Moving Tips

Even the idea of moving to college is scary. From leaving the comforts of home to finding new friends, college move-in day can make anyone anxious.

But, by carefully planning and organizing to move into your dorm, you can make the experience a little less stressful. This College Move-in guide is here to help you navigate the process of what to bring and what not to bring.

After you’ve taken the time to say farewell to your high school buddies, it’s time to start planning your big move! Often times, preparing ahead of time before you make the trip to settle in your dorm can make the experience while you’re there seamless and easy.

Each college also has its own guidelines for move-in, so it’s important you know what to expect. There will be some crucial documents you will need to bring, in addition to personal items like clothes, toiletries, and electronics.

For example, you’ll need to have a valid photo ID, confirmation of your dorm room assignment, and any other documents the school asked you to bring. These items are often required to sign for and receive the keys to your dorm room.

Preparing your home for a sale can be a stressful situation. Between working through clerical work with a real estate agent and making everything is in order for your future, there’s plenty that can get lost in the mix.

To help you stay on track, here are tips and suggestions to prepare your house for a sale, as well as how you can attract buyers by decluttering your home of personal items.

Before you do any work on your home to prep for the sale, you’re gonna make sure you dot your I’s and cross your T’s, so to speak. Long story short, you’ll need to decide whether you would like to list and price your home on your own, or work with a real estate agent.

This is important because you’ll already be doing a lot of the decluttering to prepare on your own, so you’ll need to decide if you have the bandwidth to handle the sale itself or not, too.

Working with a real estate agent will allow you more time to focus on everything you need to do to get your home ready, from house cleanouts for the sale to decluttering projects, you’ll need all the time you get.

Documents needed to sell a house

From sales contracts to inspection reports to purchase offers, deeds and more, here are the typical documents needed to sell a house.

• Utility bills
• Tax bills
• Mortgage loan documents (if you have one)
• Disclosure documents
• Personal identification
• Final purchase and sale agreement

The No. 1 thing to consider when getting a home ready to sell is to consider curb appeal.

So what is curb appeal? By definition, curb appeal deals with how attractive your property is to potential buyers. So when you’re ready to start the steps to prepare to sell your house, curb appeal should be at top of your mind.

So the question remains: How to add curb appeal to a home? The process isn’t as confusing as you may think. Most home decluttering projects are typically for a person to clean up their space for healthier living.

It depends on the property, but sometimes clearing out yard debris and clearing the drive way will take you most of the way. But with a home sale, you’re going to want to go above and beyond. Because after all, you’re not decluttering for yourself, you’re decluttering to make some money 🤑.

Related Article: Check out these tips to boost curb appeal and increase your home’s value.

Start with exterior home maintenance

The first thing a prospective buyer will see is the outside of your home. You don’t necessarily need to begin the home prep for sale with this, but you definitely want to make sure this is the focal point, and that you spend the most time and energy on improving your home’s exterior.

With exterior maintenance, the focus, at first, should be on the front porch. Improving your front porch curb appeal is usually the first step. The front yard is essentially the first overall impression of the home. You’ll want to focus on your landscape choices, as planting the right greenery can help you spruce up your exterior.

Easy ways to improve curb appeal

• Power wash the driveway
• Re-paint your home’s exterior
• Replace or renovate garage doors
• Replace or renovate any windows or window boxes.

After you’ve checked every corner of the outside of your home, you’re ready to dive inside. For everything inside your home, you’re going to need a plan.

Related Article: How to organize and declutter your garage like a professional.

We suggest, you guessed it, a checklist!

You may be sensing a bit of a theme with the checklists, but, they are important! Starting room by room helps you stick to a schedule, which is important if you’re on a time constraint.

Which room you choose to start organizing and decluttering first is totally up to you. However, since you are decluttering for a sale, you may want to focus on areas of the house that a prospective buyer may spend the most time in.

You’ll want to consider how you show the house. We suggest you start and spend the most time in the living room. After all, a living room should be inviting, right? Here’s a quick rundown of a few things you can do to help you get started.

11 tips to declutter your home and organize to prep for a sale

1. Clear the hallways.
2. Clear out your kitchen junk drawer.
3. Toss out, sell or donate excess furniture.
4. Clear kitchen counters of any appliances.
5. Keep the living room table decor to a minimum.
6. Update lighting fixtures that are old or outdated.
7. Organize any storage rooms in the basement or attic.
8. Declutter any kids toys and games that may be left out
9. Check bathroom drawers and cabinets and get rid of personal items.
10. Go through wardrobes and throw out old clothing you aren’t taking with you.
11. Make minor home repairs as needed like leaks, or even replace old water heaters.

The ultimate goal is to make your home look attractive without all the everyday life qualities you may see from a working household.

Decluttering for a sale should make your home look almost too good to be true!

De-Personalize your Home! When preparing your home for a sale, the # one way to appeal to buyers is to take the personal aspect out of the home. Just because you like the wall decor doesn’t mean a prospective buyer will. Make a buyer feel like they can see themselves in this home.

