Are you or someone you know moving back home after college? Let the packing begin. Whether you’ve finished your first year, graduating, or somewhere in-between, the key to packing success is to start early and plan ahead. Take a look at helpful tips prepared for you by the professional Louderback moving services in Lehigh Valley team.
Start Early and Prepare For A Stress-Free Experience
Just like preparing for an exam or research paper, the key to a stress-free move is to start early and prepare. Create a timeline that lists each room of your home or apartment or sections in your dorm room. This gives you a checklist to avoid last-minute, unexpected issues while giving you plenty of time to go through all your things. Your checklist should include your personal belongings and list tasks like canceling utilities and scheduling cleaning services.
Remove Clutter and Donate Wisely
You probably have accumulated more things through your college career, from mementos to textbooks to party supplies and kitchen gadgets. Before you start packing, remove clutter. In other words, get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore. Create three piles with these categories, keep, donate, and throw out. Donate items that are in good condition that you no longer need, including extra bedding, appliances, and furniture. Keep items you can’t live without and throw other items in the garbage. This might take some focus and time but will make packing and unpacking at home much easier.
Pack With Care And Efficiency
Pack with smart efficiency instead of throwing anything and everything into bags and boxes. Take time to:
- Invest in Sturdy Boxes: Have plenty of different-sized sturdy boxes, a tape dispenser, and markers handy. Use smaller boxes for heavy books and larger ones for lighter items like sheets and pillows. Don’t make boxes too heavy, distribute the weight accordingly.
- Label Every Box: Use a marker to label each box with what is inside and which room it should go in at home. This will make unpacking easier and more organized.
- Protect Breakables: You probably have fragile, breakable belongings like mirrors, picture frames, and dishes. Wrap them carefully in packing paper, bubble wrap, or clothing and towels to prevent damage.
Pack Smart and Separate Essentials
It’s important to pack certain items separately. For example, medicine, bathroom items, reading glasses, contact lenses, and important documents (like your diploma or job offer) should be packed and kept close to you if you need them at a moment’s notice.
Pack An Overnight Bag or Box
Whether you have to travel a few minutes or many hours back home, prepare an overnight bag or box of essentials to use when you get home. This should include a change of clothing, pajamas, toiletries, important medication, and other personal items. This is helpful for your first night or two back home.
Storing Boxes When You Get Home Tips
Once you are back at “home sweet home”, consider how you will store the boxes you will need to take back to college next year. Here are a few tips to keep you organized, prepared and your family happy:
- Under the Bed: One of the best, “out of sight, out of mind” storage spaces is underneath your bed. Flatten them and they will be ready for you when it’s time to pack them back up again.
- Vertical Closet Space: Your doors and closet offer areas for hanging shelves and over-the-door organizers full of convenient pockets and pouches.
- Basement or Garage: If the basement or garage is available, these areas may provide temporary or permanent storage space. Try not to keep them directly on the ground in case they get wet, which could ruin them.
Make Moving Back Home An Enjoyable Experience
Taking the time to physically and mentally prepare for the transition from college to living at home will be much more enjoyable when you pack smart. Enjoy your time at home.
Contact Louderback Moving, the best moving companies in Easton PA for all your moving needs.
