Rockies Rentals

So, you’ve decided to move!  Before you even start looking for your new place, here are some thoughts to get you on your way!

• Purge. There is no time like the present to get rid of unused items.  The more clutter you can reduce, the less you need to move.  Plain and simple.  If you come across items that you haven’t touched since your last move, those definitely need to find a new home.  Weed out your clothing collection. Shred old documents that you no longer require.  If you are disposing of anything that is still useful (just not to you), consider posting it on FreeCycle.org, or donate it to the Victory Thrift Store (3 Industrial Place, Canmore).
• Get Stocked Up. It’s amazing how many boxes it actually takes to move!  It’s good to get a selection of different sizes.  Small boxes should be used to pack heavy items (books, dishes), while larger boxes can be used to pack light, bulky items (clothes, shoes, linens).  Visit the liquor store to get wine boxes.  They have strong bases so you don’t have to worry about the bottom breaking open when packing heavy and precious items. Also get some good packing tape and a few markers for labelling boxes.  Ask local retailers if they have extra bubble wrap from incoming shipments. They’ll be happy if you will take it away.
• Get Organized. On the outside of each box, write a number and the name of the room it will go in your new place (ie bathroom, guest bedroom, shed).  Get a spiral-bound notebook and make it your moving bible.  In your new notebook, write down the box number and the contents. This means you can start packing early, and if you need to find something either before or after you move you will know exactly in which box to look.
• Start Packing. Seasonal and seldom used items should be the first to be packed.  Knick knacks should be next. Leave out a few books and movies for your last few weeks, but pack the rest up. Make yourself a travel toiletry to cover you for the last remaining days, and pack up al the other bathroom stuff.  By the last week before your big move, only the items that you need for exactly one week of living should be left to pack. If you packed one box each day in the month prior to your move, you can concentrate on moving (and not packing) in the last few days.
• Use Your Luggage. Pull out every duffle bag and piece of luggage you own.  They are great for packing clothes — go figure!  You might even want to borrow some luggage, particularly if it comes on wheels.
• Reserve a Rental Truck. As soon as you know the date of your move, reserve the truck.  Think about how many people need to move out on the last day of the month!  There certainly aren’t enough trucks to go around, and you don’t want to be the one left on the street corner next to your pile of well packed boxes.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under For Tenants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.