Between all that goes into prepare to before selling your home, whether you hire a real estate agent or not, and the decluttering projects, sometimes the work can be rather overwhelming.

Having trouble with decluttering on your own? LoadUp is a trusted, on-demand junk removal service capable of hauling items like a mattress or refrigerator, or even bagged or boxed junk.

Need your whole property cleaned out? LoadUp can do that, too, and for a guaranteed upfront price that’s often up to 30% less than the market average.

In the end, decluttering to help prepare for a sale needs to be done properly in order to maximize your earnings potential on your sale. So don’t be afraid to let the professionals help if you can’t get it done on your own.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk Blog:

• Top 10 weirdest junk item’s we’ve seen
• How to organize the garage Like a PRO
• How to organize everything in your bedroom closet
• Organize and declutter the books in your personal library

Moving is a complex process as it is, but moving out of the state or across the country? That adds a whole other level of planning.

Long distance moves can take months to plan and execute. Try to be proactive to avoid too many responsibilities piling up. It is also important to be intentional about what you bring with you and what you leave behind (and declutter) when you move.

Look at every part of the moving process as a fresh start, even the tasks that seem tedious and difficult. These packing tips for a long distance move will greatly reduce your stress level and allow you to embrace the excitement of moving to a new place.

Before you start any sort of packing and preparation, make sure you have a checklist for moving out of state.

There are a countless number of duties to monitor and complete when you are moving. A checklist will help you keep track of items you may need, services you may need to hire, and an all encompassing to-do list of tasks that need to get done before the long distance move.

This checklist will help reduce the scatter-brained, overwhelmed feeling that comes with moving and allow you to stay on schedule.

There will be a point in the moving process when you ask yourself what not to move long distance. When this occurs, start with the big items first like furniture, appliances, mattresses, and exercise equipment.

Chances are, it does not make logistical or financial sense to bring all of these large items to your new home in another state. They may not fit the layout or vibe of your new place, or they may just take up too much room in the moving truck.

If you are not selling your old furniture or appliances, or there are large items that are broken that you need to get rid of, make this step of the process easier for yourself and hire a service like LoadUp.

After adding your items to your cart online and making your appointment, LoadUp will come to your property and dispose of your heavy household items. All that is required on your part is to disconnect your appliances, and allow for our Loaders to remove the items safely.

Simplifying what would otherwise be a time-consuming and laborious task, takes away that added pressure and knocks one more thing off the checklist for moving out of state.

Now you can move on to the smaller items. Packing up a property can seem like a daunting task, but it is also an opportunity to get rid of belongings you do not need.

Make sure you have all of the necessary materials to make the move easier, to keep your breakables in one piece and to speed up the packing process.

• boxes
• packing tape
• bubble wrap
• trash bags
• labels
• sharpie
• scissors

📦 Be Prepared: The average number of moving boxes used for a move is 60. Breaking down cardboard boxes can be time-consuming when you are ready to relax and enjoy your new place! Get Help with Cardboard Box Breakdown and Removal ❯.

Whether it is clothes, small household items, or junk you have been meaning to get rid of for a while now, be strategic about what will make the cross-country trek with you and what should be left behind.

Getting rid of old items to make room for something new can actually be very therapeutic. Aside from making the move easier by bringing less items, it can also help you get inspired in what you want to replace and how you want to design your new home.

After packing, do not add another chore by having to fill up your car with everything you are getting rid of, and taking trips back and forth from your local donation center.

LoadUp will come to your house and get rid of your household garbage, your old decorations, and whatever else you need disposed of.

Even if you are looking to donate, we can do that too!

Downsizing your wardrobe and prioritizing your essentials are a must during the moving process. Think about your new home, climate, career, environment, and hobbies, and allow those prompts to guide you while you search through your belongings and pack your closet.

Once you have decided what you are keeping, pack your clothes by seasons and/or types. Sorting your clothes by seasons and types helps speed up the unpacking process, and makes it easier to keep track of everything.

Whether you are putting your clothes into boxes or bags, make sure they are labeled clearly to avoid confusion. You can also utilize wardrobe boxes, trash bags, and garment bags to transport clothes like dress pants, blouses, and dresses without getting them wrinkled.

If you are wondering how to ship your clothes while moving, keep track of how many boxes of clothes you have and the weight of the boxes. Use this information to compare the prices of different services like USPS, FedEx, and UPS.

👚 Get Rid of Old Clothes: Find out more about where you can sell, recycle, or donate clothing.

Shipping clothes can be pricey, so we will reiterate the importance of being thoughtful about what clothes and items make the long distance trip to your new home.

Get Excited for Your Move!

Nothing ever goes 100% according to plan, especially when it comes to moving, but it’s about controlling what you CAN control, and trusting that everything else will work out in the end because of the work you put in before.

By being prepared, organized, and realistic about your long distance move, you can focus more on the journey and embracing the change. We hope that these long distance moving tips will help you during this exciting time in your life.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk blog:

• Find the right furniture disposal method with moving
• Easily get rid of your large, unwanted household items
• What to do with the leftover garage sale items
• When junk removal services are beneficial

Moving has always been a life event no one truly enjoys. It’s stressful, overwhelming, and time consuming even under the best of circumstances. However, add a global pandemic into the mix and in an instant your moving process becomes much more of a challenge.

