Last Minute Packing

As you start to pack things in boxes and bubble wrap, get rid of items that have outlived their purpose. Last minute packing is stressful enough, so spending time trying to find storage for the extra coffee grinder you kept under your sink isn’t a great use of time. If you have no idea of the size space you’ll be moving into, the fewer items you have to find places for, the better off you’ll be.

PRO TIP: Pack similar items together.  Because you’ll be packing in a hurry, you may not have time to properly label boxes with all of its contents. If you pack like-items together, you can label the box “books” or “kitchen” – one word that will help you identify the contents. This will undoubtedly help you when you move into your new home and are searching for that mixing bowl.

Think about the items you’ll need when you arrive at your temporary residence. Toiletries, clothes, medicine, and bedding are going to be the things you’ll need to dig out first – and pack last.  As you come across items that you’re going to need right away, gather them together in a specially labeled box.  These items are the ones that will travel with you personally, and you won’t want to box them away where you can’t find them.

PRO TIP: Pack all your unessential items first. You’re not going to need them right away when you get to your new home, so these can be tucked away at the back of your moving container.

You’re going to have a lot to juggle as you undertake your last minute move. From redirecting mail to cancelling things like internet and cable, your schedule is going to be full.  Getting your packing supplies early allows you to pack items whenever you have a spare moment. Every minute you have while preparing for a move is invaluable, so don’t let a second go to waste. Take the time to open up a box and wrap items while watching the hockey game, or load non-essential pots and pans while your dinner cooks. Being ready to take advantage of every moment will help ease the burden of the last-minute packing.

PRO TIP: When getting boxes for packing, cardboard boxes are much more practical than plastic containers.  Cardboard boxes come in standard sizes, allowing them to be easily stacked and organized.  The flexible tops also allow you to bend them as needed to fit oddly-shaped items.

Instead of playing Tetris with boxes as you try to maximize space in your car, consider using a portable storage unit. If you don’t know where you’ll be living, a portable storage unit provides a great way to move your things and have them accessible when you need them. Portable storage units provide ease and convenience, and you’re storage container will be delivered to you: all you need to worry about is loading it up.  Once you’re done filling it, the container will be picked up and delivered to your new home.  It can even be held in secure storage until you’re ready for it.

PRO TIP: Ask your moving company if they can provide packing supplies as well. Having a one-stop-shop for all your moving needs will save you the time and effort of hunting down materials from different places.

It’s a universal experience: no matter how much time you’ve spent packing, there will always be that one drawer, one shelf that has been forgotten about. Undoubtedly, this will be filled with oddly-shaped nick-knacks that take up more space than you’d want. In order to deal with these items, keep an extra packing box at the ready. When you suddenly discover the forgotten items, you can shuffle them into the box, tape it up, and it’s ready to go. Because this box will most likely be filled with miscellany, you won’t want it taking up extra space in your car our suitcase. Instead, save a little room in your portable storage unit where this box will fit.

Arrange to have your storage unit picked up a couple of hours before you have to leave your old home.  Having it available to you will ensure that you can add any last-minute items – or take out a box you suddenly remember you’ll need.  And be sure to leave a margin-of-error in your pick up time. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a rush to depart, only to discover that the moving truck is caught in traffic.  Giving yourself a couple of hours of a window will remove one of the many stresses you’ll undoubtedly experience as you prepare to move to your new home.

Last-minute moves can be stressful, but they don’t have to be.  By starting to pack early, and arranging a portable storage unit in advance, you can rest assured that all your items will travel from your old home to your new destination, and be ready for you when you’re ready to unpack them.