When You Need To Move - Hints & Tips

Guest blogging for us is Paul Benjamin - a District Manager at EZ Storage.  Paul shares some helpful hints on packing, moving and storage.  He's also willing to lend a helping hand to any tenant that needs it for a cigar or bottle of wine.

Quite often, when families move, they find themselves spending a period of time in temporary housing. It's not always easy to find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood. That means that much of the family's household belongings will need to be packed away, and kept in storage. This is particularly true if you will be staying in a furnished apartment, or with friends and/or family, while you wait to close on your new home. Moving can be stressful at the best of times, and the stress factor can definitely rise when you find yourself having to temporarily store most of your possessions. But a few tips will make it easier to organize your packing and storage plans, and will hopefully help to relieve some of that moving day stress.

Prioritize

The first step is to prioritize. Decide on what you are going to take with you, and what you are going to store. Make a list of items that can be packed in boxes – these will be the easiest to store as sturdy boxes can be stacked to make the best use of your available space. Large pieces of furniture may need to be disassembled for storage, and you should consider whether you will use bubble wrap, tarps, or blankets to protect them during storage.

Packing Materials

Choosing the right packing materials is vital to ensuring that your belongings survive both the move and their time in storage without suffering any damage. Remember, everything is going to be moved into storage, stored for a period of time, and then moved again once you settle into your new home. Investing in good quality packing materials will definitely pay off. Consider the following tips:

• Boxes – Use high quality, sturdy boxes, for all of your packing needs. Consider investing in one or more wardrobe boxes for any clothes that will need to be stored. You may also need to get a few specialty boxes for televisions, computers, and electronics.
• Bubble-wrap – Bubble-wrap will help to protect fragile items. You may also want to use bubble wrap, or blankets, to cover valuable pieces of furniture to protect them from scratches.
• Packing Tape – Use strong, industrial grade, packing tape. Be sure to buy plenty, because you almost always need more than you think.
• Labels – Use self-adhesive labels, or marking pens, to label each box for storage.

Packing

Pack as much as you can into sturdy boxes that can be stacked in your storage facility. Label each box specifically, so they can be grouped together in the moving van and stored accordingly. Large items should be wrapped in bubble-wrap and labeled if necessary. Again, bulky pieces of furniture should be disassembled, wrapped, and labeled for storage.

Your Storage Facility

When putting your belongings in storage, the key is planning. Unload the largest items, and place them at the back of the unit. Rarely used items should also be stored at the back. Anything you may need to have immediate access to, like family papers or business files, should be placed near the front of your storage space. Stacking will help you utilize all of your available space. For example, if you are storing a couch, a love seat or set of chairs can be stacked on top. Cover any furniture with tarps to protect them from the elements. Be sure to leave some aisle space so you will be able to move easily through your storage space when it comes time to move any items.

Moving can be a stressful time, particularly if you need to store the bulk of your household belongings for an extended period. But the stress that accompanies moving can be greatly reduced if you plan ahead. Decide what you will need to store, pack it properly, and invest in a suitable storage facility. With proper planning you can ensure that all of your belongings will be safe and sound until you are ready to move into your new home.