What ever has caused you to move, be mindful of how these new social distancing practices will effect you. More thought goes into the moving process than ever before.

Planning is key here. There are several things you should have prepared prior to moving. Write yourself a to-do list and include some of these pandemic moving tips to get ready!

First, analyze your situation. Where do you stand with your current lease? Are you at the end of a lease and your only concerns are moving and finding a place? Or do you need to sublet?

Whichever it is, reach out to your current landlord to see if there are any new regulations to the moving out process. If you are moving to a new apartment, you will want to contact your new property manager to see what their move in process is for its upcoming residents.

Be careful to ask plenty of questions! Specifically about their cleaning process and their social distancing methods for getting your new apartment ready to be moved in to.

Another aspect to consider, when moving out, is if you need to show your current apartment. What once was not a health concern, now is. Protect yourself, the potential new renter, and your roommates (if any) by wearing masks, conducting solo tours, or opting for a virtual tour.

There are many people who are in a similar transition. With the current moving situation most are very aware of that regulations vary from city to city. Therefore, unlike previous times, many are accepting of virtual tours and are having the lease signing process done virtually as well.

Next, finalize where you will be moving prior to booking your moving method. Have a final address to which all your belongings can be directly delivered with no worry of having to hold it somewhere and moving it again. The fewer the amount of moving transfers, the better!

Decide on your Moving Method

Prior to the day you are moving out, decide specifically on how your are going to move all of your belongings. Whether that be via a moving company, shipping, or renting a truck to do it yourself. Be clear on your moving out process so you can make the necessary arrangements.

Know the Regulations

Due to how each state was personally effected by this pandemic, each state has it’s distinct regulations and are in different post-pandemic phases. So do your research. Especially if you are moving out of the current state you are residing in. Educate yourself on how that state is handling moves and what specific guidelines you may need to keep in mind while moving.

‼️TIP: Do your research on the guidelines for moving and remaining socially distanced. State specific guidelines during the pandemic can be found on the Center for Disease Control website.

Unlike previous moves, where you could take boxes from restaurants or from recycling bins, packing for this move has the added challenge of which boxes are safe for you to use. It might be in your best interest to bite the bullet and buy boxes when moving, this time.

📦 Boxing Hack: Use boxes you have previously used or ones you’ve have on hand from your most recent purchases. The less it’s touched by others, the better.

Take all the Necessary Precautions

You’ve heard it from your mom, and now the CDC and Fauci, a million times, but we’re here to say it again. Sorry, not sorry. By far one of the most effective prevention methods you can take is to WASH YOUR HANDS. So, wash your hands!

The Center for Disease Control has global standard guidelines which we should all abide by:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Disinfect as often as possible
• Maintain a social distance of 6 feet
• Wear a mask when out running errands
• If you are feeling sick, stay home

Socially Distanced Greetings

As different as it may be, and almost uncomfortable, avoid all your instincts and do not shake hands or greet in any of the ways you raised to do. Go against all your natural instincts- bet you haven’t heard that before- greet with a smile 🙂 instead of the standard handshake.

It may seem odd, but given our current reality, it is best to maintain the recommended six foot distance to protect yourself and others. So, try to avoid any unnecessary contact with others.

Make a List

One of the benefits about moving out of an old place and into a new one is being able to look through all your current belongings. It gives you the opportunity to decide what you do and do not want to take with you to the new place!

Make a list of things you know you can’t live without, things you want to keep, and things you want to get rid of. Out with the old, and in with that new, new!

You’ve made it to the most important step, the day you actually move all of your belongings. Whether you are moving with a company, having your stuff shipped later, or renting a truck and moving by yourself, there are a number of new things to now consider on moving day.

Hiring a Moving Company

You have your moving day scheduled and your pick up and drop off locations finalized, great! These are usually the two most important parts of moving day, however, given our current situation, there are now several health and safety factors that we now have to consider.

When hiring a moving company be sure to ask the appropriate questions, have them run you through what social distancing measures they’re taking, and what you can do on your end to help out. It is important to know what steps they are taking to keep you and their workers safe.

Do your best to make their job easier so you can stay out of the way as they do theirs. Have all of your belongings packed and ready to be move. If possible, leave everything together in the same room, or within a close proximity, to make the process run smoothly and quickly.

Shipping or Moving Yourself

Although this may be more time consuming, it does allow you to have more freedom. You have control over the packaging, method of transport, and who comes in contact with your things. Moving might take longer, but at least you only have yourself to worry about!

You have finally reached the best part of moving out. Moving IN. There is nothing more satisfying than finally getting to start settling in to your new place, unpacking, and organizing.

By this point you should have already been in contact with your new landlord to make sure everything in your new place has been cleaned, disinfected, and ready for you to move in.

The End 🎉 It’s time to celebrate 🎉 you’ve reached the final step!

