Moving Tips & Tricks from the Professionals...everything you need to know

Spring is here! Which can only mean that moving season, or PCS Season as the Military calls it, is upon us. I thought that it was only fitting that we talk about moving during April, the Month of the Military Child. As a former military family, we have had our share of moves and have learned a lot of tips and tricks that help make the move go a little smoother. 

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​A few lessons I have learned:

DECLUTTER – Not only is it great to declutter on the front end for weight purposes (the heavier the load the more you are charged), but also because it gives you less to put away when you get there. One of my kids “favorite” games that they get to play before a move is “keep or go”. We go through their rooms and we figure out what toys, clothes, and belongings they want to keep and what can go (donate). Example: I hold up a shirt and they tell me if they want to keep it, or if it goes (it doesn’t fit or they don’t love it anymore). You should hear the groans I have gotten when I am in pre-move mode and I bring an arm full of shirts out of their closet. They know their favorite game is inevitable. But think about it, wouldn’t you rather weed out all the excess prior to a move and donate, than have to take the extra time to unpack it just to find out you don’t have room or it doesn’t even fit your kids anymore?

​CONTAIN- This can help ensure that unpacking is more streamlined. I learned a huge lesson on our first PCS move, if you don’t contain the small items before the packing process, then you will be picking them out of the box one by one at the next place. We had movers dump ALL of my son’s toys (2 at the time) into a huge box. I had thought that I had prepped everything by putting the like items together, but boy was I wrong. It took me forever to unpack and re-sort all the toys that had gotten jumbled in the box enroute to our new duty station. After that first move, I started to contain all the small items when prepping for moves. Ziploc bags are great for keeping small toys like action figures or Barbie accessories together. A few rounds of plastic wrap around puzzles and board games keep the pieces where they should be. Rubber bands are great for preventing cords from being a tangled mess when you unpack.
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INVENTORY- Always make a picture inventory of the furniture, electronics, and other valuable items in your home. Having a picture of these items, along with a picture of the serial number is a huge help if you need to claim an item when you get there. This has saved me more than once. I tend to over document everything. I take pics of all the furniture, electronics, rooms as they are set up before the prep begins, etc. One time I had a mover label on the paperwork that the item was “dented” or “scratched”, but because I photographed and videoed everything, I had proof that it wasn’t and therefore we were able to get the item repaired free of charge. If I hadn’t been able to prove it, then I would have had to pay to fix it myself.

MOVING BINDER- Having important documents, insurance paperwork, inventory lists, contact info for movers, account numbers and company info, zipper pouch for receipts, are just a few things that are great to hand carry with you and can save you so much time. These are also accessible online nowadays, but I always find it easier to have a copy of everything in one place so that I am not logging in and searching several sites.

SCHOOL RECORDS- Hand carrying your kids records from one school to the next makes registrations a much smoother process. Also, having their last report card and any 504 plans or IEP copies with you will ensure they are getting the proper placement and resources from the get go. I usually check before the move to see what the requirements are for your kids to start school. That way if you need to get vaccine records transferred to a certain form (like Florida) you can have that done ahead of time so you can have it ready to go. In some moves we needed to make sure to get the kids registered asap so that they had enough days to meet the requirement for moving on to the next grade.

CATEGORIZE Let’s face it, items like artwork hardly ever end up in the same room they were before. It all depends on that wall space available as to where it goes in the next house. Before the movers get there, I take all the artwork off the walls and line them up together. This also helps ensure that anything that might get overlooked (like bathroom art) all gets onto the truck (items found last minute don’t always get packed properly).

TCHOTCHKES – Same goes for tchotchkes. Gather all of them from around the house and group them together (I usually use the dining room table). This helps ensure all the delicate items get wrapped together and not in a random box underneath something heavy (it happens).

BOX # 1- Have a “unpack first” box. Put anything that you will need right away into a box that is clearly labeled, so that you can function while your house is being unpacked. Great things to put in this are: can opener, a roll of toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels, bedding, paper plates & cutlery, commonly used tools (screwdrivers & hammer, and measuring tape ), and cleaning supplies.

ELECTRONICS - After you inventory your electronics (pictures of all the angles, serial numbers, a video of them turning on and off, etc.) make sure to disconnect them yourself right before the movers get there. This way you can control how the cords and remotes are packed. If you are going on a long haul move or don’t have housing set up yet, make sure to remove any batteries from the remotes (do this all your electronics). When you disconnect them, label the cord and remote (if you don’t have access to a label maker, painters tape and sharpie work great). Then either put them in a Ziploc or tape it to the item itself. If you happen to have the box they came in, make sure to sit them beside the item so the movers can use it. Searching for remotes and cords while you unpack just adds to the frustration.

ZIPLOCS- ANYTHING that is small should be placed into a Ziploc, bin, or something to ensure that it does not get wrapped in just a piece of brown paper. When you are unboxing your household goods there will be a TON of packing paper. If it gets wrapped in a piece of packing paper and shoved in with all the other packing paper, there is a good chance that you will not notice it and it will get thrown out.
P.S. Do not forget to do this with screws or any hardware as well. Label and contain! Trust me, you will thank yourself later.

LINENS- Wash all bedding, curtains, dining room linens, towels, etc and put in large vacuum seal or Ziploc bags along with a couple dryer sheets or sachets. Nothing is more devastating than being exhausted from unpacking and you finally find your bedding or towels only to realize they smell musty, or something has spilled in the box. Nor do you want to have to wash it all while you are unpacking. 

VALUABLES- Hand carry ALL valuables. I purchased a fireproof document bag to hand carry all our important documents (birth certificates, marriage certificate, immunization records, passports, etc.) and any jewelry that was valuable. If you have receipts for these items that’s even better. Keep them with you or scan and email it to yourself. This is a way to prove the worth of the item.

MOVING DAY -  Walk the movers through the house and let them know if there is anything fragile or valuable. Also, walk around while the movers are packing. That way you can remind them of any special requests. I also feed my movers lunch, provide Gatorade and water and tip them. They work hard, showing appreciation for what they are doing can go a long way.

NO PACK ZONE- Block off a “no pack” zone for packing days. Anything that needs to be separated, so that it doesn’t end up in a box needs to go in there. I usually designate the largest bathroom or closet as this space. I then put our luggage and items we will transport ourselves in there. All clothing, jewelry, toiletries, etc. I even put the pets in there and any of their belongings that will travel with us, so they stay safe and out of the way of the movers. I also put a large sign (or use a bright colored painters tape) to mark this area (as well as tell them when they do their walk through).

15. LABEL in detail- Write more detailed info on the box if you think it needs it. I learned, while working with Serene Spaces, how to use QR Codes on the boxes. This is especially great for seasonal items, boxes that you know might need to be stored when you get to your new location, or just all your boxes. It is pretty great to be able to scan the QR code and see the contents of your box without having to open it. Air tags are also a great item to use in your boxes (if allowed with your company). It is kind of fun to watch where your Household Goods are as they travel to their new destination.  ​

With so many decisions to make, the whole moving process can be overwhelming. This is where professional organizers can be a great asset. We can come in and take some of these stressors off your plate. Here are just a few of the many things we can do, to help “lighten the load” (pun intended ).

• Help you through the decluttering process
• Haul away donations for you 
• Create a home inventory
• Pack for you
• Unpack and get you organized in your new home

Remember, it is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at times. Moving can be a challenging time for anyone, whether you have moved 20 times, or this is your first. However, with the right support and guidance it can feel a little less daunting.

​Sam Zapata, Professional Organizer,
​Serene Spaces Professional Organizing