10+ Tips and Hacks for a Low Stress Moving Day (By a NYC Mom)
/I just went through a move that was a little more complicated than most — between moving within the epicenter of a global pandemic, and moving into storage for an undetermined amount of time. I experienced plenty of uncertainty and stress leading up to the move, but the moving day itself was nearly stress free. Read on for my packing and moving tips, and see my prior post for more on the weeks leading up to the move + a discount with my storage company and my moving company.
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Here are my top moving tips and hacks
For this move, I had the movers pack for me, but I’ve packed on my own in the past and included tips for either scenario.
Get organized and edit // Even if your mover is packing for you, they can only be as organized as you are. Try to get rid of and organize as much as possible before the move. This is a great time to edit your belongings — you’re starting a new chapter, go with your gut on whether you want items to come with you (try Konmari’s test of whether it sparks joy).
Stock up on boxes, tape, foam sheets and wine boxes. If you are doing the packing, order plenty of boxes and packing tape. When I packed myself, I used foam sheets instead of newspaper to pack fragile items (I prefer it to avoid newspaper print smudges). I packed glasses, skinny vases and other fragile items in wine boxes from the liquor store.
Label boxes clearly // If you’re packing yourself, color coded labels help ensure that things end up in the correct rooms (one of my Facebook group members recommended these and these look good too) . The last time I moved I also added a large white label to each box with an itemized list of what’s inside, this saved me from digging through multiple boxes when looking for a specific item. If you want to be more discreet, you can make a list, insert it in an envelope and tape the envelope to the box.
Consider the new layout // Label things based on the new home layout. Absent other instructions, movers would will label boxes based on the room they were taking them from in your old home. We were moving from an apartment to a house (via storage), so I instructed them to label certain items to be placed in the office or basement (rooms we didn’t have in the old place). Similarly, if your kids will no longer share a room, label things for their individual rooms.
Wear a fanny pack the day of the move // I wore this fanny pack the day of the move and it was so helpful. I kept clean gloves in the open back pocket, my phone and airpods in the front zippered pocket and any other items in the back zippered pockets. I’ve been using the fanny pack a lot lately, and it was especially convenient to know where my things were at all times and be able to be hands-free. It would also be helpful to keep labels and a Sharpie in when packing.
Consider what you need to access the day of the move:
Day of supplies // If you’re sticking around while the movers are working, you may want to keep a phone charging battery, charger, snacks and drinks (usually for the movers too, but maybe not if during a pandemic), toilet paper, soap, and paper towels. Paper goods too — my husband and I ordered in dinner for after the movers left and the restaurant forgot cutlery, which put us in a predicament.
Cleaning supplies // You’ll probably want to clean up once the movers leave — even in a rental, you’re typically required to leave it broom clean. So leave a broom and dustpan, Swiffer, vacuum if possible, muti-purpose cleaner, paper towels and alcohol wipes (useful for getting stickers or once wet papers off floors and other surfaces). I left a bit more as I’m planning to have a cleaner do a deeper clean before our tenants move in.
Pack a bag of supplies that you may need immediately in your new home:
whatever you’d typically pack in an overnight bag — toiletries, contact lenses, glasses, clothing, pajamas, etc.
towels, linen, shampoo, conditioner, razor and whatever else you might need for your first night’s sleep and shower (maybe even a shower curtain).
basic supplies for the house like soap, toilet paper and paper towels, multi-purpose cleaner, Swiffer, vacuum and maybe paper goods.
a pair of scissors or utility knife to easily open boxes.
laptop and any work supplies.
ipad and some toys to keep the kids busy while you unpack.
passport and other important documents (you likely won’t need these promptly, but it’s good to keep them safe and know where they are).
Instruct the movers to prioritize kids’ furniture. // You will likely want to have the kids’ rooms set up first as they will need to go to sleep first when you arrive in the new home. Even if they aren’t sleeping there that first night, it will help give them a sense of security to see their set up room (or even a photo of it). To avoid liability, movers may not assemble or disassemble cribs, so keep the instructions handy and get busy assembling while the movers are still unloading other items.
If you don’t want the movers to take it, don’t leave it behind. // This was my movers’ advice.
If you need to leave things behind that you don’t want moved, label them clearly. // I cleared out my master bathroom and relegated everything that I was leaving behind to that room. I left a note on the door directing movers to not go inside. This was also helpful for me as I had a private bathroom for the day. This also provided a spot to charge my Mophie, etc., without worrying about it getting packed. I used brightly colored extra sticky post its to label anything that I didn’t want the mover to take (including a note on the master bathroom door).
Consider handling of heirloom and valuable items. // I removed all valuable and heirloom items such as my grandmother’s candlesticks and our silver menorah. I felt more comfortable taking these items with me. If you want to leave valuables for your movers to handle, check whether the insurance they offer or your home / umbrella insurance is adequate.
Packing jewelry. // I took all my fine jewelry by literally wearing it all. My necklaces got tangled on me within minutes. I wished that I had a necklace spacer / detangler clasp. I mentioned it to a friend who suggested avoiding necklace and bracelet chain tangles when packing by running each through a straw and then wrapping in cling wrap.
Consider packing into bins instead of boxes // This is especially useful for seasonal clothing and decor that will likely live in bins anyway. I like these clear ones from the Container Store, but these opaque bins are also a good option.
Try this workaround for a minor timing mismatch // If you’re moving between rentals, there’s a good chance that your lease ends on the last of the month and you don’t get the keys to the new place til the first day of the month. Tami Earnest, a NYC licensed real estate salesperson, suggested asking the movers to hold your belongings overnight to bridge the gap. You can also try asking either landlord for date flexibility — a rental once let me extend by a few days on a prorated basis.
Consider storage options for longer gaps between homes // Due to COVID-19, I moved into my in-laws’ home for an indefinite amount of time until we find our own home. I ended up using two storage solutions — I stored anything that I might need access to with a concierge storage company. Everything else was picked up by the moving company, moved into storage and will ultimately be moved to our home. See my post on our logistics + discounts with the moving and storage company.
For behind the scenes of our move, see my Instagram “Moving” story highlights.
