Now that you have used up a huge pile of boxes and tape, your garage looks like a warehouse, and you're dining on paper plates with forks leftover from your last fast food meal, the simple part is over. Now that you are all packed up, a day or two before moving day, it's time to work on the last few items.
You will likely need to have a ladder for this part, along with the tools listed in our last post. If you have had big window coverings you might need some wood filler, too. If you're DIY moving, you'll need moving blankets, baggies or small containers, and plastic wrap on a large spool for furniture, mirrors, art and lighting.
Be Adaptable and Plan Ahead
Packing for a relocation takes a long time, and you should plan for that if you're going to handle it yourself. A large dry-erase calendar should help keep you on schedule, and you can edit it in the event of changes. There are three stages of a move--purging, packing, and the move itself--and managing your progress with steps 1 and 2 should make step 3 a lot less stressful.
One of the biggest blunders you can make as a pack-it-yourselfer is overloading boxes. Books are a huge culprit; they're usually small in size but they are heavy. Four or five hardbacks is sufficient for a small box, so fill in the rest of the box with lighter weight accessories--coasters, photos, magazines--that will go back in the same room or part of the house with the books themselves.
The Day Before the Big Move in Denver
Since the big day is tomorrow, it is time to get going on the pantry and the fridge. Unless you’re moving right around the corner, it’s advisable to take all the unopened non-perishables to a food pantry, and toss the rest. For a short trip, you can put perishables in coolers containing dry ice, but food is a lot like your other items--is unpacking those half-empty jelly jars worth your time?
Movers most of the time want the art and mirrors covered in bubble wrap or crated before they load them. If not, you still need to cover each piece (flannel sheets, beach towels, etc. work great between pieces) and move them in your car instead of the moving truck. You can secure lighting with a seatbelt if you're moving yourself.
If you put any of your furniture together, now is the time to disassemble it. Most furniture can be dissembled using a slot or Phillips head screwdriver and a small hammer. Keep the bolts, screws, and other hardware in a baggie or container and label it, and secure it to the inside of a bed rail or a drawer so you can put it all back together again without having to go to the hardware store up the street. It's a good idea to take photos of the hardware in case something gets misplaced--and it will.
Pack your cleaning supplies and plan on taking them to the new home in your automobile--the chemicals can't go on the truck.
Cover furniture in the moving blankets and hold the blankets in place with the plastic wrap. The wrap won't scratch finishes and keeps drawers in place when chests are moving around.
Moving Day in Denver
If you've spent the final night in your home, you probably slept on mattresses on the floor, because your beds are in pieces. You have also packed a small bag with necessities for the day since all your clothes packed. Place your linens and towels in a big box or bag, and off you go. Movers schedule their days in blocks, so a large move will be a one or two-day project. They'll likely be at your house first thing and ready to get going—the clock starts when they get there, not after you've had your coffee. It's going to be a long day, so respect their time and expertise by being prepared for them.
Follow these tips for proper packing and you'll be incredibly pleased with your new house—particularly when you can find the coffee pot.
