(BPT) – Moving brings exciting possibilities of a different neighborhood, fresh spaces to decorate and new family traditions to be made. But it also means leaving behind people and places you love. While some sentimental items can be taken to your new place, many memories just aren’t transportable. That’s why it’s even more important to protect those goods that can make the move.
To help ensure your treasured belongings arrive safely to your new home, be prepared and arm yourself with tools that make safeguarding your possessions simple and less stressful.
Make room for new memories
Although you want to preserve your memories, taking everything with you isn’t necessarily the best decision. Moving is the perfect opportunity to organize and purge items you don’t need or won’t use in your new residence. To lessen the load on moving day, hold a garage sale or donate unwanted items to a local charity. Plus, if you’re trying to sell your current home, the less clutter the better.
Once you’ve determined which objects will make the move, decide where they’ll go in your new place. While some of your belongings are currently in the den, will they be in the spare bedroom now? Make the unpacking process simpler by creating a plan for your new space in advance and pack according to where things will go, not by where they’ve been.
Organize, don’t agonize
Starting the process early can help avoid nerve-wracking, last-minute packing, and give you time to be a bit nostalgic. Before you begin boxing things up, take videos and photos of each room to preserve your memories of that space. Don’t forget to include outdoor areas like a backyard treehouse or handprints in the patio cement.
Then, make a checklist of everything you need to accomplish before moving – packing, cleaning, cancelling and restarting utilities, registering the kids for school – and set a timeline for completing each step. Once you’re ready to start packing, do it methodically, working room by room to make the task seem more manageable. Start with decorative pieces that you can go without for a month or so, keeping items you need daily for last.
Protect delicate possessions
To ensure your belongings arrive safely, it’s essential to pack possessions with extra care. Safeguard breakables with wrapping materials designed to protect fragile goods, such as Duck brand Bubble Wrap cushioning. It features a nylon barrier that prevents air loss, ensuring the bubbles remain filled for the best protection.
Next, pack items in clean, sturdy containers in a variety of sizes. Use large boxes for bulky, yet lighter furnishings, such as pillows and blankets, and place heavier objects in smaller boxes to avoid unnecessary strain. Seal boxes securely with a quality packaging tape, like Duck brand EZ Start packaging tape. Its Frustration Free special release technology means you never lose the tape end (a major frustration when packing numerous boxes), plus it won’t split or tear.
Be sure to label boxes clearly, marking them on the sides of the boxes, not the top. This step makes it obvious what’s inside, even if they’re stacked. You also can use different colored or printed packaging tapes to color code each room – red for the bedroom, blue for the kitchen.
Have help on hand
Moving is hard work, so recruit friends and family to help with packing and unloading on moving day. You’ll love showing off your new place, and it’ll help with the transition to see that loved ones aren’t too far away to make the trip. Just be sure to promise plenty of food and drink as a reward for their hard work.
Put together an “open me first” box with the gear you’ll need immediately, such as tools to assemble furniture, cleaning supplies and shelf liner for drawers, closets and kitchen cabinets. Be sure to include some festive treats, like a favorite dessert, so the family can relax and enjoy your new space.
Moving should be more celebratory than stressful. With just a bit of planning, you can protect the memories you love most, and ensure a successul start to your life in your new home.
