Moving Tips in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia Area

In need of moving tips?  Well, you’ve come to the right place.  The better organized you are, the smoother and less stressful your move will be. And remember, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Now is a good time to utilize your great note taking skills or better yet, put your smartphone to work. By doing the little things now, you will thank yourself later. STOP! Before packing, create an easy record keeping system. Create a computer-printed list of numbers with a space to write the contents. Or have a spiral-bound notebook for the job. You’ll place a number on EVERY box you pack and list the contents on your list. Don’t put the list down unless it’s in a place you’ll call.

Create a Packing Central. This is the place to find your labels, marking pens, box tape, and other supplies. When describing the box contents, be specific  “A-D files” is better than “files”, and “Tulip dishes” rather than “misc. kitchen”.

These boxes are tall and perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters, pillows, and blankets, as well as clothes that need to remain hanging. Call your mover to ask the width of the wardrobe boxes they’ll be bringing. Then measure the clothes in your closets (including coat closets) to see how many wardrobe boxes you’ll need. You can also use them for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes, and other bulky items such as fabric bolts, large baskets, or gift wrap tubes.

Note: Don’t make the boxes too heavy, or they will be difficult to lift!

Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for kitchen, orange for the dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the box number. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room of your new home. The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the destination. It’s also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, (“Boxes here please”) to keep them out of furniture and traffic areas.

Notify your movers to keep order when packing boxes. Keep bookends with books, light bulbs with lamps, and extension cords with appliances. Small, loose parts can be attached to the item they belong to with tape or placed in small envelopes — to keep picture hooks with pictures, shelf brackets with a bookcase, a special wrench, and bolts with the wall unit. Keep larger corresponding items (such as a cable TV cord) in resealable bags, and tape these to the underside or back of the item. As a backup, have a “Parts Box” open on the kitchen counter and fill it with cables, cords, parts, pieces, brackets, or nails that are removed from any items of furniture. Keep this box with you, or mark it well with a rainbow of colored stickers so it can be easily located on move-in day.

As a rule of thumb: anything you can pack ahead will save you time on moving day. If it’s summer, get your winter clothes out of the way.  Box up your shampoo and extra toothpaste and live out of a travel cosmetic case for the last week or two. Pare down cooking utensils and food supplies to bare essentials. Wastebaskets can also be packed (put things in them!) while you switch to using plastic grocery bags (hang them on a cabinet door or door handle to collect trash.)

Whoever thought of this is.. a genius! Fill luggage and duffle bags with clothing, sheets, towels, and paper goods.

Even for local moves, you’ll be able to quickly spot your navy suitcase holding your favorite sweaters. This may be easier to get to things you need right away opposed to searching through countless boxes.

Last, but certainly not least, important papers should not be transported by movers. Always keep them with you. Important papers may consists of: birth certificates, school records,  moving estimates, new job contacts, utility company numbers, recent bank records, current bills, phone lists, closing papers, realtor info, maps, and more.