Keeping things organized during the holiday season may prove to be a big challenge. With presents to wrap, cards to send and packing to be done before visiting friends and family, you may find yourself under a pile of papers even before Christmas gets even close.

· Make a list of everybody who’s getting either a card or a present. Write down the name, address and type of present to be given. Those that need to be sent should be bought and prepared first. If you are planning on buying cardboard boxes for the presents, do so well in advance, so you have a chance to get the packages to the post office before the holiday rush starts.

· Label cardboard boxes that contain holiday decorations. Do this before you start taking anything out. This way you’ll know where everything goes when it’s time to put it back.

· Create a wrapping center. Designate a corner of your desk, a drawer or a box to put all the wrapping paper, tape and gift tags.

· Dig on your old boxes before buying anything new to decorate the house, the tree or the porch. Chances are you don’t remember what’s in there.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Moving out of a rental place is a lot different than selling your house and moving. For starters, moving dates are usually not flexible. This means you will have to much of the prep work in advance and ensure that everything is packed in moving boxes and out the door by the time you’re meant to turn the keys in. Not doing so could result in penalties or problems with the landlord. Depending on your lease contract, you may need to give advance notice about the move. The requirement is usually 30 or 60 days and you may have to forgo the security deposit if you’re moving before your lease is officially over.

When packing household items in boxes, keep your camera out. It’s always a good idea to take photos of any damage you caused, so they are properly documented in case of a disagreement. This is especially important if you had previous run-ins with the landlord and have a reason to believe he may try to keep the deposit. If possible, arrange for the landlord to tour the place with you after you’ve finished packing all your boxes. That way there’s no mistake about what’s going and what’s staying.

Before the tour, make sure you clean the apartment. You don’t have to shine the floors or shampoo the rugs, but make the place presentable. And always place all the cardboard boxes (already sealed with tape) in a single room, so you can move around freely and inspect every corner.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Moving doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, moving can be done for just a few dollars if you plan it well and are willing to creative when it comes to packing boxes, organizing and delivery.

1. Go through your stuff before you buy moving boxes and packing moving supplies material. Discard everything you don’t plan on taking along, decide what needs to be boxed and what can be wrapped or shipped as-is and then make a list of the moving supplies you need. That way you won’t buy more than needed.

2. Throw away and discard as much as you can. Only take along things you love. It will save money on moving and storing. Donate, sell or give away what you can replace for little money.

3. Do not use a storage unit. Make sure movers have a place to deliver your things to. Either wait a few days longer so the lease is already running or get there in advance so you can wait for it to be delivered.

4. Ask friends for help. Don’t abuse their generosity, but do ask for help if you’re running out of time or simply can’t afford to pay somebody to help you pack. If you ask for help, be specific. Tell the person what you need and make it easy for them to get on it.

5. Drive your own truck. Hire or borrow one if possible. Avoid the all-included moving experience, in which professionals come around to help you pack. It’s comfortable (and a must if you have antiques or valuable objects) but also expensive.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

It’s not only the packing boxes that can be a nightmare. Getting stuff out of moving boxes and into their right place can also make things difficult on everybody, unless you keep a few tips in mind.

As soon as the packers are done taking everything into the house, make sure there are no boxes missing. If you have a box inventory, make sure everything has been placed where it’s meant to be and that nothing is broken. If it is, show it to the driver right then and there, so making a claim later will be easier.

Move the moving boxes to the rooms where they’re supposed to be. Resist the temptation to start unpacking in the living room. You’ll end up with stuff all over the place and it will take longer to get organized.

For the first day in the house, unpack only the cardboard boxes that contains all the essentials, such as personal bathrooms stuff, linens and maybe a couple of cups and dishes. Leave everything else to be unpacked over the course of the next few days.

Every time you finish unpacking a box, close it flat and put it out of the way (in an empty room or against a wall) so you can get through the room without bumping into empty moving boxes.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Packing your moving boxes for a smaller place.

Downsizing has become increasingly popular, as people are trying to live more simply, save more money or buying their own (small) space. If you’re moving from a large place to a much smaller one, packing boxes and getting ready is essential for a smooth transition. 

Don’t pack anything moving boxes until you are completely sure it will fit into your new home. If the house is smaller, chances are the spaces to fit furniture will also be. Measure walls, windows, floors and ceilings to know what you can still use and you will need to leave behind.

There are certain items that fall into the “maybe” category, as in “maybe you should leave them behind.” These are: modular seating, love seats, pillows and rugs and glass coffee tables. These are all difficult to place in a home with a different floor plan, are cheaper to replace than move or have too much of a chance to break during transport to be worth the effort.