Related Articles for Moving Day Prep:

• Ultimate Guide to Moving Checklist
• Moving out of your dorm: The college dorm room clean out
• How to Dispose of Used Furniture before Moving and Relocation

Transitioning from home to a retirement community or helping a loved one to hospice stirs many difficult emotions along with the challenge of figuring out how to downsize.

Aside from the emotional turmoil, senior downsizing can be disruptive for those facing the upheaval of moving in with their kids or into assisted living communities, nursing homes, or hospice, particularly when you’ve lived independently your whole life.

Reaching out to adult offspring and family can minimize the stress of downsizing from living at home to senior living, senior living to hospice, and even what to do with items after passing by staying in the loop with everyone that’s involved, sticking to a plan, and avoiding over-packing by following these downsizing tips for seniors.

Downsizing can be important for seniors that are planning a move. Over the years, it’s natural to have accumulated many personal items.

However, when transitioning to a new living space, such as a retirement community, assisted living facility, nursing home, or even a smaller house or apartment, chances are that not all belongings can be brought with.

Sorting through everything before moving is ideal as it simplifies the process and ensures that nothing important is left behind. By carefully selecting what to keep, you can focus on what is truly needed and what can fit comfortably a new home.

Remember, downsizing doesn’t mean losing memories; it’s about making room for new experiences in a comfortable, manageable living space.

Moving Checklist: Are you moving and looking for a detailed guide on how to organize, pack, and move easily and efficiently? Look no further! Check out our ultimate moving checklist here ✅.

Whether moving to a smaller home or a retirement home, it is best to start the downsizing process early. Start planning as early as two months before the move-in date.

It’s important to keep everyone informed throughout the whole downsizing process. It may seem easier to make executive decisions, but long-term happiness in a smaller home tends to correlate with what belongings come along to make new surroundings feel like home.

While you’re downsizing, make sure you’re getting estimates from moving companies so you don’t get any surprises. Once you know moving day is, book it ASAP because moving companies can quickly get booked up – especially during the summer months and on weekends.

Hiring a company for help could be beneficial to simplify downsizing and moving. Senior transitioning services assist in helping seniors downsize and move to retirement communities and nursing homes.

From sorting items, deciding what is coming, packing, transportation, move-in, set up, and more, they offer support for many facets of the transition.

Senior transitioning services are great options for:

• Those that don’t live close to family or friends.
• Seniors that need more hands to help declutter and downsize.
• Seniors that don’t have the strength or time to handle downsizing themselves.

These services are not free and do cost a certain amount depending on where you live and which company you use, so gather a few quotes before deciding on using a senior downsizing service.

After personal belongings have built up over the years, decluttering for seniors can be a big, time-consuming project.

Staying organized so that you can stay on track and keep any personal items that you want to hold on to is important. Start out by considering new living accommodations and what will be available.

Everyone’s situation is different, but if you’re going from a house to an apartment, retirement home, or assisted living facility, get ready for major downsizing. Start by getting to know the floor plan of the new place so you have a solid idea of how much space is available for personal items and furniture.

Measure any furniture and draw up a blueprint to see how the furniture can be arranged and if it will fit. You can easily do this with some graph paper.

Leave enough space for mobile accessibility. Moving around comfortably should be easy to do without any obstructions. Even if a wheelchair isn’t needed right now, there may be one in the future so make sure this layout will still be comfortable.

Make it Easy! Moving large and bulky furniture can be difficult for anyone, consider looking into getting all of your old furniture, mattresses, appliances, and more picked up by LoadUp.

Rule out entire rooms that are already a part of the facility such as the dining room, living room, outdoor area, etc. At this point, you should quite easily see how much furniture and household items aren’t going to make the transition.

Get rid of furniture and other household items like old couches, excess bookshelves, or dining tables by taking them to donation centers, listing them for sale online, or calling a junk removal company to haul away and dispose of surplus furniture.

It can be challenging to get rid of things that have been around for decades, so compromises will need to be made. Remember to remain patient and understand that while it may be difficult, it’s necessary to get rid of items that aren’t heirlooms or needed.

For sentimental items that can’t come along but aren’t ready to be discarded, think about long-term storage solutions or giving them to family members for safe-keeping.

As you start downsizing, consider which amenities are provided at the new retirement home or apartment. If there are certain things that aren’t available, try include them for a seamless transition.

This can be as simple as access to movies by getting Netflix or purchasing a device that makes any TV a smart TV like the Amazon Firestick. Don’t forget about hobbies!

Retirement homes typically offer a wide range of activities, but making a favorite pastime accessible can make a difference.

Remember to stay organized when decluttering. Some items are needed, others are wanted, and other items can be donated, recycled, sold, or discarded.

Differentiating between what is needed and what is extra can be difficult when you are looking at years of personal belongings. Keeping organized will help you simplify this and make sure that you don’t throw away anything important.

By ensuring “must-come” items aren’t forgotten, seniors can feel warm, loved, and at home in their new home. These most cherished possessions are usually of high sentimental value. Jot down a list to make sure none are forgotten in the frenzy of decluttering and downsizing.

