Moving Day, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways…

by Julie Fuller

One. Yes, only one. I love Moving Day because it speaks of adventure, new vistas (literally) and new life.

Everything else about moving is hard, backbreaking, and sometimes painful. While we’ve been cooped up during the pandemic, moving day still looms near right now for many families who will be transferring with their company, with the military, moving Mom & Dad to a new place, or just a move across town for you. When my husband was in the Navy, we moved 15 times in 12 years. I learned so much along the way and thought I’d share some of the things that helped make it easier.

Start Early

At least 3 months in advance, decide if you want to hire a moving company or if you plan to do the move yourself. I’ve done both and each has its challenges. If you are local to Southern Maryland, reach out and I’ll share some companies that are worth checking out.

You’ll need to call shipping companies very early to get on their schedules. They need to visit your home to get an estimate of approximate weight and supplies needed. Packing takes 1-3 days.

On packing days, be sure that you remove items that you do NOT want packed, to your car or other safe space. Think laptop, purse, medicine, suitcases even your trash cans. Yes, they will not only pack your trash, but they’ll pack your cat if you aren’t careful! There is a price tag attached that runs into the thousands and you may expect at least some breakage.

If you plan to move yourself, choose a rental truck provider. Do not schedule this online. I’ve used them all and all have issues. Contact your local representative to schedule the move. It pays to be nice, pay in advance (at least a deposit) in person, and once the reservation is made and printed, call to ensure all is still on track one week prior to the pickup date and again two days prior to the pickup date. This method has never failed me. Be sure to rent a hand truck, blankets and straps when reserving the truck.

Over time I developed a system for moving yourself. Start by picking a staging room/area for boxes once they are packed. Move any furniture into a group and keep a clear pathway into the room/area. Next – find boxes. The best advice I can give on choosing boxes is don’t skimp. You can purchase new or used boxes from local shipping companies and/or rental truck companies. Furniture stores are a good source. And there are always the liquor store and grocery store boxes. Be sure to buy lots of medium boxes. You’ll need some reinforced boxes for kitchen appliances and dishes, and some wardrobe boxes for hanging garments. A few large boxes can be used for light items like sheets and towels.

Do not buy cheap tape. Do not buy cheap tape.

(Worth repeating)

Get several large rolls. Cheap tape gets warm in heat and comes loose. Also buy Sharpie markers with the big tip in different colors for labeling the boxes. There are lots of apps and label options to use, but the simplest thing is to label the boxes directly. You’ll need paper – packing paper, newspaper, recycled paper. Be aware with newspaper, ink get transferred onto objects you touch. Bubble wrap is nice too.

Get more of everything than you think you’ll need. It is easier to return unused items than to stop packing when you’re on a roll to go get more supplies. Choose a room, unload your supplies. The kitchen is the toughest but everything else will be a breeze if you get that done first. Choose one Sharpie color for kitchen boxes. Your first box should be filled with 1 dish, bowl, set of silverware and cup for each family member, a frying pan, pot, a good, sharp knife, grater, can opener, spatula and large spoon for stirring. These will be your kitchen items until you unpack in the new location so don’t seal it.

Pack any personal or decorative items first. Refrigerator magnets and pictures, catch-all baskets. This is a good time to purge the junk drawer. Once the kitchen is stripped of personalization, move on to the glasses – they are the easiest. Line the bottom of a medium box with a sheet or two of slightly crumpled paper. Wrap each glass individually and lay on its side until box is full. Label it as “KT – glasses” with the Sharpie on the top and at least 1 side. Set in the staging area when full. If you have room left, you can add in other dishes that are not part of a set. Next do the plates and bowls. Then the breakable baking dishes and storage bowls.

Countertop appliances are next. Use a reinforced box for the heavy items. Wrap breakables and fit as many as you can in the box as long as it is not too heavy. Move on through the pots & pans, trays and cutting boards. Try to find one box that is sized just right to hold all your utensils. Try to fill each box as full as possible with like items and label each one. Food items stay out and become the last thing you pack. You can now unpack that very first box and place in one of your now many empty cupboards for use until moving day. If you have dishes in a dining room, this room should immediately follow the kitchen. Sometimes I use linens to wrap sentimental items securely. The towels are coming with me anyway!

