Moving out of state? Get all the stuff done and packed with Movers.com – they have the ultimate guide to help you organize your move.
In his hilarious routine about Stuff, standup comedy legend Geroge Carlin said that your house is just a place for your stuff; "that's all your house is: it's a pile of stuff with a cover on it."
And once you've accumulated too much stuff, you gotta move! You gotta get a bigger house!
That's when you really, truly realize just how much stuff you have, need to pack, and then unpack.
And unless you're super organized, you're bound to run into some problems:
• Do you start packing the small stuff first and then the big stuff?
• Should you pack your kitchen and bathroom stuff in the same box?
• How many boxes do you need for a 2-bedroom apartment full of stuff?
• Is there a guide that tells you how to do this stuff right?
Yes, to the last question. As for the rest, we'll get to that too.
It's all in “Your Guide To Organize A Move” by Movers.com - one of the largest networks of moving companies. You can jump right into it, just visit https://www.movers.com/moving-guides/your-guide-to-organize-a-move.html - or you can stick around and see how many times I use the word "stuff"; I will include the count at the end.)
For those of you who are still with me, here are some fun facts:
• The average US household has around 300,000 things - that's a lot of stuff!
• 54% of Americans say that they are overwhelmed by clutter - that's when you have waaay too much stuff.
• To pack a 2-bedroom apartment full of stuff, you will need, on average, 40 to 60 boxes. (Said I'd answer your questions!)
You're already breaking a sweat, aren't you? Cursing all the stuff to hell and back? But you still want to keep it - you have to keep it!
I get it. Organizing the move and packing all your stuff can be stressful, time-consuming, and, if you're not careful and don't do the planning, a trial-and-error process - and that's the last thing you need.
Which is why it's important to plan and organize this stuff.
To help you do that, Movers.com has compiled a list of must-dos - and if you follow all these steps, you and your stuff will make it to your new home safe and sound, mostly stress-free.
The guide covers the whole process so there's a lot to unpack (pun intended) - which is why I will only cover a few tips in this blog. For the rest, I recommend just checking out the full guide.
First off, you wanna get a moving checklist. You can find printable checklists online - they should have a list of all the important tasks you need to do before, during, and after the move.
You'll stay on track, plus you'll get the satisfaction of marking the tasks as done one by one - everyone loves that!
Next thing you want to do is start prepping early; don't leave it all for the last few days because odds are you're gonna rush it, you're gonna forget stuff, or break stuff, and cause yourself a lot more stress.
The best thing to do is take it slow - break down your preparation into phases. For a mid-sized house, you'll need five to seven days to pack everything.
Wait! Don't start grabbing stuff off the shelves immediately. For one thing, you don't want to spend days surrounded by boxes; and for another, I have some packing tips that you should know.
✔️ Out with the clutter
You don't wanna waste time packing stuff you don't need, don't use, or don't even remember having - so before you start filling up those boxes, declutter! Whatever items you have, you can donate, sell, or just have them removed.
✔️ In with the boxes
While you may have a few boxes laying around, it's best to get all your packing supplies ready before you start packing your stuff. Buy some quality boxes for your high-value items - you can even find boxes made specifically for TVs or clothes. Other stuff you wanna get: bubble wrap, packing paper, and blankets. Make sure you have some extra, just in case.
✔️ Label it!
It can be tempting to just put all your books together - whether they're from the living room or the home office shelf. But, do keep in mind: you will also need to unpack these boxes and put all those books where they need to go - which is why it's much better to pack by room and label the boxes. Once you get to your new place, you can put all the boxes in the right rooms and just start unpacking, one by one.
Sure beats opening box after box after box in search of your coffee maker.
You'll find more tips on unpacking in the full guide. Now, don't be scared - but here's a stat I found today: it takes the average person 182 days to fully unpack... It can also be an encouraging statistic - it means no need to rush. And that's exactly what Movers.com recommends.
They also have other tips on how to survive unpacking, how to find professional movers - or, if you prefer, how to move with a little help from your friends and family.
Here's a pro tip, you can find movers on Movers.com (duh!). Just fill out the form and receive up to seven free estimates from licensed and insured movers. There are over 700 moving companies listed on the website, so you're probably gonna be able to find one that's just right for you.
Live in a high-rise apartment? Need out-of-state movers in Atlantic City? Movers.com has it all - and makes the whole process super easy.
(Oh, and the word "stuff" is used 25 times.)