Pack these must-come items and important documents first so you can guarantee they aren’t left behind. If you think determining and locating them is difficult now, imagine not bringing those items and having a broken heart after.

Some must-come items may include the following:

While you’re throwing old papers out, keep an eye out for important healthcare, financial, or legal papers. You wouldn’t want to toss these and later discover that you need them. These documents will make managing medical or financial emergencies less stressful. It’s important to keep these where you can easily find them.

If the new home isn’t close to family, you can make calling children, grandchildren, other family and friends convenient. This can be video calling through Facebook’s Portal, FaceTime, Zoom or Skype. You should also make sure the phone service is set, so they never miss a call.

Pack other items that offer comfort like the favorite recliner, a soft blanket, or favorite snack foods.

If pets are coming, make sure the nursing home allows them. We suggest packing Fido’s things in a special box or container that stands out so it’s readily available for when you arrive at the new home.

We’ve mentioned a few senior downsizing tips for what to keep — now it’s time for what to get rid of. Start sorting by going room to room to help make sure you don’t miss anything.

Sort six piles to help seniors downsize:

Earlier we mentioned gifting items that have no place in the new home. This is a great way to compromise and helps spread a legacy throughout the family with items that have sentimental value.

For everything else, it’s important to get rid of things as soon as possible to discourage over-packing and going down memory lane too many times. Don’t get us wrong — reminiscing is important, but dwelling for too long can make this already difficult process more strenuous.

You can donate by dropping off gently used clothes, working vacuums, treadmills, other electronics, and other household goods at thrift stores or charities.

It’s no secret moving is expensive and nursing home fees add up. You can save money by selling your loved one’s more expensive belongings that are in good condition. It’s easy to sell stuff online through places like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, LetGo and more.

Recycle by checking with your waste management company or local city government. See what they pick up or where you can drop off recyclables. You can look for recycling programs like Terracycle, Recycle Nation, and your local government for things like home goods.

Make Disposal Easy! Choose a junk removal company like LoadUp and we will pick up, pack and haul away all of your items for you. We get you fast, eco-friendly, and affordable junk disposal.

Downsizing from Senior Living to Hospice

As we’ve discussed, caring for an aging parent involves a few transitions and each one poses new obstacles. After being in assisted living, your loved one’s health may have declined to the point of needing regular skilled nursing or hospice. No one’s end-of-life care experience is the same, but there are a few common steps you can take to make hospice an easier transition.

Sometimes people can feel like going for hospice is like giving up on their parent, but it’s quite the opposite. This can be a really emotionally excruciating time for caregivers and the patient, but end-of-life care can offer your loved one a means to remain as comfortable as possible while providing emotional and spiritual support to the patient, caregivers, and family.

Some signs that it may be time to transition to hospice care are:

• Their quality of life is deteriorating while functioning alone
• They’re voicing they want to remain at home and not go to the hospital anymore
• They have decided to stop treatment for their illness(es)
• Multiple trips to the hospital with the same or worsening symptoms have occurred

Once you’ve decided it’s time for your loved one to have a regular skilled nurse by their side, consider if they need to move to your or their home if it is still in possession, a different facility, or remain where they are if the nursing home they’re at provides hospice care. If they’re moving to your or their previous home, you’ll need to downsize the home for hospice.

End-of-life needs are different for everyone so consult with the hospice care provider and your loved one’s care team to get an accurate to-do list to get the home ready. Typically the provider and care team will ask for an overview of the house to get a feeling for what is needed to most effectively keep your parent comfortable.

Similar to the maneuverability their assisted living apartment needed, the home is now turning into a long-term care facility. It doesn’t need to resemble a hospital. The workspace and living space just need to be safe and accessible for both the patient and caregivers.

Why downsize?

The home needs to have ample walking space without stuff cluttering up walkways. Clutter creates hazards for patients and caregivers in daily activities. If their mobility is limited, grab bars for mobility assistance can prevent falls. One essential place to pay attention to is the bathroom. Make sure it’s mobile-friendly, obstruction and hazard-free.

Don’t be afraid to consult frequently with the hospice care provider before they come to ensure that there’s enough space for any medical equipment that may be used.

You can follow the same tips listed above for donating, selling, recycling, and getting rid of clutter and hazards from your home. For more assistance in preparing your home, we have written about how to deeply declutter your home and how to get rid of practically anything.

Before transitioning to hospice, many people enlist the help of junk removal companies to help with downsizing. Their help simplifies the process while saving time and energy. Whether you need a grandfather clock, big recliner, or boxes of clutter taken, LoadUp can remove even the bulkiest items from wherever they are, load them up and haul them away for disposal.

As we’ve said, comfort is key and should be the driving decision-maker as you declutter for this stage in your senior’s life. So while you downsize, make sure you’re not discarding items that make them feel at home. Even if they have to be in bed for most of the time!

Getting the chance to sit in their comfortable chair or having a few favorite foods they’d enjoy on their own can really lighten up their mood. These small comforts can make something as stark as sleeping in a hospital bed feel more like their own home before all of the upheaval.