Rooms to pack next vary – if you have children, save the family room for last. I like to do bedrooms next. Pack items you’ll wear during the move. Be sure to consider the weather, then remember shoes, underwear and jackets. Place those items in a safe location (not the staging room!) and pack everything else in your closets. Use wardrobe boxes if necessary for hanging items that folding may damage. Otherwise, pack it in a box. Leave them on the hanger by layering one group of clothing at a time into the box and laying the hanger diagonally, altering the direction with each layer. Try to keep like items together and label appropriately. Mark each room’s boxes with its own color, so easy to unpack later. Move all boxes into the staging area and stack it to the ceiling with the heavier boxes on the bottom.

When you get to the bathrooms, pack liquid items including shampoo, lotion, etc, in Ziplock bags.

Continue until all you have left are the items you’ll use during the move. Be sure to keep one set of sheets for each bed, or use sleeping bags. I’ve skipped the plate-saving and gone paperless for many moves, but you end up using a lot and it is nice to have your own dishes to use. Plus Mother Earth approves. Work to complete all your packing except for food by at least 1 week prior to the actual date of loading the truck. You’ll never make it but try anyway.

Two weeks before the move, contact the USPS to let them know your new address and your utility companies to schedule service termination. Some can be done online, some you must call. In all cases, try to leave your utilities in your name for one day beyond your actual move date. This will save you if the day of moving arrives and the truck breaks down or someone gets sick. You can call and extend if needed. But if you wake up that morning and you’ve canceled service for that day, you could be loading in the dark with no air conditioning or heat.

Two days before the actual move date, disassemble any furniture that is too big to travel intact. By this time you should have more room to store these items. Use Ziplock bags to store screws, bolts, etc. and tape the bag to the bottom of the furniture. It is also time to pack the food. Only pack food that is boxed, canned or packaged properly. I always take my cornstarch, flour, etc, but I bag it first.

Everything must be sealed – you never know when critters might find your stash during a move. Refrigerated items you intend to keep can be placed in coolers the day of the move. Plan to use us as much food as possible during the last month so that you have less to pack. Most of our moves were from one part of the country to another so most of my food that was left over went to friends and neighbors on moving day, load heavier items toward the front of the truck or trailer bed. If you stack items, be sure to strap them. Use the blankets between your furniture and the truck walls to protect. Go slow and use the dolly. At your new home, the colored labels will help you unload each box into the proper room.

Four Final Tips

One: if you do not have a full time job and you can devote most of your time to packing, you can probably pack a regular three bedroom house in under a month. If you are working and packing, plan to be packing for 1-3 months. Yes, months, not weeks.

Two: moving is the second most stressful event in your life, second only to the death of a loved one. Take care of yourself and your family during this time. Remember to speak kindly and forgive easily when someone loses it. Because someone will lose it – probably you if you’ve done most of the packing!

Three: if you have pets, be extra attentive. Moving is very stressful for our pets. Be sure you give them lots of extra attention and be aware that they may bolt if given the opportunity.

Four: if you have friends help you move, BE PREPARED! By this I mean have the little, personal detritus of life in each room already packed and away. Pack the personal items and things you are worried about being broken before they even arrive. Then you can just tell them to pack away and they won’t have to ask you a million questions about each item. If you have help, use it wisely by getting them in the kitchen and dining rooms first. Have plenty of tape and tape dispensers, plenty of packing paper and plenty of boxes – enough supplies so that you don’t run out. Have a start time and an ending time for each packing session so your friends know they are not chained to your home until all is complete. And be sure to feed them well. If your packers enjoy a cocktail, have that as well. Beer just happens to be my personal favorite packing supply!

Happy moving!

Julie Fuller, REALTOR®, PSA, CREN, SRES

For more information on moving and packing, try these websites: