Storing Households before Moving

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

We all had to pack up and move. No matter whether you were leaving your parents home, moving into a college dorm or becoming a first-time home buyer you’ve had to pack up all your belonging and transport it from one location to another. While you might be tempted to throw everything in a box or bag and go, at one point or another you’ll have to sort through your household goods. Things to keep in mind when storing household goods is that setting up an organization system, no matter how simple, always help.

1. Focus on one room at a time so that you do not get overwhelmed. Sort through your household goods and make a charity or trash pile. According to experts you should try to, “Eliminate as many items as you can by donating to charity and holding a moving sale- it will save you a lot of time in the long run.” If you have a hard time discerning what you should eliminate, the general rule of thumb is that if you have not used an item in the last year or two, unless it’s seasonal or highly sentimental, you most likely would not use it again.

2. Using a color code on your labels. Use red labels for kitchen goods and yellow labels for bathroom goods. Use a marker and write specifics onto the label. For example, use a yellow label for bathroom goods, place the label on a box and place shampoo, soaps, conditioners, and lotion in the box. Write “liquid toiletries” on the box. Now you know that the box is full of bathroom goods and there are liquids stored in the box. This will help in the moving process because you’ll know how to position and handle the boxes during the transportation and moving process.

3. Go through your medicine cabinet and inspect your prescriptions. Some prescription drugs, such as insulin, lose their potency if exposed to heat. Check with your pharmacist before transporting them, or carry all medications with you.

4. Use bubble wrap and packaging peanuts to help secure fragile items before storing them in boxes. Go a step further and secure items; even more by taping items wrapped in bubble wrap to ensure the wrap stays put.

5. Use twist-ties to keep cords to appliances and electronics from getting tangled and causing tripping hazards.

6. Place your items in their boxes, check the labels and secure them with tape. Determine how to position boxes by labels. For example, fragile items or liquids would be packed on top rather than the bottom of a pile, to avoid breaking or mess.

Following these simple tips for storing before you move and you are good to go!