Now that you've used up a gigantic mound of boxes and tape, your garage is overflowing with packed boxes, and you are eating off of with forks leftover from your last fast food meal, the easy part is over. Now that you're all packed up, a day or two before the move itself, it's time to work on the last few items.
You'll most likely need to have a ladder for this part, along with the tools outlined in our last post. If you've had large window coverings you will probably need some wood filler, in addition. If you are moving yourself, you will need moving blankets, baggies or small containers, and plastic wrap on a large roll for furniture, mirrors, art and lighting.
Roll with the Punches and Plan Ahead
Packing for a relocation takes a long time, and you need to plan for that if you are going to do a DIY move. A large dry-erase calendar can help keep you on track, and you can edit it as changes occur. There are three stages of a move--purging, packing, and the move itself--and staying organized with steps 1 and 2 will make step 3 a lot less tense.
One of the worst blunders you can make as a pack-it-yourselfer is to overweight boxes. Books are a huge offender; they are normally small but they are heavy. Four or five hardbacks is enough 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 Moving Day in San Antonio
Now that the big day is tomorrow, it's time to get going on the pantry and the fridge. Unless you are moving locally, your best bet is to take all the new non-perishables to a food pantry, and toss the rest. For a short trip, you can place perishables in coolers containing dry ice, but food is a lot like everything else--is unpacking those half-empty jelly jars worth your time?
Movers most of the time want the art and mirrors protected 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 assembled any of your furniture, now is when you need to take it apart. Most furniture can be deconstructed 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 is a smart idea to take photos of the hardware in the event that something gets lost--and it will.
Pack your cleaning supplies and plan on taking them to the new house in your automobile--the chemicals can't go on the truck.
Cover furniture in the moving blankets and make sure the blankets stay put with the plastic wrap. The wrap won't mar finishes and keeps drawers in place when chests are moving around.
Moving Day in San Antonio
If you've spent the final night in your residence, you were smart enough to sleep on mattresses on the floor, since your beds are in pieces. You have also packed a small suitcase with necessities for the day since all your clothes packed. Place your linens and towels in a decent sized box or bag, and away you go. Movers schedule their days in blocks, so a large move could be a multiple day project. The movers will likely be at your house bright and early and ready to get started—the timeclock 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.