When it comes to packing items inside moving boxes, be ruthless. Unloved books, big potted plants, appliances you never use, artwork (unless it’s valuable or you really love it) and old, worn up bric-a-brac should be donated or discarded.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you don’t love it, don’t pack it into the cardboard moving boxes to begin with. Moving stuff is expensive and if you can easily and cheaply replace something once you arrive, then don’t take it along.

1. Wardrobe moving boxes can become heavy when packed to the brim. Be ruthless when going through your clothes. If it doesn’t fit, you don’t love the color or you haven’t worn it in over a year, toss it instead of packing boxes with it.
2. Other things that make no sense to pack into moving boxes and take along (unless they have sentimental value or they’re antiques): rugs, workout equipment, handyman tools, playground equipment, heavy furniture and CDs and DVDs that you don’t plan on watching again anytime soon.
3. Don’t pack anything moving boxes that may be difficult to insure or may affect your claims. This includes items forbidden by moving companies, such as flammable items, aerosol cans, frozen foods and valuable paperwork. They should be either left behind or carry in smaller moving boxes that can fit in your own car.
4. Buy your packing boxes and moving supplies well in advance and pack with time. This will allow you to throw away whatever you don’t want or need and to donate things that still a useful life but you no longer need.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Whether starting to pack for your move or storing the moving supplies for a while, keeping your moving boxes in perfect condition will ensure that your valuables will make to their destination in one piece.

• Don’t put your moving boxes together until you’re ready to fill them up. Until then, store them flat and against a wall or other structure. This will prevent the moving boxes from bending or breaking.
• Always fill up moving boxes all the way to the top. Empty spaces can cause the moving boxes to crush, not only risking the items inside but also ruining the box itself. If you can’t fill out the cardboard boxes with items, fill the remaining space with moving supplies such as crumbled up packing paper, bubble wrap or house hold items such as towels or sheets, which will act as extra padding.
• When stacking up moving boxes, put the heaviest at the bottom to prevent crushing lighter cardboard boxes.
• Store your packing boxes in a dry environment. Humidity can not only ruin the items inside the box, but it can weaken the cardboard boxes and cause it to break open.
• Distribute weight evenly inside the moving boxes. This will make them easier to pick up and less likely to give out because of the weight.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you thought packing and moving was stressful, you should wait and see what the unpacking is all about. To make that last step bearable, follow this simple rules:

1. If you remove hardware from furniture or other household items, place them into small Ziploc bags and then tape the bag to the item itself. Or place a label on the bag and write (with a permanent marker) what the items are for.
2. Unpack your beds first, so you can turn in quickly when fatigue or stress set in. As an alternative, bring an air mattress or a sleeping bag with you, so you don’t have to do the heavy work on your first day.
3. Pack moving boxes by room and clearly label them as Kitchen, Bathroom, etc. That will make it easier to locate the items you need once you arrive.
4. Pack essentials to help you get through the first day or two in a separate piece of luggage that you’re planning on taking with you. Include a change of clothes, personal toiletry items, a book or magazine, medication and any other item you need on a daily basis. You don’t want to be digging around in boxes to find your toothbrush on your first night.
5. Move a day later than your lease starts. This will allow you to get to the house before your boxes arrive and get the place ready by quickly moping the floors, airing the rooms or turning on the fridge. Little things you can do in advance mean less things to do on moving day.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

1. Place heavy items at the bottom of the moving boxes and lighter items on top, even if they’re made of resistant material. This will ensure that they’re not crushed or broken by the weight.
2. Tape the bottom of the moving boxes to ensure that they don’t open or break during transport, risking the contents. Tape the top to prevent moving boxes from opening and the contents spilling.
3. Use lots of bubble wrap or foam pellets around fragile items. The more, the better. Larger items can also be wrapped with a moving blanket to prevent scratches or chips.
4. Make sure cardboard boxes are not underfilled, as this can cause them to crush when piled. If there’s empty space at the top, use it to pack blankets, towels or other cushioning items that can play double duty and provide additional protection.
5. Clearly label the moving boxes as Fragile. Use waterproof markers or better yet, buy red stickers with the word Fragile on them, which are easier to spot even at a distance.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

One cost you may not be aware when moving is repacking. Every company has the right to check your moving boxes and larger items to ensure they are properly packed. This is a way for them to protect themselves against insurance claims that arise because an improperly-packed article broke during transport.

If the company establishes that your items are not properly packed or protected, they may ask you to repack. However, if time is tight and the inspection doesn’t happen until the moving boxes are already on the moving truck, you may be charged a repacking fee for packing boxes or items like this.

To avoid this, make sure your items are secured and properly placed inside moving boxes. Larger items should be covered with moving blankets or bubble wrap that has been taped in place to prevent movement.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites