Did you know that one in five households move to a new place every year? If you’re planning to settle down in a brand new home, you might be curious about when is the best time to do so.
Peak moving season is typically described as the time between the months of June and August but can begin as early as April or end in late October. This timeframe is usually when college students are moving out of their dorms and apartments and potentially finding new ones. Additionally, many families with K-12-aged children want to make sure they’re fully settled in and familiar with the area by the time the new school year starts.
The spring through fall seasons makes for a much better time to move than the winter and holiday season. Who wants to stress about major holidays and family gatherings in addition to moving or looking for long term storage?
Moving is not going to be easy, but it doesn’t need to be a miserable time either. So many things need to be accounted for during the moving process, whether it’s hiring movers, making lists, planning ahead for utilities or schools, and closing on your house. Getting a plan in place has worked wonders for a lot of people when it comes to leaving your old home and settling into the new one. By avoiding these common moving mistakes and planning ahead, you can prepare better for the unexpected and make things run more smoothly.
At Ample Storage, we’ve been helping Northern Nevadans store their valuables since 1987 and have considered your convenience and security first. This also applies to the packing process too, because we’ve been around long enough to know what works and what doesn’t!
To avoid copious amounts of stress, start packing up to a month before the move. The more you pack up ahead of the date, the easier it’ll be for you to take care of other moving details and tasks as your deadline approaches. Start by packing one room at a time, and beginning with the rooms you use the least until you get to the high-trafficked parts of your home.
Before the big move, stock up on supplies such as box cutters, permanent markers, packing tape, paper towels, and garbage bags. This will help you stay organized and make sure your items are packed securely.
Other helpful equipment to look into includes moving blankets, straps and dollies to make lifting and shifting furniture easier. Be sure to clear a path to the door and put protective covering on the walls and flooring as an easy way to prevent dents and dings.
Don’t overpack boxes, but make sure to prevent any large spaces if items still can fit. If a cushion is needed to protect valuables, using towels, cloths and even articles of clothing can work to fill up those spaces.
When packing, try to keep your items together. It’s much easier when unpacking if you keep all kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom essentials together. Be sure to either label or color code the boxes to note what rooms the items are for.
Works of art are a common and tricky thing to pack. Our experts suggest making an X with masking tape across the glass to not only strengthen and reinforce it, but also hold it together if it potentially shatters. Wrap the pictures in bubble wrap or paper and put them in a frame box, which is a special moving box with a piece of cardboard between each frame for a cushion. Another tip to keep in mind is to make sure not to wrap oil paintings in regular paper as it’ll stick together and smudge.
If you’re not working with a team of movers, getting a moving truck with a ramp is a must. Even if renting a truck without one seems like the cheapest option, the struggle with getting all the furniture up and in the truck can add hours of backbreaking labor to your move.
Many people feel that the most challenging part of the packing process is deciding what to keep or throw out. If it has been a prolonged period of time since you used something that can be an indicator that it might be time to sell or donate it. Be sure to ask yourself if a piece of furniture that’s on the larger side is also something that is worth moving to a new house, too.
One of the more important tips on packing is being able to detach yourself from any emotions or sentimental value when deciding to keep or toss an item. A popular option to get rid of things is to host a moving sale, and it’s an easy way to make money for items that are still in excellent condition.
With packing taking up so much time, a moving sale may not be feasible. Instead, another time saving option is to donate your items to places such as Goodwill or other thrift stores that take furniture and/or clothing. The local library may also be interested in any old books in excellent condition, too!
Here are some additional tips on moving:
Don’t empty any dresser drawers, but instead tape them shut as a way to cut down on boxes used
Use pots to hold smaller items and wrap them in paper or bubble wrap depending on the fragility
Buy the same sizes of boxes to make loading the moving truck much easier
Keep valuables separate by packing them in different boxes and treating them with additional care
Book any necessary moving services mid week as that tends to be the time of less expensive offers
Wrapping up your couch in shrink wrap can help protect the leather from scuffs, holes, and scratches when loaded into the moving truck and packed tightly against everything else
Pack furniture tighter than you think it needs, especially pieces with spindly or fragile legs
Have suitcases or travel bags? They can store whatever’s on your shelves, in addition to any clothing or accessories
Keep hydrated during the move and don’t overexert yourself
Make an “open first” box to have when you get to your new place
Set up internet and utilities before the move
Keep clothes on their hangers
Always remember to lift boxes and furniture close to your body, and to lift with your knees, not your back
The process goes much faster when the whole family helps
Ample Storage is Here to Help
Downsizing when moving is important, and if you’re looking to move some items into storage until you’re ready to use them at your new home, consider using our storage services to keep them safe. Ample Storage has a variety of storage unit sizes with sizes ranging from 5x5 and 20x20.
Free up space in the moving truck and get organized today. Our team looks forward to being a part of your new journey!
