Whether you are moving to a dorm, apartment, or house…the following tips + tricks are here to help you make your new journey easier! I hope that as you go through them, you get more excited for your next chapter and can visualize the life you want to build for yourself.
What a whirlwind July has been!
In May, we made the decision to move an hour north to be closer to our new jobs. It was not an easy one to make since we lived so close to our families, but we knew it would be better for us in the long-run.
We weren’t sure if we would end up in a house or apartment, but we knew we had to find something quick! (side note: moving in a pandemic is no joke, y’all). We also have 3 cats so finding a place that we could have them was another challenge.
We found an apartment that would let us have all of our babies and we signed with them right away. We toured the property, but had no idea what our unit would look like until move-in day. I was STRESSED for months and I honestly had no idea what to expect.
The last time I lived in an apartment, I showed up to move-in and the apartment had been trashed and looked (and smelled) like a dumpster. I was mortified and have recently learned that experience has tainted my view of apartment-living.
To say that I was not excited about moving into an apartment again would be an understatement…
As move-in day got closer, my stress about everything skyrocketed and I was definitely preparing for the worst.
But…
I am so happy to say that our apartment is beautiful (and clean) and it has been a world of a difference from my last experience! Our neighbors are so kind, the staff is accommodating, and the complex is quiet and clean- BLESS!
We have loved it so far, so I want to share what made packing, moving, and the transition back into apartment-life so seamless!
P A C K I N G
Sort and Donate Clothing, Shoes, Bedding, etc.
I can’t tell you how many times Cor and I have had the conversation about the amount of clothes and shoes I have. So, when I started packing everything, I realized that I had stuff in my closet that I didn’t even know was in there.
I finally listened to Cor and decided to go through all of my stuff and donate what I hadn’t used within the last year. To my surprise, I had over 6 trash bags full of clothes and shoes that I ended up donating.
I’m not saying I have a shopping problem, all I am saying is that my perspective has changed…
To help yourself, go through your closet, bedding, kitchen items, and entertainment stuff to see what you don’t use and if you haven’t used it in a while or didn’t even remember you had it, DONATE IT! Someone out there could use it, and its also a win-win for you to not have to pack it and not use somewhere else.
Tip: Watch Marie Kondo on Netflix and then go look at all of your stuff. Decide if your items really “spark joy” and then make it a priority to donate what you don’t want/use.
Label Boxes As You Go
There is nothing more overwhelming than a room full of boxes that you don’t know what is in them or where they go. The best thing you can do is have a sharpie or marker with you, label the boxes as they are packed, and organize them how you want them to be put in your moving vehicle.
Tip: Put a roll of tape and a sharpie in every room so you don’t have to go looking for one every time you need it. Have an extra sharpie in your pocket or clipped on your shirt for extra style points and ease 😉
Use Blankets To Pack and Protect Fragile Items
Moving is expensive AS HECK. We wanted to save as much money as we could so instead of buying packing paper/bubble wrap, we used: blankets, pillow cases, and even paper towels to wrap our wine glasses/coffee cups/picture frames/crystal serving dishes.
By doing this, we saved $$$ and didn’t have to buy as many boxes!
Tip: use paper towels in-between plates/cups to add some cushion and keep them to clean your new space as you unpack!
Start Packing ASAP- if you can!
Packing on the day that you need to move is NOT the way to go.
You want to make sure that the moving process is as seamless as possible, so if you have time to pack before the big move- do it!
We started packing once we knew our move-in date, and it made everything so much easier! Make sure you plan ahead and keep items out that you use everyday so you don’t have to buy more or unpack any boxes.
The week before we moved, we had almost everything packed! We had a suitcase for our clothes/shoes and our must-have bathroom items and basically lived among the boxes until we were at our new apartment. This is not ideal for every situation, but it is what worked for us so I am happy it turned out the way it did!
Tip: get some paper plates, throw away utensils, a reusable water bottle/cup and keep a few pots and pans out so you don’t have as many dishes or that much of a clean up! The last thing you want to do is dishes and there is no shame in the paper plate game!
M O V I N G
Plan Ahead For Renting A Truck
When we moved from Lubbock, we didn’t think we would need a moving truck.
