Looking for any and all moving tips! I’ll be moving with my family of 4 in six weeks (not far), and looking for words of wisdom to make it all a little less painful. Products? Hacks? Organization tricks?

Question

Rachael · Answer

Boxes Packing App: Loved this app! You do have to pay if you go over a certain number of boxes, but you can take photos and make lists of what’s inside and print out a QR code to tape to the side.

Then when you can’t remember what’s in the box, just scan the outside!

Or if you’re looking for something specific you can look in the app and it will give you the box number it’s in.

Laura Messersmith · Answer

Pizza & Champagne: I’m not sure this falls into any of the requested categories, but years ago my husband and I began a tradition where our first meal in a new home & the last meal in an old home consist of pizza & champagne.

Practical bc no utensils or plates required & easy to find a good pizza almost anywhere.

Sentimental because it gave us a chance to reminisce in an empty room or kick off a new chapter in a celebratory way!

The perfect high-low combination.

Robin · Answer

Create a "start here" system for yourself: Pack up:

1) Clean bedding and towels for everyone and prioritize getting those beds made the SECOND you can.  This means you'll be able to shower and flop into bed whenever you want.

2) Clothes/toiletries for a few days - as if you were going on a trip.  So you don't need to be digging through bathroom box #7 looking for someone's toothbrush or jammies.

3) Box(es) or bag(es) that is extremely easy to find with all the stuff you know you will need right away to make moving out AND moving in easier.  Think stuff like extra tape, markers, and box cutters for the moving out, paper towels and cleaning product for both, and some disposable cups/plates for moving in, a little toolkit.  What will you always want to have on hand during that day?  When I was moving 2x a year every year for 5 years straight I had a bright green plastic box with a snap-on lid specifically for this purpose.

Willa · Answer

Over label  and color-coördinate your moving boxes: Label the top and at least two sides with the box number. Pick a different color of painters tape per category or room for easy sorting in situ. "MISCELLANEOUS" will be the bane of your existence when unpacking rolls around. Instead, really, really overshare with your future self what each box contains and  write it on the outside. There will come a day where you need to find 'that blue mug from Amsterdam' or '10 yards corduroy fabric' and you will feel your soul drain from your skull if you have to open one more box that isn't the right one. I found it helpful to catalog our book and record collections prior too. The Lowes heavy duty small boxes are well worth the extra 25¢ and are perfect for books (we had exactly 101 book boxes). The U-Haul small boxes are perfect for records.

Take numbered photos of each box and index what you can. It helps with inventory and claims should something go wrong, too. Mostly, though, just label the hell out of everything.

Signed,

Someone who is procrastinating on RecLeague rather than unpacking 12,000 pounds of household goods from a cross country move

Marleah · Answer

Label every box!: Even if you think you’ll remember. Even if you think it’s obvious. Forgive yourself for keeping things in boxes for months - at which time, you’ll be glad for your labels!