yes, get some of those furniture moving disk available at lowes, home depot and even walmart. They make moving heavy furniture so much easier!

A hand truck and a couple of dollies will make life much easer.

This isn't for the heavy stuff, but buy some large trash bags and pack your towels, blankets, sheets, etc. in them. They can then be squished in between things, filling up all the nooks and crannies. Or use your towels and linens to pack your dishes, etc. to cushion them, instead of newspapers or paper towels.

Label boxes on several sides & top with the room and contents. It will make it easier when things are happening in a hurry. Use red marker or bright sticker on FRAGILE boxes so they get the special attention they need.

Also, pack some rugs last or take them in your car so that before anything goes in the new house, you have some rugs in place. If you've moved before, you also know to have the essentials box with TP, Paper towels, spray cleaner, hand soap or wipes, paper plates and so forth.

Best wishes on your move in.

Jill

Label each box for the room, and in it go only things for that room! In the kitchen, each box was labeled for the particular shelf. It may have been a few more boxes than usual, but unpacking went really fast! Color-code each box (to indicate room) on every side. I used bright address labels that were pre-colored (it's faster to slap a label than to swipe a marker).

Floor covers *everywhere* (actually leftover from the build cuz I bought, I keep). Extra mats between the truck and the door... it takes 12' of carpet to get dust off the soles of your shoes.

Sheets of bubblewrap; I taped them at elbow height to protect all walls and the door frames, while the furniture was being carried in. I also used bubblewrap directly on the furniture -- up and down any corner and around all legs. If bubblewrap is not used, wrap with 2 layers of mover's quilts (you can rent those along with the dollies).

Ditto on using the hand trucks! Do not carry anything that can be toted on the hand truck. If you have steps, be sure to rent the kind of dollie that has a step-roller on the back... it sure beats going thump-thump-thump.

If you're having friends over to help, try to have everything boxed up before they get there. We've helped a few friends move and one couple didn't pack much before we showed up, it was a real frenzy trying to get everything packed up, and the guys just stood around because they didn't know what should be packed where! We'll have some friends help us move, and I'm planning to have everything packed up and ready to go that day.

Since we're going to be really busy with the build, I've also been packing for months, anytime I have a free hour, I just pack up a box, anything we won't be using in the next 6 months goes in a box.

One other thing I thought of the other day, we'll be moving into our shop for a few months, I have a LOT of candles, so I'll pack all candles in a couple of boxes and take them strait to my parent's house-I don't want to risk a big box of melted wax if our shop gets too hot!!

lol....my temporary home is a single-wide trailer that is parked 10' in front of the new house so moving for me will be a breeze. I don't even have to box things up!!

The essentials box should also include a screwdriver.

Yes, sell all the old stuff and buy new. No, just kidding!! I can't add to what others have already said. Very good advice.

if you plan on lifting anything heavy or bulky, go to a nearby u-haul store and buy lifting straps(call them first to make sure they have in stock - they fly off the shelves). You get 2 in a package and they are each about 15 feet long and have loops on each end. The straps go around your forearms. You have to cross the straps - follow the directions on the package.

These things are incredible - 2 guys can easily pick up and move a refrigerator or any heavy piece of furniture much easier than with the old back and arms approch. The leverage you get by using your forearms is tremendous. I used these straps to move a large heavy king size matress which are very bulky and hard to pick up. The straps made it very easy.

I had seen these things on TV before and thought it was a gimmic. They really work. If you go to the u-haul web site, i think they have a video on-line that shows how they work. I think the cost 30 dollars - well worth it.

Thank you! DH is loving the straps idea and looking to purchase them now. THank goodness I posted this before I started packing, got some great ideas!!!

If by chance your local u-haul doesn't have the straps - you can make your own by purchasing a towing strap at Home Depot. A single towing strap is about 30 feet long and has two loops on each end. Cut in the middle to make 2 into 2 straps. The ends that were cut can be wrapped around your forearm. The u-haul straps are better because both ends have a loop - but in a pinch the make your own works.

Good luck with the move.

meldy_nva, what kind of tape did you use with the bubble wrap? Did it take any of the paint off of the wall?

Thank you!

trudymom ~ Removable tape. And I was amazed to find it came off cleanly, leaving the paint on the wall. tttt, I had expected to have to touch-up the paint but figured that was better than fixing dents. Keep in mind, your tape may be stickier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Removable tape