Moving from one home to another is both a time of great excitement and great stress. Storage 2U is here to help make your moving experience as smooth as possible.
A smooth moving process begins with a good plan that starts before the boxes arrive. Here are some moving and packing tips that will help to ensure that your move goes off without a hitch.
Getting Ready
- Designate one drawer or a dresser for first-night essentials (sheets, towels, toiletries, plates). Load this last, unload it first.
- Reduce your load by having a garage sale beforehand. Consider the cost of shipping vs the cost of replacement for cross-country moves.
- Pack seldom-used or out-of-season items ahead of time
- Notify friends & relatives of your move. Start submitting change-of-address forms to the post office.
- If you have kids, arrange all documents for changing kid’s schools
- Gather all important personal, insurance, medical and dental documents
- Arrange disconnect and reconnect of utilities, internet and other services such as cable t.v.
- Transfer banking (savings accounts, personal loans) to the new location
- Return any borrowed or rented items, such as library books
Packing
- Keep your pets out of the way (at a friends house) during loading
- pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in larger boxes (to keep weights more consistent)
- Remove bulbs from lamps
- Put pictures in boxes between sheets, blankets or towels for extra protection
- Stack plates and record albums on end vertically, not flat and stacked
- Have kids label their own room’s boxes so they become familiar with the new address
Finishing Off
- Clean all appliances, including the oven. Defrost the fridge
- Before the van leaves for your destination, give the driver a phone number where you can be reached (If you don’t have a cellphone, this is a good time to get one with a pay-as-you-go plan)
- Write down your move Registration Number in case you have any questions.
- After cleaning your refrigerator, put a half-cup of coffee grinds, baking soda or charcoal in a sock to keep it smelling fresh.
- Wrap plants well for cold-weather moving (layers of cleaner bags are great). In hot weather, keep them away from windows and exterior walls of vans.
- Check all shelves, closets, and storage areas for items left behind
For more answers about portable storage units, see our FAQ.