(Tips from the World's Fastest House Packer)
Being a house flipper, I have packed more houses to move in the last 10 years than some people pack in a lifetime! House flippers who live in the houses they are flipping should be experts at packing -- after all, they move every one to two years. And when a house you're living in sells and you have to be out in 21 days, you gotta get it done! Below is my tried and true perfected-over-the-years process.
Enjoy (or work hard, should I say?)!
Enjoy (or work hard, should I say?)!
If you have an inkling you're gonna be moving (and if your house is for sale, I'd say you do), there are a few supplies you need to collect in advance. Start the day you list your house and you'll be ready to go when you sign on the dotted line!
Supplies Needed
1. Collect Boxes. Collect boxes from anywhere if they are the right size. None too big; none two small is my rule of thumb. But use boxes that you can lift easily by yourself when they are full packed. You can never have too many boxes. I find that there is always something to pack at the last minute (usually my husband's garage stuff), and better to have too many than to run out and try and find them on moving day. If you work in an office or can ask a friend who does, try to get your hands on printer paper boxes. Maybe you could ask them to save the boxes for you in advance! Offices go through lots of printer paper, and they are my favorite packing boxes -- just the right size and many have a lid on the top! If you don't have access to these, all the big box and grocery stores will save them for you if you just ask! They break them down, making them easier to transport, and then you just retape them together when you're ready to get started.
2. Purchase packing tape. I usually go through five or so rolls at least when I move. Invest in the kind that has a toothed cutting piece; having to pull tape and then cut it with scissors every time you pack a box takes way too much time.
3. Go to your local newspaper and ask for remnant rolls of newspaper print. This is hands-down my greatest tip for packing. They are glad to give you remnants they can no longer run through the machines but, trust me, there is plenty left on the roll. And you don't have to dirty your hands with printed newspapers OR try to remember to save the Sunday papers.
4. Labels to mark each box OR a couple of black Sharpies (I usually just mark the contents directly on the box).
5. Large see-through plastic garbage bags.
6. Several of the large see-through Rubbermaid containers with lids (1 for each bathroom).
Supplies Needed
1. Collect Boxes. Collect boxes from anywhere if they are the right size. None too big; none two small is my rule of thumb. But use boxes that you can lift easily by yourself when they are full packed. You can never have too many boxes. I find that there is always something to pack at the last minute (usually my husband's garage stuff), and better to have too many than to run out and try and find them on moving day. If you work in an office or can ask a friend who does, try to get your hands on printer paper boxes. Maybe you could ask them to save the boxes for you in advance! Offices go through lots of printer paper, and they are my favorite packing boxes -- just the right size and many have a lid on the top! If you don't have access to these, all the big box and grocery stores will save them for you if you just ask! They break them down, making them easier to transport, and then you just retape them together when you're ready to get started.
2. Purchase packing tape. I usually go through five or so rolls at least when I move. Invest in the kind that has a toothed cutting piece; having to pull tape and then cut it with scissors every time you pack a box takes way too much time.
3. Go to your local newspaper and ask for remnant rolls of newspaper print. This is hands-down my greatest tip for packing. They are glad to give you remnants they can no longer run through the machines but, trust me, there is plenty left on the roll. And you don't have to dirty your hands with printed newspapers OR try to remember to save the Sunday papers.
4. Labels to mark each box OR a couple of black Sharpies (I usually just mark the contents directly on the box).
5. Large see-through plastic garbage bags.
6. Several of the large see-through Rubbermaid containers with lids (1 for each bathroom).
Let's Get Started Packing!
DAYS 1 & 2 Start in the Kitchen and Dining Room. I always start in the kitchen because the kitchen has SO MUCH STUFF TO PACK AND IT IS BY FAR GONNA TAKE THE MOST TIME! Here is a step-by-step process of how I pack up every kitchen:
DAYS 1 & 2 Start in the Kitchen and Dining Room. I always start in the kitchen because the kitchen has SO MUCH STUFF TO PACK AND IT IS BY FAR GONNA TAKE THE MOST TIME! Here is a step-by-step process of how I pack up every kitchen:
- Start with all the things you don't use every day but maybe just seasonally -- the Thanksgiving turkey roaster...your Christmas dishes...you get it!
- I then go to Rubbermaid and Tupperware pieces that I use, but I put all these into large, clear garbage bags, leaving them open so if I have to pull something out to use, it's easy to find!
- I move to EXTRA sets of things...the second or third set of dishes...the many glasses you've collected but don't drink out of every day. Keep a couple of your favorite wine glasses out, though, 'cause you'll probably need those!
- As I move closer to moving day, I begin to do what I call "half-pack." I line smaller boxes with clean dishtowels and go ahead and set my cutlery, my kitchen tools, etc., into the box and leave the lid open. Then when I need something, I pull it out, use it, wash it, and put it back. Then the day before moving day (when you are surely not gonna cook), tape it up, label it, and you are good to go! When I get to the new place and start to unpack, those items don't have to be washed because they're tucked in nice and clean with clean dish towels. Genius!
- You can also do the same thing with pots and pans. Place them into large boxes and leave the top open so you can use as needed, wash, and put back.
- By the time you near the end of DAY 2, you should only have the absolutely necessary items left in the kitchen that you need to survive till moving day.
- If you want to avoid have broken glass when you arrive, be sure to pack securely. There is plenty of wrapping paper and you can always get more if you run out. I usually wad large pieces up in the bottom of the box, then wrap each piece individually, and put them carefully in the box, making sure you stuff extra paper in between and on the the top before sealing and labeling....which brings me to a very important part of the packing event..
Be sure you label absolutely every box, and label it well! There is nothing worse than getting to the new place, needing something and not knowing where the heck it is! This way, you'll know exactly where the toaster or the heating pad is! (Bonus: Your husband will be totally impressed, especially since he might need that heating pad after a day of moving!) Here's an example of the fanatical way I label boxes -- I am very specific ::
Kitchen (always put the name of room where box goes)
Crystal Cake Plate
Silver Pie and Cake Servers
Crystal Salt & Pepper
White Sugar & Creamer
*Save a good box for putting in refrigerated food and frozen items on moving day. It is probably the very last thing you'll do before the truck pulls out!
DAY 3 Next, Books and Electronics. It's about this time that I start to pack every single book in the house that I can round up. I pack all these into boxes together, so that when I finally get ready to unpack, I'll know that all my books are safe and tidy in one place. Sometimes, it's months into the move before I unpack books! But books will wait! Also, small electronics like phone charges that you won't need, extra telephones, etc.
DAY 3 Move to the Linen Closets. This is another area where you can go ahead and pack the many sets of sheets, extra blankets, pillows, and comforters that you are not using at the time. Load up those clear plastic garbage bags and when you get to the new place, you'll be able to see exactly where all your linens are, and they are clean and ready to put away! Don't skimp on the bags, however. Moving is dirty work and if they are tossed about, they could break, so get sturdy well-made bags.
DAY 4 Move to the Bathrooms. These are rooms where you can put all the daily toiletries and necessities of getting ready in the morning into the large Rubbermaid containers. You can see everything that is in there, pull out what you need, and put it back in! On moving day, pop the lid on, and you're good to go! Put all extra towels (leave out what you need for bathing) into the large clear garbage bags and tie up -- once again, clean and ready to use when you get there! Pull down all shower curtains, clean them, and pack them away. Leave the liner only and discard on moving day or throw into the Rubbermaid container.
DAY 5 Tackle the Living Room/Den. Once again, you can pack away all the what-nots, DVDs, and various other paraphernalia that you might have decorating the living room shelves, etc., because this is stuff you can live without for awhile (you might wanna pick out your fav-o-rite DVD to watch the night before moving day with that glass of Riesling!). I have several large pieces of art made by my daughter that I VERY CAREFULLY move from house to house, but I even pack smaller pictures into boxes. Pictures are items I don't go room-by-room, I just go around collecting all the pictures and pack them up together, because after all you will put them in entirely different places at the new place!
DAY 6 The Bedrooms. By this time, you should have all the linens packed up, saving just what you have on the bed for the last-minute on moving day. If you need clean sheets, take those off, wash them, and put them back on! Pack any remaining decorative small items from the bedroom and any clothes that can be packed up, I pack! I absolutely hate moving clothes on hangers, so what's left, I let my husband move those! Any clothes in drawers of dressers, I just leave them in there and carefully cover them with clean towels, which will protect them on moving day if the drawers are removed.
DAY 7 You're Almost There! Day 7 is what I call up a tying-up-loose-ends day and ideally should fall on the day before moving day. This is the day you finish throwing those final things into clear garbage bags, closing boxes that have been standing open and labeling them, cleaning out the fridge, and throwing out things you won't be taking with you. You'll be gathering up garbage, throwing things out, and rounding up Goodwill items you've been collecting up during the week. Remember that item your Great Aunt Suzy gave you for Christmas three years ago that you've never used and never will use? Start a "give away" box and give it away!
