Moving day is just around the corner for many Canadians, and hopefully, it’ll go smoothly for everyone making the change. Moving can be stressful and exhausting; I am very familiar with it, having moved frequently throughout my childhood and teenage years. That is why it is always essential to have a plan and be as simple as possible.
Here are some moving tips that will make the process less tedious and more efficient.
1. Start Early And Notify Friends and Family in Advance
If there’s one thing I have learned, it's to start packing early, no matter what that looks like for you (depending on the size of the apartment or house you live in).
I have had the misfortune of finding myself in situations where either my place was not fully packed when it came time to move, or helping people with the same situation. It takes up too much time to sort things and pack them on the same day of the move. We also find ourselves throwing away more things than we mean to, to get everything over with it.
In the same line of thought, it’s important to notify your friends and family and/or the people who are available to help you, to know that they will be needed that day. IIf you have the means, hire a crew that knows how to handle any furniture or appliances.
2. Sort Items Into 3 Categories: Keep, Donate, Throw Away
Before putting things away in boxes, you should go to every room in your living space to see what you wish to keep, donate or throw away. Sometimes we think we don’t need to do this, but it’s common to always keep things because we think, “What if I need it in the future?”.
However, when it comes down to it, we often own and collect a lot of unnecessary stuff, and it is always best to move to a new place without any extra baggage, like a fresh start. It is proven that decluttering helps with your mental health as well.
3. Pack Smart
When packing the boxes, arrange the items in an organized manner rather than haphazardly. You want to put heavier stuff in smaller boxes and lighter things in bigger boxes, as much as possible. This helps to distribute the weight evenly in the boxes and also prevents any injuries or boxes from falling apart. You also want to maximize the space in the boxes, and in order to make sure it can be transported, lift it to test it out before sealing.
4. Label Your Boxes
This might seem silly to mention, but I’ve seen some people not label their boxes at all. That also happens when you end up packing at the last minute, since there is no time to organize, and you end up putting things wherever they fall.
You also want to be specific with the things you put, for instance, for different parts of the house, you want to specify what it is and not just in what room it goes in. It makes unpacking go faster and easier to find everything. An extra step you can take is to colour-code the different areas accordingly.
5. Make an Essentials Box/Bag
As I mentioned before, moving is exhausting, therefore, we usually don’t do much the same day. That is where the essentials box or bag comes in handy. Put toiletries, chargers, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents in one place for easy access.
6. Get Good Packing Supplies
If you don’t have a crew to help you, you have to make sure to have the right equipment for the move. All the items like boxes, bubble wrap or newspaper, good-quality tape, moving blankets and anything else you would need to protect your household goods.
7. Measure Furniture and Doorways
Before the big day, measure all large items to be moved, as well as the dimensions of new doorways, hallways, stairs, and elevators.
Basically, make sure everything fits properly and will be possible to transport. It can be a real nightmare to get stuck and realize that your item won't fit. Similarly, if you are moving into a building with an elevator, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules regarding moving.
8. Take a Photo of the Electronic Setups
Although the setups are usually quite easy to figure out, at times, it can be confusing. For instance, a desktop or a TV with speakers and other devices. If you're uncertain about how to connect everything, take a picture for future reference.
9. Change Your Address Ahead of Time
For your mail and government official documents, you’ll want to change your address ahead of time. For Canadians, you can change your address through the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency). For everything else, you will have to do it manually and notify them in advance.
10. Leave the Apartment Clean (Try Your Best!)
Perhaps the last thing we want to do after moving day is clean, but if we think about it, I’m sure we would all appreciate moving into a clean home. The new tenants of your old place will appreciate it immensely.
Even if we’re already familiar with many of these tips, it's helpful to have reminders and to stay organized. Striving for efficiency can help reduce stress and prevent a bad day. Good luck to everyone who is moving this year!
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