Home OwnershipHouse and HomeTips for Homeowners Life is not always like a box of chocolates, particularly when it comes time to pack up and move. Packing is stressful, whether you plan to move from a one-bedroom apartment or a 3,000 square-foot home. As is true with anything in life, a little bit of planning and forethought can go a long way. While moving strategies are not always cut-and-dried, some guiding principles do apply —  like these seven tips to make packing easier. If you pack the wrong things in the wrong order, you’ll make things that much harder on yourself. Try it this way: Presumably, this packing thing has not been suddenly sprung upon you, and you have needed time to de-clutter your home. Think of this process as similar to spring cleaning, without the thorough wiping of your baseboards. Are there things that you don’t use anymore? Maternity clothes in your attic? More than one artificial Christmas tree in your garage? A treadmill used for hanging clothing?

If you have the time, think about selling your items through sites like eBay or Craigslist. You can join the Freecycle network and give away pieces as you de-clutter or donate your items to charities like the Salvation Army or Goodwill.Simply input the number of rooms in your house, the number of years you’ve been living there, and your accumulation style — minimalist, average family or hoarder extraordinaire — and you’ll get a handy list of the supplies and the size of truck you’ll need. For example, here’s the list for an 8-room house: (30) Medium Boxes (16 x 12 5/8 x 12 5/8) (20) Large Boxes (18 x 18 x 18) (12) X-Large Boxes (24 x 18 x 18) (4) Bulky Box (18 x 18 x 27) (8) Wardrobe Boxes – Full Size (24 x 21 x 48) (1) Box of Bubble Wrap, 12 ” x 175 ‘ (5) Box Sealing Tape (2 ” x 110 yds.) (1) Twine 1/4 ” x 50 ‘ (poly) (1) Tag-A-Room Labels – 140 labels, color coded for each room If utilizing a truck rental company for your move this package is suitable for a 25 foot rental truck.

3. Collect boxes like there is no tomorrow. There is no need to pay for boxes when there are plenty being discarded in your neighborhood. Ask friends and neighbors to collect them or look for extras being thrown away at commercial locations. At Craigslist and Freecycle, you can make a request for packing boxes just as you can sell or give things away. Grocery and liquor stores can be other solutions and U-Haul features a box exchange messaging board on which free posts can be made about the need for boxes or boxes being given away. 4. Know who is going to help you move. If you are moving any great distance, call several moving companies in advance for estimates and obtain a firm, written agreement as to what will be moved. If you plan to rent a truck and move yourself, investigate your options and make a reservation ahead of time. U-Haul rents trucks ranging from an eight-foot pick-up a 26-foot hauler as well as cargo trailers. If you are having friends help, think about whose vehicles might be best for transporting furniture and appliances and which will be better for carrying smaller items and boxes.

5. Create a labeling system. A large black Sharpie nearly always does the trick when it comes to noting what’s been packed inside your boxes. Make sure your writing is legible and clear and keep your list on the exterior to four to five general descriptions instead of specific items. Led Bathroom Mirror Light With Motion SensorYou might note “Kitchen Utensils” instead of “Corn-on-the-Cob Holders” on a kitchen box,  for example. Kitchenaid Stand Mixer AlternativeAlso, consider using red Duck brand duck tape (or your favorite duct tape color or pattern) on boxes to designate those that need to be unpacked first.Buy Vinyl Flooring Adelaide 6. Start packing up rooms and items that are the least used.

If it’s summer, the winter clothes and gear in your home can be packed up first (or hopefully they were already packed up when you de-cluttered). Easy areas to begin breaking down and boxing up a few weeks in advance can include garages, craft areas and kids’ bedrooms as well as some parts of the bathrooms or home office. 7. Pack the kitchen last. It’s likely that the items that you need most will be located in your kitchen, so it’s typically best to pack this room up last. Yes, by all means pack away that food processor, juicer and your aunt’s china that you can do without. Disposable plates and cutlery can allow you to pack up your dishes and silverware within days of your move. Finally,  realize there is one thing that might need to be carried out the door. That’s the coffee maker, which will likely be invaluable to you and your movers when it comes time to head to your new dwelling.If you have a big move coming and you’re feeling a little panicked about finding enough packing boxes in time, you’re in luck – there are more options for moving boxes today than ever before.

Here are some of the best places to start looking. All right, this isn’t technically a source on where to find moving boxes, but it is a great resource to use before you start finding your boxes. If you are like most homeowners or renters, you probably know that you need “a lot” of boxes for a move, but aren’t quite sure how many, or what kind of boxes. Fortunately, the Internet can help. and use their packaging calculator to help you calculate just how many boxes you need. You choose the number of bedrooms you have, your general lifestyle when it comes to stuff, and the number of people living with you, as well as your packing style. This all translates into instructions on how many boxes you should get, which sizes they should be, and what packing supplies to use. It makes a great guide for your later decisions. Stores have long been a common source for free packing boxes, because stores receive regular shipments in cardboard boxes and may be looking for ways to get rid of their empty boxes.

Grocery stores, bookstores, and liquor stores are all common suggestions when scouting out likely locations. Here’s an important tip: Call the store first and ask them about their box policies. Getting packing boxes from stores has become fairly hit or miss. Many stores are beginning to re-use their boxes, or have contracts with recycling companies that take care of them, etc. Also new sustainability measures mean that stores are simple using fewer packing boxes in general. But if you can find a dependable source near your home, don’t let it go to waste. Next stop on your box-hunting route, try a few social sites to see if anyone is offering up free boxes because they need to get rid of them. Sites like Freecycle actually specialize in services like this, and Craigslist may be filled with opportunities as well. You may also want to post on your social media sites in case you have a friend who has recently moved. Another option is a box exchange arrangement. Companies like U-Haul have exchange forums where customers can agree to exchange or sell their used boxes

The downside is, of course, that quality is hard to guarantee: These boxes are likely to have already been used and may be in poor shape, but it’s hard to tell unless you get photos first. In addition to social sites, there are a few websites dedicated specifically to supplying you with boxes for a big move. These websites typically offer a small fee for new or used boxes, but not nearly as much as you would pay for new boxes. , which offers both box purchases and entire moving kit products at a discount. Other sites tend to be very local. , for example, operates in the Chicago area, but not outside of it. So peruse a local search using your city’s name to see if there are any similar services near you to help out. If you are wondering where to find moving boxes at the last minute, ask your moving company! There are a couple advantages to buying boxes directly from moving companies. First, you are much more likely to receive high-quality, new boxes that are sturdy enough for your packing needs.