Now that you've gone through a huge pile of boxes and tape, your garage resembles a distribution center, and you're dining on paper plates 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 ahead of moving day, it's time to deconstruct.
You will probably need a ladder for the next to-do items, along with the tools outlined in our last post. If you've had big window coverings you might need some wood filler, also. If you're DIY moving, 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 quite a while, and you should plan for that if you're going to do a DIY move. A large dry-erase calendar should help you stay on schedule, and you can edit it as needed. There are three stages of a move--purging, packing, and the move itself--and keeping on top of steps 1 and 2 should make step 3 a lot less exasperating.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a pack-it-yourselfer is to overweight boxes. Books are a big culprit; they're normally not large but they weigh a lot. Four or five hardbacks is sufficient 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 area with the books themselves.
The Day Prior to Moving Day in Oklahoma City
Considering the big day is tomorrow, it is time to get going on the pantry and the fridge. Unless you are moving locally, it’s advisable to take all the unopened non-perishables to a food pantry, and toss the rest. For a short trip, you can put perishables in coolers with dry ice, but food is a lot like your other items--is unpacking those half-empty jelly jars worth your time?
Movers frequently want the art and mirrors wrapped in bubble wrap or crated before they load them. If not, you still need to pad each piece (flannel sheets, beach towels, etc. work great between pieces) and move them in your car instead of the moving van. You can secure lighting with a seatbelt if you're moving yourself.
If you put any of your furniture together, now is when you should disassemble it. Most furniture can be dissembled with 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 pay a visit to the local hardware store. It is not a bad idea to take photos of the hardware in the event that something gets misplaced--and it will.
Pack your cleaning supplies and plan to take them to the new home in your car--the chemicals can't go on the truck.
Cover furniture with the moving blankets and make sure the blankets stay put with the shrink wrap. The wrap won't scratch finishes and keeps drawers in place when chests are moving around.
Moving Day in Oklahoma City
If you've spent the final night in your residence, you most likely slept on mattresses on the floor, since your beds have been dismantled. You have also packed a small suitcase with necessities for the day since all your clothes are in boxes. Place your linens and towels in a big box or bag, and away you go. Movers schedule their days in blocks, so a big move could take multiple days. They'll likely be at your house first thing and ready to get going—the timeclock starts when they get there, not after you've had your coffee. It is going to be a long day, so respect their time and expertise by being ready for them.
Follow these tips for proper packing and you'll be promptly pleased with your new house—particularly when you can find the coffee pot.