DAY 3 Move to the Linen Closets. This is another area where you can go ahead and pack the many sets of sheets, extra blankets, pillows, and comforters that you are not using at the time. Load up those clear plastic garbage bags and when you get to the new place, you'll be able to see exactly where all your linens are, and they are clean and ready to put away! Don't skimp on the bags, however. Moving is dirty work and if they are tossed about, they could break, so get sturdy well-made bags.
DAY 4 Move to the Bathrooms. These are rooms where you can put all the daily toiletries and necessities of getting ready in the morning into the large Rubbermaid containers. You can see everything that is in there, pull out what you need, and put it back in! On moving day, pop the lid on, and you're good to go! Put all extra towels (leave out what you need for bathing) into the large clear garbage bags and tie up -- once again, clean and ready to use when you get there! Pull down all shower curtains, clean them, and pack them away. Leave the liner only and discard on moving day or throw into the Rubbermaid container.
DAY 5 Tackle the Living Room/Den. Once again, you can pack away all the what-nots, DVDs, and various other paraphernalia that you might have decorating the living room shelves, etc., because this is stuff you can live without for awhile (you might wanna pick out your fav-o-rite DVD to watch the night before moving day with that glass of Riesling!). I have several large pieces of art made by my daughter that I VERY CAREFULLY move from house to house, but I even pack smaller pictures into boxes. Pictures are items I don't go room-by-room, I just go around collecting all the pictures and pack them up together, because after all you will put them in entirely different places at the new place!
DAY 6 The Bedrooms. By this time, you should have all the linens packed up, saving just what you have on the bed for the last-minute on moving day. If you need clean sheets, take those off, wash them, and put them back on! Pack any remaining decorative small items from the bedroom and any clothes that can be packed up, I pack! I absolutely hate moving clothes on hangers, so what's left, I let my husband move those! Any clothes in drawers of dressers, I just leave them in there and carefully cover them with clean towels, which will protect them on moving day if the drawers are removed.
DAY 7 You're Almost There! Day 7 is what I call up a tying-up-loose-ends day and ideally should fall on the day before moving day. This is the day you finish throwing those final things into clear garbage bags, closing boxes that have been standing open and labeling them, cleaning out the fridge, and throwing out things you won't be taking with you. You'll be gathering up garbage, throwing things out, and rounding up Goodwill items you've been collecting up during the week. Remember that item your Great Aunt Suzy gave you for Christmas three years ago that you've never used and never will use? Start a "give away" box and give it away!
Seven Final Tips for this Daunting Task 'Packing in One Week':
1. Get started as early as possible...don't procrastinate...you'll be so glad you did! And get enough rest -- it makes all the difference!
2. Don't skimp on packing paper, especially with your breakables!
3. Label, label, label everything!
4. Don't buy extra groceries, toiletries, supplies etc. the last two weeks before moving day -- you'll just have to pack it and re-transport it. Wait till you get where you're going to shop!
5. Sometimes I do pack like items together (like the books), instead of separating everything by room. That seems to work a bit better for me. Then, when I get ready to decorate a room, say, I know all my little ceramic birds are in one box.
7. Pack an overnight suitcase filled with all the things you will need for a couple of days. Have every family member do the same, just like they're headed out for an overnighter. That way, when you get to the new place, you can catch a shower and get dressed for that wonderful dinner your husband's gonna take you to without unpacking the first box!
***
Happy Packing, Happy Moving, and Good Luck!!
1. Get started as early as possible...don't procrastinate...you'll be so glad you did! And get enough rest -- it makes all the difference!
2. Don't skimp on packing paper, especially with your breakables!
3. Label, label, label everything!
4. Don't buy extra groceries, toiletries, supplies etc. the last two weeks before moving day -- you'll just have to pack it and re-transport it. Wait till you get where you're going to shop!
5. Sometimes I do pack like items together (like the books), instead of separating everything by room. That seems to work a bit better for me. Then, when I get ready to decorate a room, say, I know all my little ceramic birds are in one box.
7. Pack an overnight suitcase filled with all the things you will need for a couple of days. Have every family member do the same, just like they're headed out for an overnighter. That way, when you get to the new place, you can catch a shower and get dressed for that wonderful dinner your husband's gonna take you to without unpacking the first box!
***
Happy Packing, Happy Moving, and Good Luck!!