We were so wrong…
At the last minute, we had to find a trailer that would fit all of our stuff and my dad + Cor ended up having to drive an hour each way to pick one up.
This time around, we planned ahead and got the biggest truck we could find so we knew we had the space if we needed it. We also only wanted to make one trip since we were moving over an hour away!
This was an expense we knew we would have so we saved up once we knew when/where we would be moving to. It was a game-changer for us and we don’t regret spending that money at all!!!
Tip: find a truck with a lift so you don’t have to jump up into the truck every time you pack something! We used Penske– they were the best to work with and their trucks were affordable. From the beginning, they worked with us every step of the way and double-checked we had everything we needed. They answered every question we had and made sure our experience was the best it could be (customer service: 10/10)! The lift on the truck helped the move go by so quickly and made sure no one hurt themselves moving the boxes into the truck, which was a huge concern of mine, so I am happy we opted for a company that offers them. Overall, we will use Penske for any moving needs we have and have shouted their praise from the rooftops to anyone we know who is moving.
Pack Your Bed LAST
This is the first thing my parents told me and I am SO happy they shared their moving wisdom.
If you are thinking: big stuff goes in first so the little things can fit around it- YES! But not with your bed.
By packing your bed last, it is the first thing to go in your new home, which means it is set up first!
At the end of moving day, all you want is to take a shower and go to bed. You don’t want to mess with having to bring in a bed frame/mattress around all of the boxes, so by bringing it in first you can set it up without restriction and jump into it as soon as the last box has been brought in!
If setting your bed up is the only thing you do the day you move-in, count it as a win and start fresh the next day.
Tip: wash your sheets the day you are moving so they are clean when your bed gets set up at your new place! Also, keep your toiletry bag with you so you have your toothbrush/toothpaste, hairbrush, face wash, etc. handy and you don’t have to hunt for it!
Treat Your Moving Helpers
Moving is expensive and there are so many hidden things you have to plan for, but one thing you should definitely plan on doing is treating the people who helped you pack/load the truck/drive to help you unload/move-in to the new place.
We wanted to treat our people as much as they would let us, so we also budgeted in this expense! Our love language is food, so this was the best way for us to show our thanks and also make sure no one starved while packing/moving.
We hit up Chick-fil-a for easy lunches + their meals are filling so we knew it would tide everyone over for the next few hours. We got an array of sandwiches, some nugget trays, and whatever drinks/sides everyone wanted so we had some leftover snacks if anyone wanted something extra.
We are so thankful for our tribe and know that they didn’t have to help us, but chose to spend their time getting us to our next adventure (shout out to our fav people!).
Tip: Thank your helpers, and then thank them again. They love you and are showing you by being a helping hand!
Put Boxes In The Room The Stuff Goes In
By organizing your boxes when they are brought in, this will help you as you unload so you don’t have to keep moving boxes around.
Tip: When you label what is in the boxes, put what room they go in so its easier for your helpers to put them where they go without asking! This will make your life (and their life) easier!
Set a schedule to UNPACK!
Moving is exhausting, and the last thing you want to think about it unpacking everything you just spend so much time packing and organizing. You will think to yourself that it will be okay to live amongst the boxes for awhile, but I am here to tell you…don’t.
To keep yourself from living in a box-filled wonderland, set a schedule for unpacking!
Do it one room at a time, unpack 5, 6, 7 boxes a day…whatever works for you, do it and stick to it!!
The boxes will be gone eventually, but you have to stay on schedule to get settled!
The last time we moved, we still had stuff in boxes over a year later, so I definitely don’t advise that way of unpacking.
This time, I had a schedule for us to unpack and a week later we only have a handful of boxes left (happy dance)!!! It was hard to stick to a schedule, but I was determined to get settled before we started work, so that was my hidden drive. Set an unpacking goal, and do what you have to do to accomplish it! You will thank yourself later.
Tip: Unpack your bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen first so you can at least shower/get ready and eat while unpacking everything else!
Your new adventure awaits you and I hope that these tips help make the transition easier!
I compiled a list based on what I made for our move for you to use so you don’t forget anything! Check out the list here and let me know what you think about everything by commenting below.
If you are moving into a dorm, I made a checklist just for you! Check it out here.
Happy Packing/Moving/Unpacking- I hope you enjoy every second of it!
