Estimates suggest that it can cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 to move from one home to another. With costs increasing every day, finding more efficient ways of how to pack for a move can save money and time.
If you have a habit of holding on to old things or find sentimental value in too many items, you’ll have increasingly high moving costs every time you move. Once you start building a family and have multiple people living under your roof, these costs will undoubtedly go up.
If you want to find efficient, cost-effective ways to pack follow these four simple tips.
1. Clear the Clutter
Before you begin packing, it’s time to figure out what stuff needs to go. Your junk drawer is a great place to start. A bunch of mismatched screws, receipts, and rubber bands might be better off recycled or in the trash.
If you’ve got a bunch of old magazines you’ve meant to get rid of, now is your opportunity. Rather than try to work around these things, free up the space you have to pack by ditching the stuff that will be in your way later.
Consider eliminating some of the larger items you have around the house that you no longer have a use for. Donate them to Goodwill or Salvation Army or have a garage sale and really take the opportunity to purge.
2. Sweat the Small Stuff
You’ll be spending the most time packing up your smallest belongings. Books, tapes, or DVDs will be time-consuming and take up a considerable amount of space. If you’ve been thinking about going digital, consider doing it now, or else you could end up carting these things around for another decade.
Give yourself plenty of time to take on those neglected piles of paper or junk drawers first.
3. Get Creative
When you have to pack up glass and dishes, you can limit the expensive bubble wrap and use what you have on hand instead. Use some of your t-shirts and towels for wrapping and padding. Think about which soft items could help to cushion fragile items, and you’ll be able to save packing costs and save on space.
4. Be Realistic
If you’re moving to a smaller space, think about how much stuff you can really bring with you.
Do you really use that weight set and exercise equipment? It will cost you money to move it, so if you aren’t using it anyway consider leaving those behind.
Desk chairs, recliners, washing machines and dryers are other items that might cost more to move than just replacing them when you get to your new destination.
How to Pack for a Move Changes Every Time
Each time you move from one place to another, you’ll have to adjust your tactic of how to pack for a move. As you age, you might find it’s easier to leave some things behind than to pay to have them transported.
If you want to learn more about the kinds of moving programs available, check out what we have to offer.