your next move by checking these moving essentials off your checklist.

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Transportation

You may have all of your belongings packed and organized just as you planned, but when it comes down to it, one of the most important things in the moving process is being able to move your belongings from point A to point B. If you’re lucky, you have your own car at your disposal to make multiple, yet easy trips from your last living space to your new one if they are close in distance.

However, this isn’t always the case. While students are able to afford their own cars, many do not have big enough cars to carry all of their belongings conveniently. An item may not fit — your desk may be too long to fit in your car, or your mattress may not make the cut this time.

Instead of unnecessarily damaging your belongings by trying to cram them into a space they cannot fit in, try other methods to transport your belongings on your move. Rent a car, like a U-Haul rental, that allows you to use a bigger, reliable car for as long a time as you need/choose. Renting a bigger car will also allow you to make fewer trips, which has a better effect if there is a long distance that you need to move your belongings.

If you do not have the financial means to pay for a rental car, try asking your friends or family to see if you could borrow their larger car for your move. You may think that it’s asking too much, but you would be surprised at how friends or family would be willing to help if you reached out nicely (and of course, make sure nothing happens to their car and pay for gas used during your moving process).

Help from friends and family

Asking your friends and/or family for help in the moving process will make it all the easier. It helps lessen the amount of physical labor you have to do and makes the process more fun if you have someone to talk to.

Think ahead of time of people that would not only say yes to helping you out but also would be reliable when it comes to the move. You could have a line-up of friends that are ready to help you, but it can fail when you choose unreliable friends that tend to be flaky and regularly skip on casual dinners with you. Likewise, try to respect your friends’ or family members’ time by asking them for help ahead of time and giving them a set day and time period to plan for.

Try your best to stick to the planned day and time in order to respect their time and not keep them longer than they are able to help.

While they may not accept monetary rewards for their time and help, try to invite them over to dinner as a way to thank them for their time.

A plan

Having a checklist or a plan to go by during your moving process can make all the difference when it comes to minimizing the amount of stress that moving can put you under. Start with the typical checklist you would expect to have when moving, and start with the type of moving supplies you’ll need — boxes, tape, labels, old newspapers to help protect more fragile belongings.

Move onto a more broad plan. Figure out what you could take to your next moving place, what you could/should send to storage, or what you want to get rid of before you move. Give yourself a planned period where you pack, move, and unpack. If you know you have busy days ahead full of school and work, set aside time each day to get packing done little by little.

The actual moving process should be planned to avoid unnecessary trips and wasted time. If you are making multiple trips, whether it be to the car or to your new living space, plan them out to maximize each one. Figure out how you can take multiple boxes at a time (rent or invest in buying your own moving cart) or figure out how you can arrange your belongings to make the most of the space that your car offers to decrease the number of trips you make.

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