Some patients have difficulty getting in and out of a regular bed. In this case, a hospital bed can provide a safer and easier way for them to receive the proper care they deserve. They’re typically a little larger than a twin bed, have wheels and convertible bed rails for safety.

It’s important is to put the bed in the safest space with the most amount of room. Depending on the home, this might not be a bedroom. Many families have set up space in a family room or dining room to keep the patient on the first floor and close to a restroom and kitchen.

This gives them the opportunity to be close to where people collect in a home, allowing them the option to still engage with their loved ones and find comfort in their company.

To make space for the long-term, but temporary living arrangement, you can move furniture and other goods into storage, or discard some items that have been needing to go.

Going through a loved one’s belongings after they’ve gone is a painful and delicate process, especially if they kept a lot. You may find yourself wishing they had decluttered and downsized way more before they passed to lighten the load, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Ask for help from family and friends. They’re probably looking for a way to help you during this difficult time. However, if your loved one’s will allows and you’d rather go through their home and things privately, that is okay too.

You don’t have to do it all in one day, but go in with a plan. Prioritize things that are time-sensitive like their finances and anything on the will.

Go room by room and sort out six piles:

• Save for me
• Save for others

• Sell
• Donate

• Trash
• Recycle

You probably already know what you’d like to keep for yourself, or maybe the will was explicit as to who got what, but it’s likely that some of the smaller things like clothes, jewelry, antiques, or even photo albums weren’t divided up in the will.

Family can come help sort and select the items they long for, and whatever is leftover can be donated, sold, or recycled. Also, to prevent yourself from over-taking or even to compromise with family while dividing up belongings, you can take photographs of those keepsakes.

Focus on What Matters Most

When a person gets to the end of their life, many times families have a hard time not just with facing the emotional aspect of saying goodbye, but with dividing up the estate. Unfortunately, many families get torn apart during this time instead being brought closer together.

Your memories of your loved ones and relationships with family are more important that valuables. Try to pick what matters most to you, and avoid having relationship-destroying battles over items. The recent passing of a loved one should bring the perspective of how quickly life goes and items that we covet in life don’t really matter in the face of death.

No matter what challenges you and your loved ones are facing, spend time reminiscing on the good, talking out the bad, and dismiss emotions like guilt or obligation. Try to remember that no matter how life changes you, we started with family and should end with family.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk blog:

• The Ultimate Guide to Moving Checklist
• Furniture Stores That Take Away Old Furniture
• When to Hire a Professional Junk Removal Company
• 5 Ways to Dispose of Used Furniture Before Moving and Relocation

Whether you’re looking for moving tips for an apartment in the city or a house on the beach, you’re in the right place. You’re probably feeling disoriented and stressed as you’re trying to figure out how to prepare for the move, but we totally understand!

That’s why we compiled helpful packing and moving tips, and have even thrown in a nifty moving checklist that will make this your best move yet, leaving all of the stress out of it.

Where to Start the Moving Process

If you’re here, you may have already accomplished this but we’re going to say it — getting a contract for a new house or apartment is a great first thing to do.

It gives you a concrete deadline for when you should be packed and ready to move.

Next, take a realistic look at how many days you have to pack, update addresses, inform doctor offices, break the news to friends, etc. Being realistic is key! Take into account all current life commitments, but also make sure you make room for spontaneous happy hours, movie nights, or whatever else you’re into. Unless you have to move ASAP, giving yourself wiggle room will keep you from having a mental breakdown.

Now, to plan for packing, be honest with yourself and know how much packing-per-day you can manage. Here are a couple of packing plans we’ve come up with:

• The “Short Spurt High Intensity” packing plan.
  This works best if you can pack for 1-2 hours every day leading up to the day you move. Those with short attention spans benefit the most from packing in short but daily intervals. It’s also great for people that have jam-packed schedules and can’t afford full packing days. Depending on how much you have to move, you need to start several weeks or even months before it’s time to move, especially if you want to allow for “off” days.
• The “Classic” packing plan.
  If you prefer a ripping-off-the-bandaid method, set aside several days and estimate each room will take about 3-5 hours to pack. That’s a very general time frame though. How long it actually takes depends on how many drawers, cabinets, nooks and crannies you have accumulated stuff in. Do this a weekend or two before you have to move just in case you run out of steam and leave yourself with a half-packed home.

However, if you’re last-minute packing and panicking with something like a little less than a weekend to pack, here it is in 6 easy steps to help you figure out how to move quickly.

1. Start now.
2. Book your moving services.
3. Get rid of the unwanted stuff.
4. Gather packing materials (and maybe some friends).
5. Pack, pack, and pack until you can’t think anymore!
6. Load the truck, trailer, pod or other moving service.

Essentially – get started. It’s easy to overthink, but just grab a box, tape, sharpie and go!

✔️Moving Boxes

Surprise! You need cardboard boxes. These are quite expensive when you buy them brand new, so save yourself some money here because, if you haven’t noticed, moving is expensive! You can get free used boxes from places like Target, book stores, friends that recently moved, and basically any location that is accommodating to customers.

