Selling Unwanted Items

A great way to move with less is to hold a yard sale. Selling unwanted items provides additional cash you can put toward your move and other bills. When you get ready to start packing, place items into three piles: stuff you are taking with you, stuff to throw away or donate, and stuff to sell.

Depending on the time of year you plan on moving, weekends are the best time to hold a yard sale. If moving during the summertime, plan your yard sale in the morning hours when it is not as hot. There will be many people out looking for a bargain between the hours of 9am and Noon. Items you don't sell can be sold the following weekend or they can be donated to local charities.

In addition earning some extra cash from a yard sale, you can also ask for a receipt for any items you donated and earn tax credits.

Which Truck to Rent?

Many people are confused when renting a moving truck. Because they are unsure how much stuff they have, people who are moving usually rent a truck that is too big. This can end up costing them a lot more money than they would have had to spend. Also, larger trucks are more difficult to drive than smaller ones. So, if plan on moving yourself, keep this in mind.

Most moving companies have comparison charts for you to read that can help you choose the right truck. Depending on the rooms in your home or apartment, most people do not need as large a truck as they think. After going through their stuff and disposing of broken items, trash, and unwanted items, many people realize they do not have as much as they originally thought. Since smaller trucks cost less to rent, most people are relieved when they realize the size truck they actually need.

Moving Yourself vs. Hiring a Moving Company

Depending on your moving budget, you may want to save the cost of hiring a moving company by packing, loading, driving, and unloading stuff yourself. While this may take a few extra days, you can save a lot of money in hiring movers and drivers.

One way to make this easier is to ask for help from family and friends. Usually someone will have some spare time to help. If not, you may have to plan your move more carefully in order to have enough time.

Hiring a moving company does have its advantages, however. By hiring movers, you will not have to work as hard moving heavy furniture, boxes, and other items. If you need to start your new job right away, you can instruct the movers what to do and expect your stuff to arrive within a few days of the planned move date.

The Dangers of Overfilling Boxes

During your move, you will be tempted to overfill boxes, crates, and other containers in order to get everything packed and ready to go. But overfilling boxes can be hazardous to you, those who are lifting the boxes, and to the items themselves.

To avoid overfilling boxes, wrap and place items in the box one at a time. Layering dishes and glassware will allow you to fit more inside. Periodically, check the weight of the box. If you are having trouble lifting it, then it has too much stuff inside. Just because you can fit more items into the box doesn't mean you should.

This is especially true of books, computer equipment, and other items that seem to weigh less before they are packed into a box. After the box is full, place newspaper or bubble wrap over the items and seal the box with packing tape.

Protecting Fragile Items from Harm

There are many ways to protect fragile items from harm. Wrapping glass and other valuables in newspaper, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, or cushioned inserts that come with boxes purchased through moving companies will help protect them during the loading, unloading, and transportation stages of your move.

When placing glass and other fragile items into a box, line the bottom of the box with newspaper or bubble wrap. Completely cover the items in wrapping material and place them carefully into the box. Do not pack too many items in one box. Make sure the box can be sealed completely before placing in the moving truck.

You may be able to buy moving insurance when using a moving company. This insurance will cover any damage to items up to a certain limit. If moving across the country to internationally, this insurance is a good investment.

Choosing the Right Box Sizes

Packing is an important step in the relocation process. The boxes you choose should be the correct size so the items inside are well protected. If you try to fit large items into smaller boxes, they may break or damage other items in the moving truck. Boxes should always close easily and should be sealed with packing tape.

Using boxes that have been used a few times may no longer be strong enough for you to move with. Make sure all boxes are sturdy so your items will not fall out when moving boxes to and from the truck. If you are unsure about a box, then you should not use.

Many moving companies will not move your boxes unless they are packed using new boxes. Contact the moving company before packing so you don't have to empty boxes and start all over.