Managing the chaos of relocating from California to Washington while balancing two kids, household chores, and packing nearly drove me to my wits' end. This was our family's most significant move, and determining what to pack proved to be incredibly challenging and exhausting. To help you avoid the stress of packing and moving out of state, I’ve created the ultimate checklist. It's straightforward, presented in bullet points, and designed to simplify your life. Let’s go!
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Travel Tips
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Post Highlights
Key Topics Covered:
- Packing Strategies: Practical tips for an efficient move.
- Pre-Packing Tips: Suggestions for Decluttering and Organising by Room.
- Room-by-Room Packing: Guidance on how to start packing in each space.
- What to Avoid: Items that should not be packed.
- Post-Packing Essentials: Preparing for your new home after the boxes are delivered and while waiting for the movers.
- Choosing a Moving Company: Tips for selecting a reliable moving and auto transport service.
How to Pack for a Move
Packing up for a move might seem overwhelming, but with a little preparation and some smart organization, you can turn it into a breeze. Dive into this ultimate guide, and discover how to pack like a pro for a seamless transition to your new home. Get ready to transform what can be a stressful task into an exciting adventure!
Moving and Packing Tips
Preparing for a move can be more manageable with the right strategies. Begin by creating a detailed timeline to help you stay on track. Organize your belongings by room, function, or purpose to make packing easier. These steps can help make the process smoother.
Before Packing:
1. Declutter and Sort
1. Declutter and Sort
Before packing, go through your belongings and declutter. Donate or discard items you no longer need, which will save time and effort during both packing and unpacking.
For Donations
In California, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) offers donation pick-up services, which can save you time, especially during the hectic moments of packing and moving items around your home.
Gather all necessary packing materials, such as boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and markers.
- Boxes: Use various sizes to organize items easily. Consider heavy-duty boxes for fragile things.
- Tape: Secure boxes and bubble wrap fragile items.
- Utility Knife/Scissors: Make clean cuts for tape and other materials.
- Permanent Marker: Label boxes for easy sorting and unpacking.
- Small Boxes/Plastic Bags: Store small items like silverware and food.
- Blankets/Towels/Clothing: Provide padding for breakable items.
- Packing Paper/Bubble Wrap/Newspaper: Protect kitchen items like mugs and dishes.
3. Create a Packing Schedule
Give yourself ample time to organize and pack by creating a schedule to ensure you don’t feel rushed.
During Packing:
4. Pack Strategically
Begin with items you don’t need immediately, like off-season clothing or rarely used decorations. Pack room by room, starting with the less frequently used items.
5. Use Proper Packing Techniques:
6. Label Clearly
5. Use Proper Packing Techniques:
- Fragile Items: Wrap each item individually in bubble wrap or packing paper.
- Dishes: Use paper plates between dishes and wrap them individually.
- Clothes: Use wardrobe boxes or pack directly into suitcases, filling gaps with packing paper.
- Furniture: Disassemble if possible and wrap pieces in plastic wrap for protection.
6. Label Clearly
Clearly label each box with the room it belongs to and a brief description of the contents. Consider a color-coding system for each room.
7. Pack Heavy Items in Smaller Boxes
7. Pack Heavy Items in Smaller Boxes
Avoid overly heavy boxes by using smaller ones for heavy items to reduce the risk of injury and damage.
8. Create an Essentials Box
8. Create an Essentials Box
Pack a separate box with essentials, such as toiletries, medications, chargers, a change of clothes, and snacks, for easy access upon arrival.
9. Keep Important Documents Separate
9. Keep Important Documents Separate
Store important documents like birth certificates and moving contracts in a safe and easily accessible place.
When packing for a move, it's generally recommended to start with the less-used rooms and progress to the more frequently used ones. This strategy minimizes disruption to your daily routine and allows you to pack non-essential items first. Therefore, you should pack the living room or bedroom last, after you've addressed storage areas, guest rooms, and other less frequently utilized spaces.
Take note: Set aside and pack tool box last.
Packing Storage Areas and Guest Rooms
- Begin by sorting and packing items that are seldom used.
- Disassemble any furniture that can be taken apart for easier transport.
- Label boxes clearly to identify contents and destination rooms.
Packing a Home Office
- Photograph electronics before disassembly for easy reassembly.
- Color-code wires for electronics when disassembling.
- Pack electronics, paperwork, and stationery carefully.
- Keep important documents in a secure box nearby.
- Avoid overloading boxes.
Packing Outdoor Furniture and Garage Items
- Remove charcoal, burnt wood, and propane tanks from grills, fire pits, and heaters.
- Clean and disassemble furniture for easy transport.
- Cover sharp tools with cardboard, towels, or original cases for safety.
- Recycle unused light bulbs.
Packing a Kitchen or Pantry
- Clear food items; dispose of open packages to prevent spills.
- Empty and clean appliances like coffee makers and blenders before packing.
- Wrap appliance cords in plastic bags and place them inside the appliance.
- Use original boxes for appliances if available.
- Label boxes with breakables as “FRAGILE” and use bubble wrap for smaller dishes.
Packing a Dining Room
- Use kitchen towels, newspaper, cardboard, or linens to protect plates and china.
- Roll and secure rugs with plastic ties or rope.
Packing a Living or Family Room
- Use blankets and towels to wrap mirrors and paintings, tape 'X' over glass for safety.
- Use original boxes for repacking electronics like TVs.
- Remove bulbs and shades from lamps, wrapping each separately.
- Keep irreplaceable photos or videos with you during the move.
Packing a Bedroom
- Leave clothes on hangers and pack directly into boxes or containers.
- Use luggage or suitcases for loose items.
- Secure valuable items like jewelry in a box and keep them with you.
- Thread necklaces through straws or rolls, use buttons for earrings.
- Pack shoes in original boxes or larger boxes.
- Use old sheets and blankets to protect mattresses and furniture.
- Place bedding and pillows in trash bags and labeled boxes.
Packing a Bathroom
- Pack bathroom necessities last.
- Ensure toiletries are sealed in plastic bags to prevent leaks.
- Pack and label medications separately.
On the Day of the Move
10. Load Large Items First
When loading the moving truck, start with furniture, appliances, and larger items. This will leave more space near the door for smaller items, making unloading easier.
Items to Avoid Packing in Your Moving Boxes
Valuables and Important Documents:
- Jewelry
- Passports
- Birth certificates
- Moving contracts
- All Important Documents (Just imagine the process of retrieving the documents)
Perishable Foods:
- Fresh produce
- Dairy products
- Just me: I carefully packed some seasonings, secured them tightly in a box with bubble wrap to prevent any spills. However, if you prefer, you can save yourself the trouble and not bring them at all. I also included our flour, protein powder, even toiletries and more, as I didn’t want to waste anything. Moving forward, I will definitely consider leaving these items with family.
Hazardous Materials:
- Paint
- Gasoline
- Lighter fluid
Plants:
- I gave mine to my neighbors; you wouldn’t want them to suffer during the move.
Sentimental Items:
- Family heirlooms
- Cherished photographs
Avoid packing these items to protect your cherished belongings and enjoy a smoother move.
Kids Stuff: Huge Stuff Toys
For my children's enormous stuffed toys, I chose not to pack them in the box due to their size. Instead, we placed them in the trunk of our car, neatly stored in a plastic bag to keep them clean. When we arrived at our new home, their stuffed toy friends were safe and sound inside the car.
Really Important Reminders
- Label all your boxes. Ensure that you label each box clearly without revealing any sensitive information.
- Consider labeling which box should be opened first. For example, mark the priority box with a star or a red mark, such as the kitchen utensils box for food preparation.
- Writing your name on the box can help prevent it from getting lost, especially since many people use Home Depot or plain brown boxes when moving. We labeled all our items with “Keep Up” along with an upward-pointing arrow in different markers, yet the movers still managed to misplace one of our boxes.
- Photograph all the boxes. It can be a hassle and time-consuming to try to photograph all the boxes being sent with the movers. However, if something goes missing, at least you’ll have proof to show them when a box is lost, increasing your chances of locating it.
- Lastly, take images of your car before the auto transport pickup. This ensures you have a way to address any physical damage for insurance claims. Note that insurance only covers physical damage; unfortunately, there’s always a risk with movers and auto transport, and nothing is guaranteed.
Personal Essentials To Prepare:
- Sleeping
- Toiletries
- Clothes
- Medications
- Kids’ Entertainment
- Basic kitchen supplies
For Sleeping
In your final week at the house, consider staying with family and friends or reserving a hotel room. We chose to spend our last nights in our empty home. We made use of our inflatable camping mattress, along with bedsheets and blankets, for a comfortable sleep. Afterwards, we left some items in the car and packed the rest in our checked luggage, planning to use them while waiting for our boxes. Surprisingly, all our boxes arrived much sooner than we anticipated.