Call the location in the morning since that’s when stores typically unpack new inventory and therefore have loads of used boxes. Some places have their delivery trucks on specific days, so calling will ensure that you can get your hands on a few before they dispose of them.

Sizes of boxes that you need depend on your home. Keep in mind that beggars can’t be choosers so if you’re getting them from a store, ask for the boxes to be a range of sizes.

Here are the basic sizes of boxes that you may want:

• Small box. Store small, heavy items in here like canned goods, books, candles, electronics, important papers, etc.
• Medium box. Basically anything too big for the small box, but too heavy for a large box should go here. This can include pots and pans, toys, kitchen appliances, lamps, etc.
• Large box. Save your back by putting large but light items here such as pillows, blankets, bedding, clothing, etc.
• Wardrobe box. If you can get a few of these, you’re in for a treat. They’re large and typically have a metal bar inside that makes it easy to transfer clothes on hangers from your closet to the wardrobe box! Not only do these wardrobe boxes save time, but they also keep clothing from getting wrinkled during the move to your new home.

Keep in mind that not everything needs a box. Some things are safer in boxes, but if you run out of them, don’t be afraid to get creative. You can use other plastic containers, shoe boxes, trash bags, and more.

For example, mirrors. There are mirror boxes, but they can be difficult to come by for free. You can get away with covering mirrors in blankets or towels and then, to secure the covers, circling it with lots of plastic wrap or tape like you’re wrapping a mummy. Speaking of tape!

✔️Packing Tape

You likely have tape lying around somewhere, but if not, go get a good amount of it. And the really good sticky kind too. Do not be stingy purchasing tape or when taping boxes shut.

When it comes time to unpack, you can use a box cutter, car keys or knives to open even the most extreme cases of taping frenzies.

Avoid the misfortune of having that irreplaceable glass treasure from your travels drop through the bottom of the box, while you, helpless and horrified, watch it shatter all over the ground. That should’ve been wrapped a million times over in bubble wrap in the first place… speaking of which…

✔️Bubble Wrap, Packing Paper, & Alternatives

Unless you go ahead and purchase them, you most likely won’t get bubble wrap for free. To make sure fragile items stay secure and in one piece, you can use all sizes of towels, blankets, foam, paper, newspapers, t-shirts, and more.

It could be argued that not using bubble wrap is more efficient since you are technically packing those towels and blankets at the same time. It’s really a win-win situation this way, but do whatever feels best to you.

✔️Large Garbage Bags

Moving is messy, messy, messy! Be ready for the enormous amount of trash you’re going to throw out. Spread out a few trash bags around your home so that no matter where you are, you will have somewhere to get rid of the trash. While this won’t eliminate the clutter packing and moving tends to create, it knocks it down a lot.

Also, remember you can use garbage bags for storing non-fragile things like clothes, shoes, toys, or pillows. However, be careful with this because while it’s clear to you your things are not garbage… it may not be so obvious to those helping you. Just sayin’.

📦 Pro tip: If you end up with more old items than you thought and need to get rid of the excess, consider hiring professionals to take care of your bagged and boxed junk so you don’t lose time.

How to Pack for the Move

If you have been following our moving tips and tricks, you should now have a timeline, a plan, and all of your materials. Don’t over-complicate the packing. It’s simple and even if you completely ignore all of our packing tips for moving, a good start is to just go ahead and begin packing. You’ll start to see that it’s not so bad once you start. Just. Start. Packing.

You have a ton of stuff. Even if you’re a minimalist and you swear you JUST Marie Kondo-ed, there’s going to be a dark and dusty corner just waiting to surprise you.

Not only that, but life happens! You need to have a few rest days in reserve for when you just absolutely do not have the time or patience to pack.

By avoiding making huge boxes too heavy you prevent physically hurting yourself or anyone that is handling your boxes. If you only take one packing tip from this article, this would be the one to take with you.

Which rooms to pack first is subjective, but we suggest you start packing rooms you can live without for a while.

For example, you may choose to keep your TV and a gaming console still connected since this can be a stressful time and you’re going to want to wind down. But, you should go ahead and pack or get rid of those old bulky gaming chairs, projectors, DVDs and DVD players that you don’t absolutely need between now and the move.

Struggling to get packing? As the Beatles sing, “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.” Seriously, get a friend and you’ll find packing way more enjoyable!

Keep in mind you won’t know what is in every box or how they’re packed. If you like keeping tabs on your things, maybe save the help from your friends for loading the truck. If that isn’t a concern, keep everyone on the same page by labeling each cardboard box with a sharpie.

So, get going, grab a bottle of wine (or two), and put some music on. Singing out of tune is always more fun with a friend.

Doing some pre-moving junk removal is a wonderful weight off the shoulders! We love a good purge. If you’re moving in with someone, decide whose dining table, couch, TV, etc. are being used in the new place. This not only saves you space in your truck, but it will also save you time when you’re in the new place dealing with many other double items.

