Moving in a short amount of time can be stressful. There’s a lot to do and a short amount of time to get it all done. The good news is that plenty of people have done it before. You get the benefit of their experience with these seven tricks for packing up a house in a short amount of time.
1- Get a Checklist Going
When you have to move quickly, it’s easy to forget everything you need to do. Grab a notepad and start jotting down everything you need to do. Your list will range from getting packing supplies to putting in change of address cards to not forgetting items in the attic or basement. Your list doesn’t have to be complete to get started.
2- Gather Supplies from Ready Sources
Don’t run all over town to gather moving supplies. You can purchase packing boxes and bubble wrap from many self-storage places. If you want to get free boxes, try your local liquor or grocery store. Packing tape is readily available at any big box store close by. You don’t need to get fancy. You just need to get started.
3- Do One Room at a Time
Trying to pack multiple rooms simultaneously will just create a chaotic mess. Tackle one room at a time. Start with the least used room in your home, like a guest bedroom. Create a packing station in one part of the room and designate a place to stack packed boxes. Pack that room as much as possible before moving on to the next one.
4- Purge as You Go
When you pick up an item, you need to make a hard, fast decision. Is it going to get packed or do you want to get rid of it? If it’s getting packed, put it in a box and move on to the next item. If you want to get rid of it, put it in a designated container for donation or throw it in the trash. Then, move on to the next item.
5- Pack, Pack, Pack
If you need to pack up a house in a short amount of time, you don’t have the luxury of grouping things for an efficient move. Take a box, start putting things into it. Use bubble wrap to protect fragile items. Fill empty corners with packing material. Once full, tape the box shut, label it, and put it in the finished stack. Move on to the next box.
6- Ask for Help
The more hands you have, the easier it will be to pack the house quickly. Ask family members and friends if they can help you pack. Even an hour or two of help will make a difference in the amount of stuff you have to pack yourself. If time is tight and you can’t get any help from friends or family, consider hiring a couple of professional packers to do the bulk of the work.
7- Create an Essentials Bag
You need a bag or container filled with the essentials you will need the first few days in your new place. Think of the bare essentials you need to get through two or three days. Here’s a partial list to get you started: toiletries, a few towels, bed linens, pillows, a couple changes of clothes, medicines, essential paperwork, pet supplies, a few toys for the kids, easy to prepare food, a couple of pots/pans, paper plates, plastic eating utensils.
The best way to approach a last-minute move is to get organized and get started as soon as possible. You can do it.