For Toiletries
We packed the regular-sized toiletries to put in our checked bags as we expected to wait for our boxes in our new place. Just make sure to tape them to avoid spills and place them in a ziplock bag. This ensures you will have enough toiletries after the movers and while waiting for your boxes.
For Clothes
Pack enough clothes as if you’re going on a vacation. Pack more for the kids, as they’ll surely need more changes than you do. We also brought our beach towels for bathing, as they’re lightweight and absorbent.
For Food
Some days, we simply ate out to avoid any dishes and also used it as an excuse to see family and friends during our last week. We also left some kitchen items so we could still cook breakfast, and then just used paper plates, reusable utensils, reusable water bottles, and a small dish detergent for washing.
On our last day, we put whatever was left of our belongings in our car trunk, as all the boxes had already been picked up.
Auto Transport Timeline
For the auto transport, we scheduled the first car to be picked up early, ensuring it arrives right on time for us after a day or two at our new place. We drove the second car to the airport and asked a family member to have it picked up from their location.
Extra Caution When Searching for Movers
Be cautious about sharing your phone number and requesting quotes on moving company websites like 2 Movers.com. Once you enter your details, you will receive constant calls and texts from various moving companies. I had to block most of them just to get some peace. It was a regrettable choice, and I hope you can avoid the stress that comes with it.
Moving Company
For our moving company, we selected a small business named Space Y. This package covers everything: loading, transportation, unloading, movers, and all necessary wrapping materials.
They offer a comprehensive moving service with two delivery options:
- Direct delivery to Washington, for a flat rate of 6,000 USD. Direct delivery is guaranteed within 48 hours.
- Economy delivery within 10 to 25 days for a flat rate of 4,000 USD.
However…
We took a significant risk by choosing to work with a small company. Their lack of responsiveness raised a red flag initially, but I decided to proceed, believing they were simply starting out. I wish I had listened to that small voice inside my head. This mistake became even more regrettable when they lost my toddler's step stool, our shoe caddy, and more. Despite receiving our boxes earlier than anticipated—sooner than our flight date—we were confused and worried about our stuff. It was significantly ahead of the timeline provided, which led to them being stored in a storage room. This may have contributed to some of our items getting lost.
We did receive compensation for the loss, but the lack of responsiveness and the headache of not getting further information were frustrating. Even a simple acknowledgement that they would follow up would have made a difference. While I appreciate the compensation, I would prefer not to experience this situation again.
Be cautious with your movers; even if they have excellent Yelp reviews, that doesn’t guarantee reliability. Working with movers always comes with risks. Therefore, avoid placing anything valuable that you cannot afford to lose in the boxes, as there’s always a chance you may never see it again. It’s best to keep your jewelry, important documents, and cherished albums close to you.
Auto Transport Company
For our cars, we chose Montway Auto Transport. After getting your quote, talk to an agent for more inquiries. We received a USD 50 discount when we spoke to a chat agent, which we used right away.
Upon completing your online booking, you will need to pay a 20% down payment. We paid around USD 1,200 for each car, which was cheaper compared to most companies I've researched.
We added USD 49 for insurance (damages incurred by movers)—this was on top of the quote. Montway is a broker, and they explained that if anything happens to the car, adding the insurance means they will handle the necessary transactions if the car gets damaged during the move. Depending on your quote, for us from California to Washington, the cars were supposed to be picked up in 4-6 days and delivered 4-6 days after pickup. We had to time it to arrive in Washington just when we got there.
However…
The pickup was delayed; we even had to drive the car closer because they mentioned the truck couldn't fit in the residential area. On one occasion, no one arrived to pick up the car, and to make matters worse, we received no communication from them—no texts or calls—so we had to reach out to them ourselves. Even with a big auto transport company, things can go wrong; it’s always hit or miss. As they are a broker, they’ll assign you to the movers, and if you get one that’s not good with communication, rude, and frustrating, you just don’t have a choice since you need them to transport your car. The pains of moving make us wish we never had to go through this again.
By following these simplified steps and tips, your moving process can be more organized and less stressful. With everything in its place, you'll settle into your new home with ease. Happy packing!
Stay Tuned for my Next Post!
The upcoming post will cover essential preparations for relocating to a new state. We’ll explore:
- Key considerations when searching for a new home
- Questions to ask during virtual apartment tours
- Important tasks to complete in your first month
- Things to do before departing your current home
I’ve put together this detailed checklist because I wish I had one to simplify the process and assist our family in managing this important transition. This journey is a wonderful family adventure that will undoubtedly transform your lives. I hope our experience will help ensure your move goes smoothly and support you at every step!
Have fun and be safe ^__^
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