Raise your hand if you’re ready for part TWO of our Moving Blog Series 🙋🏻♀️
This summer, we’re guiding you through one of life’s most stressful moments- MOVING. Each month on the blog, we’re breaking down a different part of the moving process to make your move way less stressful—and a whole lot more efficient and exciting!
In case you missed it, last month on the blog, we gave you 7 tips to prepare for your move (you can read that one here). This month, we’re serving up essential moving day tips and product recommendations you won’t want to skip out on!
MOVING DAY TIPS
On the day of your move, your movers will be your HEROS. Hire a team you trust (shout out to our faves - West Side Movers) to help you close out one chapter and begin the next. Coordinate the best timeline with the movers - be ready for when they plan to arrive, know how long packing will take, and plan ahead if someone will need to be present to accept items at your new location (delegate to a partner, roommate, or friend if you have to). If you have littles (human or furry), plan a playdate (or better yet, a sleepover) so you can focus on overseeing the move, get a little settled in, and know your loved ones are occupied, safe, and entertained.
A few more tips for your moving day:
Make a plan for your food: Choose a restaurant to place a take out order or plan a food delivery so you don’t get hangry.
Have water and snacks for your movers: They are working hard for you and you don't want anyone to pass out on your watch.
CHARGE YOUR PHONE + HAVE YOUR RINGER ON: The night before your move, plug that phone in! Moving day is not the day that you want your phone to die. Especially if you have other vendors coming and going, you need to be reachable. Have a portable charger on hand too, just to be extra prepared.
Make sure your survival kit is packed and set it aside so your movers don't accidentally take it. Included in that bag should be important personal documents, your passports, social security cards, and your new lease, etc. Read last month’s blog for what else to pack in here!
Cash on hand to tip your movers: They’re working their butts off for you. While tips are never expected, they are always appreciated!
BEFORE MOVING DAY MUST-HAVES
While the majority of our recommendations are for moving day, there are a few life-saver products we love to use when prepping for a move:
Small hole repair kit: this is a must-have as you prepare to leave your old home. Fill in those small nail holes with one easy to use tool.
Magic eraser: we think this is an item you should have ALL the time but especially when you’re leaving an old apartment. Get that security deposit back!
Touch-up paint container: This is a quick and easy way to make sure any blemishes on your walls blend right back in.
Tool kit: When you’re disassembling furniture and removing hardware to prepare for your move, having the right tools on hand is imperative.
MOVING DAY GO-TOs
Your movers will bring the basics—boxes, paper, bubble wrap, and blankets—but we recommend grabbing a few extras to take your move to the next (streamlined) level:
Moving labels: A quick, easy, and READABLE way to immediately know which box goes to which room on the other end of your move.
Colored tape: Similar to moving labels, colored tape on each box can be a suuuper easy visual for the movers to know which boxes go to which room. Create a color-coded system so each room has a color and simply label the boxes by adding a large strip of colored tape on each box. This can save up to a minute per box since your movers won’t have to inspect every side for an illegible scribble to figure out where it goes. When you have 100 boxes, that’s a LOT of time saved!
Sage Widsom: If you want to get on a professional organizer level, match your moving labels and your colored tape to coordinate. Print out paper with big block letters (in the proper color!) and label the door of each room. If you’re feeling suuper extra, create a key or a guide and place it right by the home’s entry point for additional ease. Efficiency is key, people!
Moving bags: These serve as a quick and easy way to pack anything from clothes and shoes to pantry and kitchen items. A great catch-all if you don’t have suitcases or boxes to spare!
XL Ziplock bags: These are great to contain small items. Toss remotes, pens, small toys and other little things to keep them from spilling everywhere. Don’t forget to label the bag so you know which remote goes where.
Sharpies: While we still suggest colored tape and room labels, sharpies are a great way to specifically label the contents of the boxes so you can prioritize your unpacking. Sharpies are also great to label the small items that end up in the Ziplock bags.
Stretch wrap: Especially if you are DIY-ing your move, stretch wrap will be your best friend when it comes to keeping artwork together and getting those moving blankets to stay put on your furniture.
Mattress bag: Get a mattress bag. You don’t know what was in that moving truck before you. Do yourself a favor and keep it clean and protected. Enough said.
We hope this blog leaves you feeling prepared to take on your next move with confidence and ease! And, don’t forget to check out our Amazon Storefront for all the products you see here, as well as our favorite home organizing products! Stay tuned for our next and final blog in our moving series - Post-Move Strategies.
Still overwhelmed at the thought of moving?
Let us help! We’ve got you covered from start to finish.