If you’re not moving in with someone or don’t have to deal with double items in general, you should still declutter before a move and get rid of old furniture or appliances that you are dying to throw out. Now is the time! Don’t know how? Well, that’s what we’re here for.

✔️Donate Old Items

Donating appliances and furniture is a great way to declutter. Just be prepared to get the item there yourself. If you do not have a vehicle that can fit the item then you’re not going to get very far. If you have a vehicle that can, that’s great! However, it can be pretty darn draining so make sure you’re not doing this all on your lonesome.

✔️Hire a Junk Removal Company

Another option is hiring a junk removal service. Getting your stuff taken out of your home without lifting a finger means you get to stay focused on the rest of the moving process. We know we don’t need to remind you, but moving is expensive and surprise costs are the worst.

LoadUp gives transparent pricing before the truck arrives at your place. No surprises! Plus, we take virtually everything while striving to recycle as much as we can. Still aren’t convinced? Check out how we stack up on Move.org!

Putting them out on the curb is another option but you may still get stuck with them if no one comes by to take them. Many garbage disposal services do not pick them up, and HOAs may send a letter of disapproval or even a fine.

If none of these options tickle your fancy, look into other ways of disposing of your furniture. If you get to your new place and realize there’s some post-moving junk that’s still in your way, it’s good to know what to do in your new area. The point is to get your new place set up with without the junk. If you need some help, we can do it for you.

If you’re using a self-moving truck rental company, such as U-haul, make an appointment before the day that you want to pick it up. Not all locations have the truck and accessories you require, so avoid running around like a chicken with its head cut off with an appointment.

Also, think about getting a truck with a ramp because it makes unloading easier on you and your furniture.

Depending on how long of a journey you have, and if you have someone helping you drive, you may consider towing your vehicle to the truck. Look at the cost of the tow dolly and compare it to the gas and mileage it will take to get your car to the new place.

It may be worth towing if you prefer riding in the truck with your friend, partner, parent, etc., especially if it’s a long-haul drive.

When looking into companies, spend more than two minutes when selecting a moving company. Shop around to find the best price, but if you stray from mainstream companies make sure you look at their reviews and get a feel for their customer service.

Since this is the mode of transporting you and your home, the quality of the truck, packing accessories, and customer service can make or break your move!

How to choose a good moving company can be difficult, but researching a few is well worth the time and effort. There are companies that service local moves, long-distance moves, and some will even store your stuff until you need it as well.

✔️Ask for referrals

Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, even your kid’s soccer coach. You never know who may have the connection to the king of movers. They will be honest and can explain their experiences better than reviews that you’ll find online.

That said, reviews online are still a good resource if you can’t find anyone that has used a moving company.

Make sure you know exactly what is and isn’t included. Some movers charge extra for throwing out garbage and old furniture or appliances. Again, you do not want any surprise charges. Get quotes from more than one company so you can get the best deal.

Get ready for a real-life game of Tetris. Never assume that where you set something down is where it’s going to stay. Rearranging is key to fully taking advantage of your truck!

Here are some tips on how to arrange large furniture in your moving truck:

• Mattresses take up less space when they’re leaning up against the wall of the truck, not laying down.
• Desks/Tables can be flipped upside down and can have things put on the underside between the legs, or you can put them in an upright, vertical position.
• Chairs that are flipped upside down can have the cushion part placed on top of boxes so that the space between the legs is now available for small boxes.
• Couches save space when they’re placed in an upright, vertical position.

When loading the truck, moving dollies, tarps, straps, furniture padding, tools, and other materials will make it easier to pack for moving. If you’re moving on a budget, know that these moving materials are not 100% essential. Consider how many people are helping you move, tools you may already have, and things you could borrow.

Keep essential materials for arrival day accessible. What could these essentials be? We’re glad you asked…

It’s go time! To avoid constantly going to the grocery store when you just moved in, make sure you have the bare minimum human needs already and know exactly which box they’re all in.

Think about your future self in your new place. What are their needs going to be? A shower, perhaps? Definitely going to need to use the toilet unless you have a bladder of actual steel. Caffeine addict? Keep your coffee maker close, and the mug closer.

Plan for your pet’s needs as well. Depending on how well they do with a lot of commotion, you may consider putting them in the crate to keep them safe while you unload the truck.

Here are some essentials for move-in day:

Preparing for these needs will make sure you spend your time being productive and not losing time running out to find coffee or dinner.

If you follow the moving tips and tricks in this article, you should be set up for a great move. To make it even easier, here is the printable moving checklist we promised. Everyone’s home and needs are different so make sure you take advantage of the “other” section to make it work best for you!

Remember to not over-complicate packing. If you followed our tips, you should have a plan and feel way less stressed. Who knows, maybe you’ll find packing and moving fun. Good luck!

Click here to download your Ultimate Moving Guide Checklist!

Related Articles from the Trash Talk blog:

• Seeking Simple Disposal of Used Furniture Before Moving and Relocation?
• Looking for the Best Ways to Organize Your Living Room?
• Wondering How to Build an Eco-Friendly House?
• Want to Declutter in Just Two Weeks?