simple and effective ways to make life easier amid the chaos generated by a move.
During the last year, I moved three times, including once to go to a very distant city. Whenever I had to make my cards and prepare for the move, I discovered new ways to simplify things for myself, for example by making lists to help me save time, or by finding simple and effective ways to to make life easier in the middle of the chaos generated by a move.
1. Take all the time you need
As obvious as it may seem, we often forget to take the time necessary to pack our things properly. Make sure you take at least a month to put everything in order. Start selecting what you can and can not take with you, without changing your habits in the first days.
2. Compare the rates of different moving companies
In many countries, there are sites that help you to quantify your move before you even start it. You will usually be asked for the approximate number of boxes, furniture, appliances and suitcases that you will need to put in the truck. In this way, they can estimate the size of the vehicle you need, and give you the price closest to reality. This will not only help you save money, but also re-evaluate some items that may not be so necessary.
3. Learn more about the world of cardboard
You do not have to be an expert in removals, but if you have to buy cartons, it may be good to know that they are usually sold in standard sizes, and some just have a coat of paper. cardboard, and others two (they are a little more expensive, but more resistant). There are square, rectangular, low and high cartons, so before you go buy them, analyze what you could put in them, and whether it will be easy to wear them. Remember that as your "cartoning", you will also stack them so they do not get in your way.
4. Sell or donate what you do not really need
After you have an idea of how much you will have to pay for your move, it will be time to ask yourself if it is really worth keeping everything you brought with you. In my case, I am generally the rule of six months: if I have not used such object or clothing during this period, it is because I do not really need it, and so I can get rid without problem. You will be amazed at all the things you have in your cupboards that do not serve you. And I'm not just talking about clothes, but documents, magazines, and other things that you may not remember even if they were at home.
5. Make lists of what each carton contains
As you review everything you have at home, you can start sorting out what you will bring with you or not. For example, you can cardboard some things that will not serve you until the move, (that's what I did the first time I moved). What I've learned to do in the meantime is to list what's in each box, and give them a number. If for some reason you realize that you need this or that object before the move, you will quickly find them. Same if a cardboard is unfortunately lost during the move, this list will allow you to know exactly what objects were lost, and in what cardboard they were.
6. The trick to properly assemble and close your cartons
The idea of lifting a cardboard that has just closed and see its contents empty from below is not at all fun, especially when it comes to fragile objects. So before you start filling a carton, make sure to assemble it properly and tape it properly. For the lightest cartons, simply form an "H" on the base, that is to say to tape the two leaves between them, then put an extra band on the edges.
However, for cartons containing heavier objects, I advise you to make an extra "X" over the "H". With this technique, you will not have any bad surprise by raising any cardboard whatever, unless of course not to let it go! To close the cartons, make an "H" on the lid, and do not forget to label them as indicated in the previous paragraph.
7. Analyze the space in your new home
It's not just about knowing what's in your new home (though it's so important), but about where you want your business to go. If you are a creative person, you can even organize everything according to a sketch. This will make things easier when the moving truck arrives at your new address: the unloading will be less stressful, each carton will go immediately to the right room, and you will have nothing to move afterwards.
8. How to make sure all your glasses arrive safe and sound
What has often happened to me, and that I regret, is that between the haste and this obstinacy to keep everything, I have not always protected my dishes as needed, and some of my glasses are frequently arrived in pieces in my new home. One of the movers one day saw the disaster, and gave me some advice so that it does not happen anymore.
First of all, you have to choose a medium sized cardboard to carry this kind of items, because although the glasses are usually light, it's never practical to store too much in the same box.
Cover the inside walls and bottom of the cardboard with bubble wrap, and wrap each glass, plate, or cup individually, either with the same kind of paper or with newspaper. Once you've done this, line up a row of dishes flat on the bottom of the box, and cover it with bubble wrap. On this basis, place another row of plates, and so on until the cardboard is filled.
Do the same with glasses and cups. It may seem tedious, but in this way you will avoid having to buy new dishes when you welcome your friends to your new home.
9. Pack your clothes in the easiest way
Unlike glasses, clothes will not break if you brutalize them a bit. At worst, they will be crumpled. So you can afford not to take too much time to pack them. The easiest way is to put piles of clothes on a sheet or blanket that you are not afraid to dirty (even put your clothes on hangers, as they come out of the closet), then wrap it all with the sheet , and tie a knot with the corners. It will protect them to a minimum, and they will be able to easily go into the moving truck, over cartons. Once at your destination, you can even hang them up immediately after they exit the truck. You may need to iron some, but you will save a lot of time and energy.
10. What to do in case of damage?
Once, when loading my favorite red chair into the moving truck, the movers wrapped it in a blue blanket to protect it. However, during the ride, it rained, water seeped into the truck, and when we removed the cover, my chair ended up with blue spots that I never managed to send . At the moment, between the desire to start putting everything away and fatigue, I ended up paying the movers, and I stayed there, alone with my frustration. However, I later learned that the best thing to do in such a situation is to call customer service and make a claim before the movers still present, to ask for damages.
It has to be done this way, because one of the things you have the movers sign before you leave is a document certifying the service's compliance, which means that you confirm that there is no had no problem regarding the move, and that will then make any claim impossible.
